photography

Art and Porn: An Interview with Editor Dian Hanson (Alternet)

by Viviane on 08/07/2008

in photography, sex

When you get your hands on something called The Big Penis Book, a 384-page hardcover featuring 400 artfully photographed, supersized phalluses, you have certain expectations. You expect that it will be a great book but not one that you will actually read. You expect that there are friends you’ll have to forbid from taking it into the bathroom with them. You expect it to be hot.

You do not expect one of its most intriguing features to be the woman who put it together.

Dian Hanson is the editor whose rich, informative prose and unusual background as a porn publisher nearly upstaged The Big Penis Book for me (it was, by the way, better than I expected).

(more. . .)

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SF: Chasing the Erotic Portrait with Michele Serchuk

by Viviane on 07/10/2008

in photography, san francisco

homemidori14 10 SF: Chasing the Erotic Portrait with Michele SerchukPhoto: Midori by Michele Serchuk

Date: Sunday, July 20, 2008
Time: Noon – 4:00 PM
Location: Center for Sex & Culture
1519 Mission near 11th Street in San Francisco
415-255-1155

Cost: $15 for Photo Club members, $40 for non-members. ( CSC can accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, plus
personal checks.)
RSVP: Please RSVP at mail@sexandculture.org with “Photo Club” in the subject line.
(Please plan to come a little early if you want to sign up to be a Photo Club member onsite. What’s the Photo Club? See below.)

Have you ever looked at a beautiful, erotic photo and wondered how that shot came to be? What’s the story behind that seductive image? How does one make art from interpersonal connections and life experience? How does the artist’s approach change when working with the personal boundaries and emotional issues encountered when exploring sexuality and eroticism?

Perhaps you’ve begun shooting your own erotic imagery — your personal artwork, or sexy photos of a lover. Anyone can pick up a fully featured, pre-programmed camera and make technically credible images, but you want put passion and emotion into the shot. How can you use the erotic and/or creative connection you have with your subject to shoot stronger, more personal images? Learn how to put your lover or model at ease, draw their own sensuality out and create a dynamic conducive to making powerful, sexual imagery.

Michele Serchuk, working collaboratively with her subjects, has been shooting a wide range of erotic portraits for over a decade. Using a slide show of her own images as a framework, Ms. Serchuk will discuss how she puts her subject at ease, draws out their own sensuality and creates a creates a safe and exciting space conducive to making powerful erotic imagery. There will be time to ask plenty of questions and discuss students’ own creative goals and quandaries, and of course time for students to shoot their own photos after we’re done talking. Whether you are shooting sexy pictures with your lover or are working with a friend on your personal artwork, this workshop will help you to develop your approach to creating exciting, erotic images.

Michele will give a presentation about her work including lecture-style teaching, then oversee/teach a two-hour shooting session with at least one model.

This class will include a slide show of the artist’s work, lecture & discussion, plus time for students to shoot their own work with a model.

[click to continue…]

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Support Lochai

by Viviane on 07/10/2008

in erotica, photography, rope, shibari

lochai Support Lochai

Photo: Beach Bound by Lochai

I attended Lochai‘s Speed Bondage class at TES Fest 08 this past weekend. He’s sarcastic, smart and loves to share about rope, which is why I’m reposting Catalina’s appeal – Viviane

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From CatalinaLoves

It’s no secret that I have a ridiculous crush on Lochai, and maybe a part of it is because I fell in love with his work as an artist. On top of all that I got to actually meet him yesterday and put my hands on his… prints (I know what you thought I was going to say!)

I know a lot of my readers are people who share my opinion about Lochai’s erotic and bondage images and also share my belief in supporting the art and the artists they love. That’s what this post is all about. Your opportunity to own real art while supporting the arts. It’s a win-win situation.

Lochai has a few gallery shows coming up. He talks about them in the interview we did recently here. In response to my question about his upcoming gallery shows, in particular the exhibition at the World Erotic Art Museum in Miami Beach, FL, this is what he had to say:

Wow…. To hang in a Museum is an amazing thing. To hang in this Museum is even a greater compliment in that the owner/curator, Naomi Wilzig, does not normally collect photography & has only just started to. She has thousands of painting, sculptures and other various articles that have moved her over the years and only a few photographs including ones from a good friend of mine, BT Charles. She has had many one person displays exhibited in the galleries in the 3 years WEAM has been open, but she asked me to be the first photographer. I am also a local so this adds to the pride I feel. Art gallery shows are wonderful but to say that you are displayed in a museum, for me that is something I am very proud of. I will also have Beach Bound added to the permanent collection. I was also the first heterosexual male artist to have a special “Guest Gallery” show that lasted a year of 30 of my images in the Leather Archives & Museum in Chicago http://www.leatherarchives.org/ which just came down in May.

So now here we are, it’s almost time for Lochai’s big show and now it’s time for me to get involved in the only way I know how. I’m holding my own Lochai Pledge Drive to help support Lochai’s upcoming gallery projects. He has never done this before and he may never do this again, it’s truly exclusive (and it will give your grandkids something to bring onto The Antique’s Roadshow!) Think of it is the kinky version of the PBS Pledge Drive – you know, you donate some money and they give you a nice gift to say thank you.

Here’s the rundown – you donate to Lochai’s upcoming shows. Donations are simple and easy – log into PayPal and use Lochai’s email address (nawalochai AT kirinawa DOT com). You can even use your credit card. In return, as a thank-you gift, you receive one of Lochai’s signed prints. The print you will receive will be chosen by Lochai and is from his award-winning gallery.

Donate $25 and receive a signed 4×6 print. This is perfect to frame and put on your nightstand

Donate $50 and receive a signed 5×7 print. This is a perfect size to have on your desk, no?

Donate $75 and receive two signed 5 x 7 prints – a nice little complimentary set for your boudoir. I love the idea of having two complimentary, beautiful images, nicely framed and hung next to each other. MDS says he thinks it would be neat if you’re a couple to frame them and then put one on each of your nightstands. I love MDS. He’s so clever!

Donate $100 and receive one signed 8×10 print – perfect to hang on the wall. Actually Lochai gave me an 8×10 as a gift yesterday and it’s matted, framed, and perfectly placed on my desk, so an 8×10 is really a nice size – you can hang it or place it somewhere special.

For donations more generous than $100.00, please contact Lochai directly. Those donors will be considered sponsors and will not only have their name associated with the show as a sponsor, but as a thank-you gift will receive a signed, limited edition print in a larger size. Again, just contact Lochai directly to discuss this option. He’s a very friendly man!

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Postmodern pornography (Beautiful, depraved)

by Viviane on 07/08/2008

in publishing

Kasia writes:

Debauchette and I are finally coming to the point of being able to launch a project we’ve been working on over the past couple of years. We’re in LA, staying at the Chateau Marmont, in the suite that Helmut Newton lived in to put the last touches on and move forward to our debut.

Here’s the elevator pitch: Haute porn with a heart. Erotic material that’s authentic, intelligent and aesthetically beautiful. Postmodern porn. A sexual New Yorker.
We’ve created a forum for content that is difficult to find and hasn’t been allowed to be produced, shown or published elsewhere. Smart porn. It’s a website – an online magazine showcasing video, photography and written works. To borrow a term Reverse Cowgirl coined, it’s Pornographic Coolhunting.
I’ve known about this project for awhile. I’m thrilled they can finally talk about it.

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