Posts tagged as:

san francisco

10/01/2009to10/04/2009

Location: Roxie Theater, Center for Sex and Culture, PariSoMa, Noisebridge
City/Town: San Francisco, CA

Scottish SF author Iain Banks created a fictitious group-civilisation called “Culture” in his eponymous narrative. The vast majority of humanoid people in the “Culture” are born with greatly altered glands housed within their central nervous systems, who secrete – on command – mood- and sensory-appreciation-altering compounds into the person’s bloodstream. Additionally many inhabitants have subtly altered reproductive organs – and control over the associated nerves – to enhance sexual pleasure. Ovulation is at will in the female, and a fetus up to a certain stage may be re-absorbed, aborted, or held at a static point in its development; again, as willed. Also, a viral change from one sex into the other, is possible. And there is a convention that each person should give birth to one child in their lives. It may sound strange, but Banks states that a society in which it is so easy to change sex will rapidly find out if it is treating one gender better than the other. Pressure for change within society would presumably build up until some form of sexual equality and hence numerical parity will be established. Does this set-up sound too futuristic? Too utopian? Too bizarre?

We may not forget that mankind is a sexual and tool-using species. And that’s why our annual conference Arse Elektronika deals with sex, technology and the future. As bio-hacking, sexually enhanced bodies, genetic utopias and plethora of gender have long been the focus of literature, science fiction and, increasingly, pornography, this year will see us explore the possibilities that fictional and authentic bodies have to offer. Our world is already way more bizarre than our ancestors could have ever imagined. But it may not be bizarre enough. “Bizarre enough for what?” — you might ask. Bizarre enough to subvert the heterosexist matrix that is underlying our world and that we should hack and overcome for some quite pressing reasons within the next century. Don’t you think, replicants?

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Festival Schedule:

October 1: Film festival, opening ceremony and Prixxx Arse Elektronika Gala
October 2: Literature, fiction, reading
October 3: Talks and discourse
October 4: DIY workshops

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Arse Elektronika 2009 will take place in San Francisco, USA at Roxie Theater, Center for Sex and Culture, PariSoMa, Noisebridge.

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http://www.monochrom.at/arse-elektronika/
http://www.arse-elektronika.com

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Bisexual Artists is seeking artists who identify as Bisexual (or with a label inclusive of bisexuality, such as Pansexual, Fluid, Omnisexual, Ambisexual or Queer), to submit paintings, drawings, photographs, prints, or sculptures relating to their experiences of living as a bisexual person. This project is an opportunity for artists to represent what being bisexual means to them and to help promote the wide variety of people who are bisexual.

Hangable works will be limited to 8′ in height and 6′ in length. Sculptures will be limited to a base of 2′ by 2′, with a height no greater than 8′. Works may be either pre-existing work or work created specifically for the event. There should also be a paragraph description of the content of the work and how it relates to issues of bisexuality, bisexual identities and/or bisexual visibility (no more than 500 words).

Deadline for submissions is August 1st 2009. Please click here for complete information, submission guidelines, etc.

Artists selected for the exhibition will have their work on display in the San Francisco art gallery of Good Vibrations on Polk Street from Thursday October 8th 2009 thru Thursday, November 26th 2009.

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10/01/2009to10/04/2009

Sexuality, Genetics, Biotech, Wetware, Body mods

http://www.monochrom.at/arse-elektronika/

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Call for Papers, Performances, Machines and Sponsors.

Arse Elektronika 2009 will take place in San Francisco, USA.

+++++++++++++

Scottish SF author Iain Banks created a fictitious group-civilisation called “Culture” in his eponymous narrative. The vast majority of humanoid people in the “Culture” are born with greatly altered glands housed within their central nervous systems, who secrete – on command – mood- and sensory-appreciation-altering compounds into the person’s bloodstream. Additionally many inhabitants have subtly altered reproductive organs – and control over the associated nerves – to enhance sexual pleasure. Ovulation is at will in the female, and a fetus up to a certain stage may be re-absorbed, aborted, or held at a static point in its development; again, as willed. Also, a viral change from one sex into the other, is possible. And there is a convention that each person should give birth to one child in their lives. It may sound strange, but Banks states that a society in which it is so easy to change sex will rapidly find out if it is treating one gender better than the other. Pressure for change within society would presumably build up until some form of sexual equality and hence numerical parity will be established. Does this set-up sound too futuristic?Too utopian? Too bizarre?

We may not forget that mankind is a sexual and tool-using species. And that’s why our annual conference Arse Elektronika deals with sex, technology and the future. As bio-hacking, sexually enhanced bodies, genetic utopias and plethora of gender have long been the focus of literature, science fiction and, increasingly, pornography, this year will see us explore the possibilities that fictional and authentic bodies have to offer. Our world is already way more bizarre than our ancestors could have ever imagined. But it may not be bizarre enough. “Bizarre enough for what?” — you might ask. Bizarre enough to subvert the heterosexist matrix that is underlying our world and that we should hack and overcome for some quite pressing reasons within the next century. Don’t you think, replicants?

+++++++++++++

Please send us [arse2009 AT monochrom.at] your papers, ideas, machines!
Deadline: July 31, 2009!

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Festival Schedule:

October 1: Film festival(*), opening ceremony and Prixxx Arse Elektronika(*) Gala
October 2: Literature, fiction, reading
October 3: Talks and discourse
October 4: DIY workshops
(*) Separate calls will be out shortly.

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http://www.monochrom.at/arse-elektronika/

http://www.arse-elektronika.com

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leeharrington 224x300 SF: Lee Harrington: Kama Sutra Bondage, Feb.18th.

The Society of Janus presents
Lee Harrington presenting Kama Sutra Bondage

Date: Wednesday, February 18, 2009
(Doors open: 7:30 PM; Program: 8:00 – 10:00 PM)
Location: SF Citadel (downstairs in the dungeon)
1277 Mission St @ 9th St; San Francisco, CA
Cost: $5.00 for Janus & reciprocals, $15.00 for others

Binding lover to lover, binding two bottoms facing each other before tandem floggings, paired suspensions, double mummifications … there are so many opportunities out there to have two or more people connected in bondage.

Let’s look to the Kama Sutra and other sources for inspiration as we look at positions, tips, techniques, equipment, and the wrangling involved in multi-person bondage scenes- whether the Top/rigger is bound or otherwise.

This is an interactive class with demos, with the potential for voluntary participation by audience members.

Lee Harrington is an eclectic artist, spiritual and erotic educator, gender radical and published author on human sexuality and spiritual experience- including “Shibari You Can Use: Japanese Rope Bondage and Erotic Macramé” and the “Toybag Guide to Age Play”.

Society of Janus programs are open to all attendees 18 yrs and over with a
positive, personal interest in BDSM.

More info: http://www.soj.org

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ren hard 08 shanna 0204 241x300 Poly and Relationship Mapping Workshop in SF, Jan 16th

This Friday January 16th at 7pm Femina Potens brings you Shanna Katz aka Essin’ Em. Essin’ Em will be presenting Basics of Poly and Relationship Mapping workshop.
This workshop is primarily a lecture and discussion on the ideas of polyamory, open-relationships, non-monogamous relationships, etc. In addition to talking about what poly is (and what it can and does mean to different people), we’ll go over the basic types of relationships that people have (primary, secondary and tertiary) in their lives, how we can map them, patterns to look for, and what we can get out of these maps. We’ll also discuss communication and negotiation with your partners, mediation, and what to do when one or more of you is feeling hurt. Come open minded, and prepared examine your own relationship(s).

Workshop is $10 – $15 sliding scale, no one turned away for lack of funds.

Shanna Katz (aka Essin-Em) is a kinky, queer, non-monogamous, feminist, politically active, sex-educator Femme, with a bit of twisted sense of humor. Her sexuality blog “Sexuality Happens” can be found at www.Essin-Em.com. She spends her time pondering sex, sexuality, the gender spectrum, non-traditional relationships, sex toys, erotic writing, queer sexuality, new definitions of feminism and more.

She has a Master’s in Human Sexuality Education, and does work both online and face-to-face, educating people in a variety of ways about a variety of subjects. She has done trainings, workshops and written curricula for numerous universities including SUNY-Purchase, Colorado College and Princeton University, and has presented at the Planned Parenthood Association of Bucks Country (Doylestown, PA), Passional Toys (Philadelphia, PA), Hysteria Boutique (Denver, CO) and S.E.X. PhD (Denver, CO). In her free time, she’s a mother to her kitty Kinsey, and is a roller derby referee for the Denver Rollers Dolls. For more information on Shanna, go to www.ShannaKatz.com.

Femina Potens is located at 2199 Market St. @ Sanchez. SF,CA 94114. www.feminapotens.org.

Reserve your tickets early at Brown Paper Tickets.

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Thanks to Joe.My.God, I found out you can watch the complete Oscar-winning documentary, The Times of Harvey Milk, on Hulu.com. If the embed isn’t working, go here.

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Location: The Center for Sex and Culture
1519 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94114 US
When: Friday, December 19, 6:00PM
Phone: 415 331-3613
Please join me in celebrating “Unspoken Bond”.

Unspoken Bond”, 8′x 8′, Oil on Canvas, 2008.

An original oil portrayal of two of the most talented Bondage personalities in the Country.
Madison Young & Lochai

This show is centered around The Fine Art of Bondage.

The Center for Sex and Culture is hosting this Art Show that is featuring my latest work. The 8′x8′ oil on canvas painting, “Unspoken Bond” represents Lochai and Madison Young as the creators in the beautiful Fine Art of Bondage. I have invited Lochai (Bondage Rigger and award winning Bondage Photographer) and Madison Young (Award winning Bondage Suspension Model) to present their performance art during the opening. The painting is a portrait that has captured their personalities and passion for rope. It is my largest painting to date for this series.

Please come and experience this wonderful night with us.

Admission is free. Wine, Cheese and Treats catered by Maude Bradley.

FP Edge represents my work as well as Danyol (we are presenting together at this venue) www.fpedge.com The show runs until March 11, 2009. If you can’t make it on the 19th, then try to get by to see this awesome piece of art.

I will also be exhibiting “Madison Young in Bondage”, Series 1,2,3,&4.

My website will fill you in on what I have been up to lately. www.nancypeacherotic.com I have not displayed any of this work, as I am wanting it to be seen in person. The experience of this large piece takes over. Promise to attend this special event and celebrate the Holidays as well!! See you there!

Lochai

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“I’m Harvey Milk, and I’m here to recruit you.”

Directed by Gus Van Sant
Sean Penn … Harvey Milk
Emile Hirsch … Cleve Jones
Josh Brolin … Dan White
Diego Luna … Jack Lira
James Franco … Scott Smith

IMDB listing

Reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

Check showtimes by typing in Milk and your zip code into Google.

Thursday was also the 30th anniversary of Harvey Milk’s death. Thomas Roche has an appreciation here.

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homemidori14 10 Midoris Rope Dojo, January 17 19, 2009

Midori by Michele Serchuk (Photodiva.com)

Midori announced on her Livejournal that there’s a new Rope Dojo® scheduled for January:

Rope Bondage Dojo (R) will be coming up in San Francisco on January 17-18, 2009.
16+ hours of intensive and a party…
The registration will open the first week of December.
Space limited to 28 students.
You’ll find curriculum and other info at www.RopeDojo.com

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arse 300x111 Arse Elektronika 2008

The 2nd gathering of kinksters and geeks (keeks and ginksters?) met in San Francisco, at CELLSpace. I also got to visit Kink.com and see the Ultimate Surrender live taping. Those pics are at Flickr and I’ll post shortly.

The Arse Elektronika Schedule page has links to all the MP3s, so you can hear the talks you’re interested in.

The MP3 of the talk Susan Mernit and I gave, “Avoiding the Emily Gould Effect” is here. Our Powerpoint slides (with additional references) may be viewed at Slideshare.net.

Susan has posted some of the notes and quotes for the talk over at Blogher: Over sharing, Blogging and Transparency—Notes—and Quotes– from a Talk.

Bonnie Ruberg (who writes the Click Me column for the Village Voiceand the Clickable Clit column for SF Weekly) had the stamina to Twitter the entire event.

The Arse Elektronika Anthology “pr0nnovation?” is out and can be ordered here or via RE/Search.

The Arse Elektronika 2008 Flickr pool is here.

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arse Arse Elektronika 2008: A conference dealing with sex, technology and science fiction.

Arse Elektronika 2008

ARSE ELEKTRONIKA 2008

Do Androids Sleep With Electric Sheep?

September 25-28, 2008
San Francisco, USA

A conference dealing with sex, technology and science fiction.
Featuring the Prixxx Arse Elektronika 2008 Awards Ceremony (an unobjectionable award for sex machines, orgasmotrons and teledildonics), the presentation of the Arse Elektronika Anthology “pr0nnovation?” (about pornography and technological innovation), a curated erotic reading about sex in SF/speculative/alt-reality fiction and — of course — a three day conference about critical perspectives on sexuality and pornography in science and social fiction (with keynote speeches by Rudy Rucker and Constance Penley).
Taking up where the successful conference in autumn 2007 left off, this year’s Arse Elektronika stands under the motto “future” — and the ways in which the present sees itself reflected in it. Maintaining a broadened perspective on technical development and technology while also putting special emphasis on its social implementation, this year’s conference focuses on Science and Social Fiction. The genre of the “fantastic” is especially well suited to the investigation of the touchy area of sexuality and pornography: actual and assumed developments are frequently depicted positively and approvingly, but just as often with dystopian admonishment. Here the classic, and continuingly valid, themes of modernism represent a clear link between the two aspects: questions of science, research and technologization are of interest, as is the complex surrounding urbanism, artificiality and control (or the loss of control). Depictions of the future, irregardless of the form they ta! ke, always address the present as well. Imaginations of the fantastic and the nightmarish give rise to a thematic overlapping of the exotic, the alienating and, of course, the pornographic/sexual as well.

Registration

Prixxx Arse Elektronika 2008 Awards Ceremony

(@ CELLspace / 2050 Bryant Street, San Francisco / September 25 / 8pm, doors open at 7pm)

An unobjectionable award for sex machines, orgasmotrons and teledildonics.
Hosted by monochrom’s Johannes Grenzfurthner and info maniac David Dempsey. Featuring Annalee Newitz, Jonathan Mann aka GameJew, and many other human and non-human guest stars.

The winners will be honored with the “Golden Kleene”(*).
Prixxx Arse Elektronika 2008 will be a dignified occasion — and so we invite you to dress up properly. Surprise us with sex and science fiction related costumes… and maybe win a “Golden Kleene”(*) yourself!

(*)
There was a young man named Kleene
Who invented a fucking machine.
Concave or convex,
It fit either sex,
And was remarkably easy to clean!

(Limerick, attributed to John von Neumann)

Presentation of Arse Elektronika Anthology: pr0nnovation?
(@ CELLspace / 2050 Bryant Street, San Francisco / September 25 / 8pm, doors open at 7pm)

It is our pleasure and privilege to present you with the first Arse Elektronika Anthology: pr0nnovation?

From the depiction of a vulva in a cave painting to the newest internet porno, technology and sexuality have always been closely linked. No one can predict what the future will bring, but history indicates that sex will continue to play an essential role in technological development. Is it going too far to assume that research in nanotechnology and genetic engineering will be influenced by our sexual needs? The question is not whether these technologies alter humanity, but how they do so.

Edited by Johannes Grenzfurthner, Gunther Friesinger, Daniel Fabry.
Published by RE/Search Publications (San Francisco) in cooperation with monochrom.

Featuring: Michael Achenbach, Timothy Archibald, Peter Asaro, Thomas Ballhausen, Binx, Violet Blue, Jonathan Coopersmith, Mark Dery, Thomas Edlinger, Johannes Grenzfurthner, Ema Konstantinova, Tina Lorenz, Stefan Lutschinger, Kyle Machulis, Aaron Muszalski, Annalee Newitz, Carol Queen, Thomas Roche, Autumn Tyr-Salvia, Frank Apunkt Schneider, Katie Vann, Rose White, Amanda Williams, Katherina Zakravsky.


Arse Elektronika Conference

(@ CELLspace / 2050 Bryant Street, San Francisco / September 26-28 / 1pm – 8pm, doors open at 12am)

“Do Androids Sleep With Electric Sheep?”
Critical Perspectives on Sexuality and Pornography in Science and Social Fiction

This year’s conference will be structured around three day-long talks and discussion panels, each devoted to a specific theme.

Featuring: Violet Blue, Jason Brown, Reesa Brown, Simone Davalos, Daniel Fabry, Karin Harrasser, Richard Kadrey, Verena Kuni, Isaac Leung, Mela Mikes, Susan Mernit, Chris Noessel, Kit O’Connell, Jens Ohlig, Constance Penley, Bonni Rambatan, Bonnie Ruberg, Rudy Rucker, Mae Saslaw, Nathan Shedroff, Viviane, Rose White, Sharing is Sexy (Scruffy Eudora, DJ Lotu5, J Bird), and many others.

Arse Elektronika Reading
(@ Center for Sex & Culture / 1519 Mission Street near 11th, San Francisco / September 26 / 9pm, doors open at 8 pm)

Carol Queen, with the support of the Center for Sex & Culture and cosponsorship of San Francisco’s premiere SF/fantasy bookstore Borderlands, presents a curated erotic reading evening, featuring writers who commonly explore sexual themes in their science fiction and alt-reality fiction work. While the focus of much of the conference will be a critical deconstruction of sexual tropes in SF/speculative/alt-reality fiction, the focus of this event will be to appreciate and celebrate the fiction itself. Readers include Rudy Rucker, Richard Kadrey, M. Christian, Steven Schwartz, Charlie Anders, Carol Queen, Thomas Roche, and more.

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Lesbian rights pioneer Del Martin, whose trailblazing activism spanned more than five decades, most recently in the battle for same-sex marriage, died Wednesday, just two months after she made history again by wedding her longtime partner in San Francisco City Hall.

Ms. Martin, an author and organizer, died at UCSF Hospice after a long period of declining health. She was 87 and was admitted to the hospital nearly two weeks ago with a broken arm.

Ms. Martin’s crusading began in 1955, during an era in America known more for social conformity than for rebellion, when she co-founded a lesbian social-turned-political organization, Daughters of Bilitis, named after a 19th century book of lesbian love poetry.

This year, on June 16, she and her partner of 55 years, Phyllis Lyon, were legally wed. San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom officiated. Theirs was among the first same-sex nuptials in California.

Link

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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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CineKink: San Francisco
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
July 10-12, 2008

Please join us – and/or tell all your friends – as the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts presents CineKink: San Francisco, a touring version of “the really alternative film festival,” to be held July 10-12, 2008 at the YBCA screening room (701 Mission Street, SF).

Cutting across orientations to celebrate and explore a wide diversity of sexuality, offerings in this kink-friendly, traveling showcase range from documentary to drama, camp comedy to hot porn, mildy spicy to quite explicit – and everything in between.

Schedule
Tickets

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chemistry San Francisco: Chemistry 4 launch party

Vivid Entertainment invites the public to celebrate the release of multi-award winning director Tristan Taormino’s movie “Chemistry 4: The Orgy Edition” on Thursday, June 5 at Good Vibrations in San Francisco. The party is from 6:30-8:00 p.m.

“Chemistry 4: The Orgy Edition” is the latest in Taormino’s reality porn series, and it features four hours of unscripted, spontaneous, scorching hot sex.

Tristan will host the evening and introduce a special clip of the movie created especially for the party. Three stars of the film — Penny Flame, Adrianna Nicole, and Sinnamon Love — will be at the party to meet fans, sign autographs, and share stories from behind the scenes. “This will be a reunion of the three female stars in the movie, and they are all looking forward to seeing each other and meeting their fans!” says Taormino. In addition to the sneak preview of the movie, there will be complimentary cocktails and hors d’ouerves, a special guest DJ, and a fabulous door prize full of sexy goodies.

Tristan adds, “Good Vibrations is the perfect place to celebrate my latest creation for Vivid. It is the center of the sex-positive community in San Francisco, and I’m thrilled they are throwing the official launch party for ‘Chemistry 4.’” Good Vibrations is located at 603 Valencia Street (at 17th Street), San Francisco, CA 94110. For more information or to RSVP, email tristan AT puckerup DOT com.

“Chemistry 4: The Orgy Edition” also stars AVN’s Male Performer of the Year Evan Stone, Tyler Knight, and Johnny Sins and is available in stores now.

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