Izms of Art , Cedric & Mustafa at What's Love closing on Sunday.
Danielle Howle serenades the crowd while Unbound dances on and in the box.
Tony & Gene in Penthouse Playhouse
Betsy Newman and her installation.
Billy Guess's Best of Show Doors with peepholes.
Another notch in the belt of What's Love event.
Great crowd. Great entertainment.
Course my real reason for putting this on is certainly not for the money (after expenses were paid about $2 an hour each) and not for the exposure (its hard to remember the names of people I've known for years...) but because I've gotten tired if sitting home on Valentines and watching the love stories of other people or hearing about the flowers or special treats or great evenings planned from people that have dates or husbands or boyfriends....
I know - WAAAAA WAAAA ...
But hosting a party of hundreds along with some very talented and entertaining people does tend to take your mind off of it!
This year really pushed my limits of what I'd consider decent, vulgar and sexy and sensual. Never really wanted to take it too far over the top - just sort of suggest it....
I've thought a lot about what exactly is this event trying to do, trying to say. What do I want it to say? What the heck has LOVE got to do with it?
I just want people to be entertained , to make them think about how sex, sensuality and love relate and how it is perceived so differently by so many. Art on the walls, performance, music and installations - what a great way to spend a night.
Alejandro Garcia created a piece that he decided not to show. When he told me about it my gut was - holy shit (no pun intended) - that's gonna piss a lot of people off....my next thought was that it was incredibly clever, genius even and it had to be done....I was with him when he started making it along with Britt. He had taken several bible covers and cut them into 4 inch strips that showed "The Holy Bible", "New Testament" , "God's Word" and so forth. With small grommets in each corner of the strip he tied them together to make a Bible Belt, more specifically a man's chastity belt.
Brilliant and blasphemous all at the same time. An incredible commentary on Christianity's role in suppressing sexuality for homosexuals as well as heterosexuals. God's word locking in the genitalia, repressing the very organ that is the tool for reproducing life, bringing orgasmic pleasure, performing the most natural act of love... of passion. Although passion can some times be mistaken for love - it is the very juice that makes us feel alive, that drives our thirst for connection and creation.
It really scared me. It scared me because of how much it would offend some and even offended me at first a little. But when I thought about it more - I felt like it actually taught me a little about myself. When I mentioned to Alejandro how it would offend some folks - he said "Do you have any idea how many times I've been offended by people trying to force their religious beliefs on me?" Good point.
I've taken for granted this offense - that people should just brush off the assault of hardcore religious fanatics - especially Christians in the south. Myself - I sit with my family on countless occasions while they pray and pontificate their hopes and blessings to God out loud mostly before meals. This has always been ok to me because I totally believe in God - a higher power - a connectivity that is unexplainable, a supreme energy that is love and joy and good....almighty even. I don't however follow the same notions, beliefs and practices of my Presbyterian family and become more uncomfortable as I grow older to sit quietly holding hands as classic statements to "Father" are whispered up. I believe prayer is a private thing. I believe blessings are a wonderful way to be thankful and to wish well to others but as my daughter Kellane exclaimed after a particular long round table of prayers from family "why don't they just say those things to each other?" Yes. Indeed. Now that would be meaningful but I guess perhaps too hard, too personal....
Anyhooo - The Bible Belt did not get shown. In the end it was decided that it was just too much for Columbia, SC. I would argue that the crowd that came to the What's Love Fest would not have been offended or shocked, they come because they want to see things outrageous, sexy but such as it was.....
Alejandro did however show is Argentine Affair painting of Mark Sanford holding his heart and weeping for his lover....
Another thing that freaked me out was Wade Seller's Penthouse Playhouse. Graphic language,
silhouetted simulated sex......OMG. What would people think? Well - it was hilarious, campy and everyone loved it. With professional actors and Wade's wit - it was fun to just be entertained and laugh at things we have all certainly at least thought about...
Vicki Henderson from Penthouse Playhouse - n the green room.Nick Wilson mans the Half n Half booth.
Ashley and Courtney from Sid & Nancy - one of our sponsors.
Molly Harrell (her photos on wall in background) taking home some bananas.
On the very lovely and sweet side - Melinda Register's photos of a "mature" couple kissing reminds us that love and passion transcend youth. And one of my favorites - Shannon Purvis's drawings that included a bee drenched in honey and a buzzard that had shaped a heart of roadkill intestines as a gift to its mate. Now that is love.
Billy Guess explored the naughty voyeuristic side with his doors. A wall of doors that required you to look through the keyhole where you'd see pent up girls pics with twinkling lights as nipples, some objects that are used in ways I can't mention and a shelf of books on sex tips and such.
There were 12 or so to look through. He really pulled it off well and it was a hit in the show.
His banana post was impressive as well. Dozens of bananas with penis drawings on them.
We took the leftovers to Oliver Gospel mission where they got a laugh out of it.
The music was sexy - Krajewski with his Jim Morrison way, Danielle crooning love songs and Les Paramours so suave and tight. I am so glad I got to dance a few songs at the end.
Aaron & Grant put a smile on my face with their MC routines. At one point I was at the stage looking for them to make an announcement but didn't see them till someone pointed out that they were the two ugly women sitting off to the side...I think they made about 5 costume changes...With very little direction they kept things moving easily.
Loved working with Danny of Black Tie. His professionalism and crew set my mind at ease.
I'd work with them again in a skinny second.
Izms & Mike Dixon look at some of his work on Sunday.
Shannon Purvis on Sunday looking beautiful!
WHEW. I'm glad to get through it another year. It really does exhaust me both physically and mentally. I woke up many nights thinking what in the world am I doing this for, what will my mother and client's think - why I am spending so much energy on something that is purely just for entertainment, for artists to get out there and do something a little different for this stronghold of the bible belt...The biggest reason I think this year was the fun of working with artists and friends that push my limits, that challenge me to think about my values, ideals and philosophies and that I can just laugh out loud over the zaniness of it all. Oh and cause I don't wanna sit home on Valentines.....
What's Love Got to do with It?
