Erotic vs Pornography

Hi everyone, it has been a while since my last post so I thought I'd jump right in with something that is very pertinent to my artwork.
recently I was approached by the website Michelle7 to give them more photographs to use on there online gallery. I was one of their featured artists in the past and I really like their site. During our emails the curator commented that their erotic site was getting much more hits and would I consider posting there. Now I typically do not shot work that is more erotic in nature, not that I am offended by it or anything like that, I just haven't done so. I have thought a lot about it in the past and always wanted to see how far I could push things until it became, well blatant pornography. Thus rises the debate, where is that line,. what is pornography. Forget the Supreme Court, their decision years ago was that we'll know it hen we see it. Thanks for the clarification! And frankly I don't care about their views, but I do not want to loose my base of people who like my work, but I do think that there are a lot of people who like things a bit edgier, me being one of them. So I have searched and the debate still rages on. I found an interesting interview between Ken Taylor, a Professor and Chair of the Department of Philosophy at Stanford University and Anne Freire Ashbaugh, a Professor of Philosophy, Colgate University. Interview link You would think that with two Philosophy professors we would get a definitive answer to this question, right? OK I was only kidding about getting an answer. Of course there is no answer it is all perception. We all see things differently, you may see a beautiful nude statue and say that's obscene, where I see a religious symbol in a government building and find that obscene. The point I am making is that there is no substitute for good taste and if I am shooting more erotic images and feel like I am doing them justice, great but as I am shooting, if I feel kind of icky about them, then stop. I crossed a line somewhere along the way.
So I will leave it up to the viewer as I always have. In coming months you will see a link on my website to some more erotic images as well as postings here when the images will be on Michelle7. Please, I urge anyone who reads my blog to give me some feedback as to your thoughts on my new body of work and my attempt at pushing myself toward what I feel will be a liberating artistic experience for myself, my models and hopefully you, the viewer.

The Supreme Court and Guns

First let me apologize about this blog posting. It's not about photography, it's not about art, it's about our right winged Supreme Court's ruling today that Americans have a constitutional right to keep guns in their homes for self-defense. Now as a former gun owner I can really tell you this is NOT something that every American household needs. Now, not only did they rule that gun ownership is permissible but they also said that laws making trigger locks and keeping the guns unloaded is now unconstitutional. Forget about child safety, forget that we do not live in the Wild West. Of course this decision was applauded by the White House. Where we have a Vice president who should NOT own a gun and a President who has, every chance he has gotten, stacked the deck on the Supreme Court. Remember, these are life time appointed positions, so even if we get a Democrat in the White House someone on the bench has to resigned before someone can be appointed. In our county where the violent crime rate is still climbing, where guns are stolen everyday out of homes, why would the Supreme Court make such a decision. Oh wait, now I remember, the NRA is a huge contributer to the Republicans. Justice Anthony Scalia actually said that the handgun is Americans' preferred weapon of self-defense in part because "it can be pointed at a burglar with one hand while the other hand dials the police." HUH? Like this is what they are doing.
Well, that's enough of my rant about the state of our country. But beware Jehovah's Witnesses and take note before you go knocking on some stranger's door. Oh yes and girl scouts look out when selling your cookies. We now will have households of trigger happy people just itching to be "invaded" so they can use their new toys.

Interesting Quotes

Today I received a mailing from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. I have been thinking about going back to school to get my Masters in Fine Art and this university has a great distance learning program. But I digress; the reason for this blog post is that I liked some of the quotes in their mailing and wanted to share them with you, so here goes:
"If it disturbs you, it's art."
"If it inhabits your dreams and questions your fears, it's art."
"If it lifts you up in some sort of emotional epiphany or throws your preconceptions to the ground, it's art."
and finally a quote by Paul Gauguin, French Post-Impressionist Painter, "Art is either plagiarism or revolution." so they say and I agree, Let's start a revolution!

What they were eluding to is that art is everywhere not just on gallery walls but in fashion, in architecture, all around us. That is why it is so vitally important the we keep the arts alive, whether by patronizing a museum or small local gallery, viewing a performance or concert or on a beautiful day taking a walk in a city and looking around and realizing that someone had to design that building.
Art is one of the few things that we have that expresses who we are, don't let the funding for it go away.
Yes, I know I had to bring up politics but now we are down to the two candidates for president and they will decide who to fund and who not to.
According to information available from the Barack Obama campaign, the Illinois senator believes that the arts should be a “central part of effective teaching and learning.” He proposes increasing funding to expand public/private partnerships between schools and arts organizations, and he intends to create an “Artists Corps” of trained artists to work in low-income schools and their communities. Obama also hopes to increase funding to the NEA, whose budget has been slashed by $50 million since 1992.
For more on Obama and the arts you can read Edward Winkleman's blog at http://edwardwinkleman.blogspot.com/2008/03/arts-funding-and-obama.html

Censorship is not only an American issue...

It seems that censorship is alive and well in not only our own country but throughout the world. Last week Australian photographer, Bill Henson had of his photographs seized from an art gallery in Sydney on the claim that they are child pornography. Not only that since Henson has over 250 photographs hanging in prestigious galleries all over Australia and in state buildings. He and gallery owners are being intimidated by the right-winged Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, who has recently introduced section of the NSW (New South Wales) Crimes Act, which covers the production, dissemination and possession of child pornography. He is getting support from the arts community notably Cate Blanchett. She and 42 other leading writers, dramatists, filmmakers, musicians and artists issued an open letter to the prime minister. The letter rejected allegations that Henson’s work was child pornography and called on Rudd and Premier Iemma to “rethink” their previous comments.
For more about this issue of censorship you can read a report on it at the World Socialists Website.
It seems the more and more the right-winged conservatives throughout the world feel threatened, the more they are going after artists right to freedom of expression. That doesn't mean that blatant child exploitive photographs should be allowed. Child pornography laws are in affect to protect children from people who preys on a children for the sole purpose of violating and sexualized them. But in this case as in the case with Robert Mapplethorpe back in 1988, the children and the families all agree that the images are tasteful and beautiful. That there was nothing seedy going on during the shoot. The intent of the photographs is the real crux of the issue. Again, here the intent was just simply a beautiful photography of innocence.
So as much as I bash the good old US of A about our narrow minded politicians, it seems we are not alone and that my friends is a scary thought.

The narrow minded people of West Chester

Recently, a wonderful woman who has sat for my Red Chair project opened a boutique that caters to women and couples with products and education targeted at enhancing their sexuality. This is something that is desperately needed, most women and couples do not like to shop in the seedy "adult" stores, where the products are shabby and the atmosphere is basically creepy. Jill has opened a boutique that is tasteful, educational and welcoming to those who want to explore, enhance and reinvigorate their sexual beings. But now the city of West Chester, Pa wants her closed. Below is a new report:
NBC10:Sex Shop For Women Causes Chester County Controversy

WEST CHESTER, Pa. -- A quiet Chester County community has become riddled with controversy. The issue is a sex shop some say must go.
"Sexuality is something that is natural. I'm not exploiting it like everyone else," business owner Jill McDevitt said.
The 22-year-old said she thought West Chester would be the perfect place for her new store. The downtown is trendy and packed with young students.
Feminque Boutique, which has been open for three weeks, is an adult store catering to women, selling lingerie, lotions and adult novelties. Those are in a back room.
But she said not everyone has welcomed the store...."I think anytime you take something like that -- something involving human sexuality and pervert it -- that's wrong," the Rev. Edward Deliman said.
The monsignor of St. Agnes Church said he has written letters to the borough, spoken about the store at Sunday service and has been encouraging other parishes to protest the shop at Tuesday night's planning and zoning meeting.

Now the Monsignor of St. Agnes of course is calling sexuality perverted, but what about the hundreds of young alter boys whom the Catholic Church scared? Oh I am sorry that's another topic. And besides, the Pope said they were sorry.

Anyway, Jill has a wonderful concept that should be embraced with open arms. The town of West Chester's zoning committee should do the right thing and stand by her.
Please let Jill know you support her, her website is http://www.feminiqueboutique.com/

Hiding nudity in plain site

Hundreds strip naked in Vienna for artist.
I am sure most of you by now have heard of Spence Tunick. Since 1994 he has had thousands of people strip nude and pose in public in what he calls temporary installations. He describes his work as "...the individuals, en masse, without their clothing, grouped together metamorphose into a new shape. The bodies extend into and upon the landscape like a substance."
Originally I felt his work had an edge; he set up these daring shots with hundreds of volunteers, skirting the law and making these very interesting landscapes. But now, he is very celebrated and he is being granted access to pose his photos anywhere he likes and thousands of people want to be involved. What was once unique and different has been commercialized and almost trivialized.
I bring up Tunick's work because I find it interesting to see his work and hear how he explains it. I realized that his work is the polar opposite of what I am doing. When I photograph a nude person or group of people it is as much about them as individuals as it is about me the artist. Their own sexuality and, personality come into play, not sterilized or sanitized for your protection. In Tunick's work it is about him as an artist using the nude as a vehicle. The individual person is lost in a sea of bodies. And with these large groups of people, the nude actually disappears into this mass which becomes part of the landscape. Totally acceptable to be viewed on Good Morning America or some other tv news tabloid.
I will always give an artist credit for doing something different and inovative whether I like it as art or not, I just find it wild that Tuncik was actually able to make the nude common. Pity.

The Heart of Peace Exhibition

Well tonight is the opening of the "Heart of Peace" exhibition at the Greenshire Arts Consortium. Greenshire is an amazing place of peace and relaxation run by two of the nicest people you'd ever want to meet. According to Arlene and Jim, "The inspiration for this mixed-media exhibition comes from the understanding that humanity and our earth community share unique commonalities, with peace and love often being the thread that weaves together this genuine connection."

Opening Reception and Peace Garden Dedication
May 2, Friday Evening, 6pm - 9pm
Peace Garden Dedication will be at 7:30 pm
Facets of Peace Portrayed by Artists:
Harmony with Family, Friends and Community Understanding of Commonalities and Differences Expressions of Beauty toward our Living Planet Inter-racial and Cultural Connections; Unconditional Love Sharing, Giving, Altruism, Personal Tranquility, Peace of Mind Bonds of Brotherhood, Sisterhood; Reaching Out to Humanity

Three of my images are part of this beautiful exhibition along with the works of:
James Ambrogi, Alix von Auenmueller, Claudia Balant, Lesta Bertoia, Ron Bevilacqua, Janet Bishop, Audrey Clymer, Edna Dollin, Wendy Ellsworth, Patricia Goodrich, Marianne Knipe, Scott Ogburn, Ruth Rosenfeld

I hope to see you at the opening!