It's time you checked out this classy exhibition of dirty art. I don't mean to diminish the Seattle Erotic Art Festival [1] in any way, but I can't think of a better way to describe what it's all about. SEAF is a celebration of thoughtful, inspirational and even beautiful dirty art. The atmosphere is avant-garde, the performances are mesmerizing, the attendees are glamorous and the art is dirty, dirty, dirty. Dirty, I tell you.
It's a little different this year. SEAF 2008 is a best-of, featuring the jury and audience award winners from its previous five years -- an august body that includes Erin Frost, Ellen Forney, Midori, Rik Garrett, Bloodengel, R. Nina Ruchirat, Kiriko Moth, Derek Nobbs, Jessica McCourt, Anastasia Mulligan, Hypnox, Andrew Caldwell and too many more to name here.
The artists may have disparate styles and work in different mediums, but no matter: The danger, coyness, grace, humor, yearning and outright lust embodied in the pieces brings everything together. Past shows have integrated photography, paintings, illustrations and mixed-media pieces into a seamless whole -- and that's not even counting the live bodies that are walking around the gala, making art right there in public.
The interactive element looks particularly robust. Returning are KD Boze and Stasia Kato, whose "Virgin Project" transforms "first-time" stories into graphic-novel-style portraits. (Names and faces are changed, so don't be shy about stepping up and spilling your tale.) Barb Penoyar will take medium-format Polaroids -- endangered objects, these days -- and Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School will be in session if you've the desire to do some figure sketches of burlesque performers. (Who in hell doesn't?)
And the live performers will work their own magic. Aerialists will glide overhead; poets will rant; dancers will dance; singers will sing; and bondage performers will, erm, bond. A who's who of fringe talent, including Tamara The Trapeze Lady, David Jones, Simonne Garrigues, Arnaldo!, Cayenne and Cañela, the Von Foxies and many others, will take the emotions that are hanging on the walls and bring them into three-dimensional space.
SEAF 2008 takes place at Seattle Center Exhibition Hall, which explains why I felt the need to drop that shameless, pathetic Space Needle crack into the headline. Admission is $25 ($20 if you buy advance tickets [2]), and no one under 21 will be admitted. The promoters encourage you to "dress to impress," which means pretty much whatever you'd like it to mean.
Almost forgot: Cameras are forbidden. That's OK. You probably won't forget this night for as long as you live. Pervert.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
