You’ve got to love a press release that asks questions like, “Want to dabble in a bit of S&M?”
It’s not the type of question you’d expect to accompany an art experience, but after writing about art in the Tampa Bay area for the past two years, I’ve learned to keep an open mind.
When you’re an art writer, you’re rarely writing about art alone. It’s usually "art plus" — art plus religion, art plus politics, art plus community, art plus technology. This week it’s art plus sex.
This Saturday, you can see how more than 30 LGBTQ and ally artists interpret love, lust, and sexual empowerment at Metro Inclusive Health’s KINK. The event is one part art auction, one part fundraiser, and one part sexual empowerment. “We like to think of this as more than just an art show,” says Metro’s Chief Marketing & Experience Officer Brian Bailey. “It’s an art immersion experience.”
When Chad Mize was invited to participate in KINK, at first he questioned the choice. “You know, my work doesn’t really fall under that category. So I was like, ‘OK, I’ll just be playful with it,’” he says. The results were three panels of fluorescent pink, green, yellow and orange “doodle dicks.” It’s a triptych of “little cartoon penises” that Mize is calling "TripDych."
“I was envisioning a patterned shirt, like a men’s dress shirt,” says Mize, “I ended up doing fluorescent colors for them just so that it was kind of off-the-wall. I didn’t want to do flesh-colored. I thought it would be a little too vulgar. I like how it turned out. I posted progress shots online and people really responded well to it.” All three canvases are up for auction at KINK, and Mize tells me he has a few more at his gallery.
John Gascot, who often incorporates sexuality into his artwork, has contributed a piece to KINK called "El Travesti." “It means 'The Transvestite,'” says Gascot. “It’s a guy in bra and panties with a wig, and he’s got a sailor tattoo.”
M’ria Swire, in keeping with her usual style, contributed an abstract painting with a female figure. “I wanted to present an image that would go along with the theme of KINK, but not be so straight-forward,” says Swire.
Joseph DiCarlo completed one painting, "Blind Hunger," for the auction. He is also live painting at the event. "Blind Hunger" features two men — one is feeding a strawberry to his partner, who is blindfolded. It’s a huge departure from his usual pop art stuff, Swire tells us. “It’s really interesting because he usually doesn’t do any kind of sexual pieces or nude pieces at all,” she says. “Seeing his work for this show is like seeing a completely different side of him show up.”
As much as I love art, KINK is much more than just visual art. “The amazing art will draw our guests to this event, but the entertainment will definitely keep them there,” says Metro’s Fundraising and Events Coordinator Roosevelt Cevallos. The entertainment includes body painting, a live model gallery, burlesque, pole dancing, go-go boys, male strippers, leather boys, leather girls, and interactive fetish installations.
“Fifty Shades of Grey kind of brought kink, or bondage, to the mainstream,” says Bailey. “People are a little more exposed to the concept, at least.” With this event, Metro is providing the curious with an opportunity to enjoy erotic artwork and explore kink without putting themselves in a dangerous situation.
“We’re very happy to have the opportunity for participants to actually immerse themselves in certain activities that might be seen as kinky, like roping, light bondage, and paddling,” says Bailey, “installations where people will be able to participate in a safe environment.”
Does bondage make you hungry? If so, then head to the Gloré Holé Café. “We built a board that looks like a glory hole,” says Bailey. “You’ll make a donation, and [a pastry chef will] slip out some dessert that will probably have some phallic look to it.”
More than 1,000 people have marked themselves interested in the event on Facebook. “It’s interesting to see how much curiosity there is about this event,” says Bailey. “I don’t think we’ve ever had that much of a response to something we’ve done before.”
Although they’ve never hosted an event like this in the past, KINK is right up Metro’s alley. “We offer over 100 services focused on the health and well-being of the LGBT community, and a large part of that is sexual health,” says Bailey. “We always try to send out that message, ‘enjoy sexual awakening, but also be safe doing it.’”
KINK: An Art Affair | Sat., Aug. 17, 8 p.m.-12 a.m. | Metro Inclusive Health, 3251 3rd Ave. N., St. Petersburg | $25 in advance, $35 at the door | www.metrotampabay.org
Stay up-to-date with Tampa Bay arts, culture, music, food and more — subscribe to our newsletters.
