And it was a success! I’m going to be honest, I was despondent when the pandemic shut down Seattle in March. Luckily, the SEAF committee is a group of pretty amazing people who were all willing to do whatever needed to be done to make SEAF go for the “Pandemic Edition”. Even if it meant not participating. Our leads for Aaaahz!, Interactive Performances, Interactive Installations, Short Films, People’s Choice Awards, and the Touch Gallery exhibit were gracious in their understanding of needing to curtail those elements. Thank you to Andy, Icy, Andrew, Dani, and Cyra, respectively, for being willing to bring these elements back to SEAF when it is possible from a health and safety standpoint.
So, the 2020 Seattle Erotic Art Festival- the Pandemic Edition was primarily a visual art exhibition and museum-quality store. Despite a global pandemic, exhibition artists sent us 200 pieces of art for the exhibition, and 55% of the selected store artists sent us their small artworks and merchandise. And y’all bought art! 66 of those 200 pieces that made up the exhibition went to their forever homes. 33% percent of the art sold; a new record of art sold off the walls. Thank you for supporting us and our artists! (We still have a fair amount of art still at Gallery Erato, so let us know if there is a piece you are thinking of giving a home.)
I am immensely pleased that I was talked into doing virtual performances by Boom Boom. We had fun, and learned some new skills that might need to be integrated into how we do things. No promises yet, but it looks like there might be a virtual show ticket available for future festivals. If you missed any of the SEAF 2020 virtual shows, there is talk of scheduling “reruns” or a compilation “best of”. More will be revealed.
I am so very glad that were were able to pull off having a SEAF 2020, though it is a bittersweet victory. The loss of the interaction with all of you was felt keenly. I missed the grand party and seeing everyone expressing themselves and being living art. I missed the conversations and exchange of ideas in the 
lectures, discussions, and art tours. I missed seeing the delight on your faces as you enjoyed SEAF. Thank you for joining us via Zoom for art tours, Literary readings, performances, and for your emails and phone calls. Thank you for giving me a little bit of SEAF interaction.
Now, I have the fortitude to carry on. The Planning Committee has already talked about moving SEAF2021 to later in the year, probably mid-August. This means our Call For Art will open in March. Thank goodness for a SEAF-going epidemiologist who can consult knowledgeably with us about what is possible, and when. Unfortunately, surviving as an organization until then will be really tight. Any art purchases you can make in our online store or donations you can send our way will help us keep the lights on and moving forward. Erotic artist deserve a place to shine and be celebrated, please help SEAF and Gallery Erato be that place.
I hope you are able to enjoy your holidays and stay safe.
Warm winter wishes,
Sophia Sky Iannicelli
Executive Director