The Seattle Erotic Art Festival encourages you to not only view art, but to embody art through conversation, education, and action. Over the course of three days, we’ll offer numerous workshops and lectures on a range of topics related to art and/or eroticism. Take a gander at our options; all of these wonderful classes are included in the price of your festival ticket.
Friday, April 28th
Erotic Portraiture with John Cornicello 10pm-12am (Rm. 1618)
Lesson and demonstration featuring The Chair Project with photographer, John Cornicello. Time permitting, festival guests will get the chance to model for The Chair Project.
Beyond Nude: Life Drawing – 6-7:30pm (Rm. 1618)
Throughout the festival there will be both scheduled and spontaneous life drawing sessions. Facilitators and drawing materials will be on hand to encourage your creativity. We’ll start Friday night with the restraint and tension of strait jackets — can you meet the challenge of seeing the body when it can’t be seen?
Getting Close: Exploring Ways to Connect with Shonda – 7pm (Conversation Corner)
As more and more machines fill our lives, let’s take the time to remember the importance of connecting to each other. Come talk about and explore ways that we can make sure that we stay connected through our words, emotions and physical touch. Please be willing to participate in exercises and practice consent.
Asian Erotica – Pleasure & Passion with Doreen Russell – 7pm
Join jewelry artist and antiquarian, Doreen Russell, president of Ming’s Asian Gallery for a tour of a curated collection of antique erotica from China, Korea, Japan, India, and Nepal. This provocative glimpse of history combines intimate imagery and symbolism in the exploration of fundamental relationships. The majority of the carefully chosen representations for this exhibit, are now restricted or prohibited in their country of origin. In front the Festival Store.
Saturday, April 29th
Beyond Nude: Life Drawing – 12:30pm-2:30pm & 6pm-7:30pm (Rm. 1618)
Throughout the festival there will be both scheduled and spontaneous life drawing sessions. Facilitators and drawing materials will be on hand to encourage your creativity. Saturday afternoon/evening, we give you two hours of Rope Art Salon. Capture the process of tying or study the interplay of flesh and knots.
Trans Positive Sex – 4pm (Main Stage)
Join Tobi Hill-Meyer, editor of Nerve Endings: The New Trans Erotic, for an adult-oriented sex education workshop designed from the ground up with trans people in mind.
Asian Erotica – Pleasure & Passion with Doreen Russell – 7pm
Join jewelry artist and antiquarian, Doreen Russell, president of Ming’s Asian Gallery for a tour of a curated collection of antique erotica from China, Korea, Japan, India, and Nepal. This provocative glimpse of history combines intimate imagery and symbolism in the exploration of fundamental relationships. The majority of the carefully chosen representations for this exhibit, are now restricted or prohibited in their country of origin. In front the Festival Store.
Roleplay Workshop – 7pm (Conversation Corner)
We’ve all heard it before: “Doctor, I’m here for my checkup”. “But I need an A, professor.” “Once I’ve taken your soul, I’ll take your body.” (Ok maybe not that last one)
If you’re like me, you avoided roleplay exactly because you wanted an authentic experience that sounds nothing like your typical porn script. If you’re like me, you’re also immensely curious at what it has to offer.
In a single hour, play a series of games that build you up to full-fledged roleplay. It won’t be cheesy, you’ll know exactly what to say and you’ll feel safe the whole time.
For beginners (or veterans who want to explore). No partner necessary. You won’t need any preloaded fantasies either. Just come as you are.
Sunday, April 30th
Beyond Nude: Life Drawing – 12:30pm-2pm (Gallery Stage)
Throughout the festival there will be both scheduled and spontaneous life drawing sessions. Facilitators and drawing materials will be on hand to encourage your creativity. Start your day with an hour or so of life drawing; we promise it’s better than Sunday brunch.
Jury Panel Discussion – 1pm (Main Stage)
Join the Visual Art jury and the Festival Director to hear about the art selection process. Each juror bring their unique perspective to the jury process, creating a collaborative body in choosing the exhibition. Personal thoughts and examples from the selected art will be shared. Your questions are welcome.
Boys That Lie with Shayla M. Alari – 2pm (Main Stage)
Both artist and viewer alike are greatly influenced by issues of gender, sexual orientation, and race when interpreting what it means to be naked. With a particular focus on the passive male nude (figures that are lying down) this talk will address our ingrained cultural attitude toward seeing naked bodies in the visual arts and broader visual culture.
Shayla M. Alarie completed her Master’s Degree in art history at the University of Washington and has taught courses there and at Seattle University. Alarie has worked as a gallerist in contemporary art at Anderson O’Brien Fine Art in Omaha, NE, in native arts at Maruskiya’s in Nome, AK and since 2010 she has served as the Director of the Antique and Modern Department at Davidson Galleries in Pioneer Square.
Thoughts from Shayla:
“I suppose it was my experiences with sexism really that sparked my specific research topics in the field of art history. Our culture is one that is so heavily influenced on narrative and images (and their correlations) and we are so easily swayed by them, but so few people know how or why. The ways in which women are systematically marginalized, objectified and violated can, in part, be traced back to the “authority” given by the historical precedent of images such as the ones I will be discussing. It’s the same as using columns to make a building look dignified, because that’s what the Romans did, and they did it because that what the Greeks did. But there is nothing inherently dignified about a column – it’s the history and significance that we give it that gives it power. If we can learn visual literacy the way we learn standard literacy, then we, as a culture, will be much better able to read between the lines. As an art historian, I am interested greatly in educating people in order to break down these barriers, especially those that are applied to issues around women, sex and gender identity.”
Participate in and discuss eroticism with your fellow Festival attendees by taking part in our workshops and lectures. We can’t wait to see you there!
The Seattle Erotic Art Festival is April 28-30 at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall. Tickets available now!