Friday night will be a night of wine, knee-high boots, black makeup and fishnets for those involved in the annual fetish art show, "Biting the Apple," at IAO Gallery.
This year's theme is "Surrealust." Artists were asked to hinge their fetish art fantasies on a surrealist door, and to come together as a whole for two nights of extravagance.
John Seward, artist and juror, says this year's show is going to be a bit tamer than usual, though. He said he felt like he was walking on egg shells trying to describe the lurid quality of the show.
"I think it was probably not quite as racy," Seward said. "But I think it is probably more so, or every bit (as), thought provoking. I think that in this sort of social climate most of the artists tend to be toned down."
Seward wants to emphasize that the raunchy connotation that comes from the word "fetish" is not what the show is about. It is in fact an art show meant to captivate and titillate.
IAO is giving the sexier, darker side of art a window of opportunity for all to see -- not just a few people in a subculture who know the right Web sites and underground hot spots.
Seward said this year's show is as diverse as always.
"There was really a broad cross-section from painting to photography and collage to digital compositions," Seward said. "There are 3-D pieces including marble sculpture. Blown glass, infused glass. Construction using mixed media elements."
Nicole Moan will be one of the features of the show. Her ceramic corsets will not only be a part of the show but models will also be walking among the crowd showing off her creations.
The corsets are all handmade ceramics ranging in price from $175 to $3,000. Moan's art is one of 500 to be selected to be in the Swatch London Fashion Show.
Moan said she really wants this to be a surreal event. She wants people to feel as if they are on another planet. IAO has certainly gone the extra mile to do such a feat. There will be stilt walkers and performers of all different types there. Even the volunteers are going to be dressed up.
"It's gonna be crazy," Moan said. "We wanna catch people off guard. That's why it's Surrealust."
Moan won't be the only local art celebrity. Designer Mary Timme, whom works during the day at Velvet Monkey Too, will have her own models strutting around as well. One of Timme's models, Haley Luna, said Timme also creates outfits for Oklahomans turned L.A. electro rockers, Shiny Toy Guns.
The show doesn't just have models walking around in fetish gear. There will be film showings as well as performance art. Poets will be on hand to read aloud their favorite erotic poems.
Friday night is the show's opening, but Saturday night is the notorious Fetish Ball. While Seward said that the art may have been toned down, Moan and others are preparing for quite an illustrious turnout from Oklahoma City night owls.
Everybody in attendance should be ready to see grown men being led around on leashes by their female "masters" as in past years. Picture this with a backdrop of penis and vagina sculptures. The year Kelly Trance DJ'ed the Fetish Ball there were people being whipped to the beat rather than just dancing.
Tickets are $15 for Friday's 7 to 11 p.m. Opening Party, $25 for Saturday's 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fetish Ball or $35 for a two-day pass. IAO is located at 811 N. Broadway Ave.hello there & you too
