Audacia Ray reviews Ellen Forney’s book Lust: Kinky Online Personal Ads from Seattle’s The Stranger

Ok, technically this isn’t at all a review. In fact, it’s got a different prefix entirely. This is a preview of Demimonde: The Art of Molly Crabapple, a solo art show curated by yours truly, Audacia Ray. I’ve started curating bimonthly erotic art shows at Arena Studios in SoHo, NYC – and this is my second one.

The show isn’t open to the public yet – the public doesn’t get to see it until Friday (full details below). So in the meantime, you can sample a little internet video preview. Enjoy!

Demimonde: The Art of Molly Crabapple
curated by Audacia Ray
opening on
Friday, February 8th, from 7-10 pm
Work hangs from February 8 to April 4
@
Arena Studios
407 Broome St, Suite 7A

In the 19th century, the term “Demimonde” referred to the world of the theatre, of bohemia and of high-end sex-work: where style was traded for money and class transgression was possible- though often at great personal cost. As the American safety net falls apart, we’re once again turning to the Demimonde for consolation.

Molly Crabapple’s “Demimonde” explores this half-world of sex, ambition and artifice. It also marks the debut of her new series of large scale works.

Held at the sumptuous Arena Studios, with free champagne and free Dr. Sketchy’s burlesque drawing in the back room. Bring your sketchpads.

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Audacia Ray reviews Best Erotic Comics 2008, edited by Greta Christina.

If this concept of a dirty comics anthology sounds vaguely familiar, you’re not wrong. Before this book came two other recent (but unrelated) volumes.
True Porn was published in 2003
True Porn, Volume 2 was published in 2005

One of my faves, though not strictly erotic because it’s sexual but mostly in that disturbing way, is Phoebe Gloeckner’s Diary of a Teenage Girl. Some of Phoebe’s work is also featured in Best Erotic Comics 2008.

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Sample months: August & June
Buy direct from Dr. Sketchy