Eric Firestone Gallery is happy to current Erotic Metropolis, a gaggle exhibition of over forty artists, curated by Martha Edelheit. Edelheit (b. 1931, New York, NY) is a pioneering artist whose work confronts dominant artwork historic paradigms, foregrounding feminine gaze and want. Her lush and vivid work is directly vital, sensual, and humorous. An vital voice for feminist artwork, she is understood for each her frank depictions of sexuality and her insistence on their place inside an artwork historic custom and society. Edelheit, who has been represented by Eric Firestone Gallery since 2018, lived in Sweden from 1993 till 2024. Now in her 90s she as soon as once more lives and works in New York Metropolis.
Edelheit writes of Erotic Metropolis:
What’s the distinction between pornography and erotic artwork? I’m 93 years previous. In our tradition it wouldn’t be uncommon to ask what somebody my age is doing curating an erotic exhibition. Whereas it is probably not widespread data, most of my friends nonetheless have erotic lives, some extra lively than others. Behind that typically bent and wrinkled exterior a really intense sensory life can nonetheless be functioning. Because the Nineteen Sixties I’ve been doing work that has been known as erotic. I by no means got down to do erotic drawings. I by no means considered my work as erotic. I used to be drawing amusing tales I made up for myself. I can’t do these drawings, or tales, on demand. They occur to me. In 1959–60 a good friend confirmed me his copy of the Japanese Pillow Guide. It was my first encounter with erotica and it profoundly affected my creativeness and artwork making. It’s nonetheless the lens by which I view erotic artwork. A author of novels as soon as said that “pornography is a e book you learn with one hand.” Erotic works are pictures and writings it’s also possible to take a look at with one hand. Ideas of the erotic and pornographic change over time, and replicate the tradition and politics of the period. Faith and politics outline what’s and isn’t pornography or erotica. The erotic novels of D.H. Lawrence have been condemned as pornography when first printed. Once I was twelve or 13 years previous the erotic e book being handed underneath the desks in my public college was “Gone With the Wind”.
I consider pornography as chilly, abusive, nonconsensual, painful, humiliating, imply, degrading, scientific. Pornography is a industrial endeavor. Cash is exchanged for particular providers rendered, both in particular person, movie, books, photos. It typically provides providers for what is usually known as deviant wants…..punishment, ache, humiliation, childish fantasies. Stomping, spanking, beating, binding, hitting, exposing, choking, submission to a dominating particular person, or dominating another person. It has a a lot clearer delineation than erotica.
I consider the erotic as sensual, nonviolent, consensual, heat, inviting, typically humorous, witty, amusing. Erotica can embody among the pornographer’s inventory in commerce, however it’s lighter in contact, typically humorous, typically witty, and aesthetically pleasurable. Erotica assumes shared affiliation, touching, stroking, licking, wanting, enjoying, exposing….it digresses, teases, laughs, arouses, with out harming.
Genitalia, vaginas, breasts, and penises are usually not pornographic or erotic. They’re regular mammal physique elements, normally utilized in copy. They rely upon context to turn out to be pornographic or erotic.
Whereas pornography will arouse, it won’t delight. Pornography can provide quick bodily aid. Erotica can arouse however it additionally can provide lasting aesthetic pleasure on many ranges.
I hope this small choice of what I and the Eric Firestone Gallery think about erotic imagery will provide you with, the viewers, that have.
Artists embody:
Helen Beard, Judith Bernstein, Paul Cadmus, Miriam Cahn, Jonathan Lyndon Chase, William R. Christopher, Jimmy DeSana, Lauren dela Roche, Jane Dickson, Rosalyn Drexler, Martha Edelheit, Sarah Fake, Mary Frank, Louis Fratino, Eunice Golden, Jenna Gribbon, Duncan Hannah, Jane Kogan, Joyce Kozloff, Sophie Larrimore, Pierre le Riche, Marcus Leslie Singleton, Kim Levin, Lee Lozano, Christabel MacGreevy, Keith Mayerson, Marilyn Minter, Jay Miriam, Rose Nestler, Janice Nowinski, Tom of Finland, Letitia Quesenberry, GaHee Park, Claudia Renfro, Kathy Ruttenberg, Sal Salandra, Mira Schor, Carolee Schneemann, Lara Schnitger, Joan Semmel, Patrick Siler, Laurie Simmons, Anita Steckel, Betty Tompkins, Katarina Janečková Walshe, Mia Weiner, Hannah Wilke, Didier William
