Erotic art still faces lingering disapproval. There’s the tendency to focus solely on the subject of sexual desire and dismiss its attached politics, not to mention the wavering distinction between what is considered “art” and what is deemed pornography (“obscenity” in legalese). So count on local co-op sex shop, Come As You Are (701 Queen W., www.comeasyouare.com) to challenge these misconceptions with their first Toronto Erotic Arts & Crafts Festival (Feb. 9-10, noon-5pm; www.eroticartsandcrafts.com), taking place this weekend at the Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen W.).
The Festival combines last year’s Erotic Arts and Crafts Fair with the successful four-year-old Erotic Blender art show. It’s upgrading to include this week’s special in-store workshops like how to make your  own clay dildo, Erotic Blender’s Gladstone opening on Feb. 8 (reception 6-9pm) followed by the Festival Meltdown fundraiser party to support the non-profit effort with DJs Nik Red and Cozmic Cat, and, of course, the weekend’s offering of libido-minded arts and crafts.
Come As You Are co-owner Sarah Forbes-Roberts calls the community-based effort their “biggest event this year,” especially for the vast assortment of artisan-made sex-centric “pervertables” like Boldex Industries’ “porno hankie” with erotic embroidery, artist Bud Fujikawa’s Japanese-style wooden phalloi and burlesque pasties courtesy of EYE WEEKLY’s own Sasha Van Bon Bon. “For the person they’re buying for on Valentine’s Day, rather than getting a box of chocolates, [people] can go to the festival and get something unique.”
The merger between the Fair and Erotic Blender made sense, as Erotic Blender curator Chris Ablett explains that the former in-store erotic arts exhibition “had over 300 people [last year] at Come as You Are with a lineup down Queen Street.” The art exhibit itself had developed organically out of the four-year-old erotic photography workshop she runs with co-curator Leanne Gillard at the shop.
Peterborough-based artist Jes Sachse is one of those former workshoppers who is now showcasing her own photography for the third time after Ablett encouraged her to submit her work. Sachse sees erotic photography as “a way to start with my own body to demonstrate my own sexuality and speak out on that front because not a lot of images are available [of] people with physical disability in a sexual kind of light.”
So it’s no surprise that Ablett’s excited about the Gladstone opening, and the exhibition’s later showing of works exploring sexual politics at Come As You Are until the end of March. In her view, it’s allowing the 40 mostly first-time artists working in mediums not exclusive to photography to fully explore the “idea of what erotic art [means] to them personally, and really challenge norms around body image, sexuality and gender and not really [think] about eroticism from a mainstream place.”

 

Fresh cups
Do old bras go to heaven or remain forever stuffed in the corners of drawers? On Feb. 13, Breast of Canada (www.breastofcanada.com) presents Dead Bra Day, an initiative encouraging unconventional dead bra burials. In a special one-day sale to coincide with the effort, Secrets From Your Sister (560 Bloor W., www.secretsfromyoursister.com) will trade your weary breast-wear for 20 per cent off a replacement (one bra only). All donations will go to the Women’s Own Detox Centre Fund (Toronto General and Western Hospital Foundation). Store hours will be extended from 9am to 9pm.

SCANDILICIOUS
The Scandinavian-bred CHANGE (315 Queen W.) bra shop is hosting Girls-Night-Out Valentine’s Day Prep Parties for femme fatales wanting to get together, and kamikaze partners with that well-matched V-day knickers-and-balconette combo. Book a night of personalized service with complimentary cupcakes and sparkling wine as well as a $100 gift card in appreciation for that lucky party organizer. Contact CHANGE’s store manager, Lisa Bernstein (416-977-7667) for more details.

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