Photos by Mauro Whiteman
Waiting in line, I was passed by a woman wearing a hot-pink fishnet bodysuit with matching pink hair and panties. I am uncertain whether that made me overdressed or underdressed but it gave me the first hint as to what the evening would entail.
Friday was the Phantasmagorical Spectacular Opening of Alwun House‘s Exotic Art Show.
In its 28th year, the Exotic Art Show is the Alwun House’s largest fundraising event. The group art exhibit features the work of more than 50 artists from all over the world.
Inside the house, art lined the walls in various mediums from ceramics and mixed media to black and white sketch work and ink wash charcoal. The subject material was equally varied.
“Some of it is very explicit and some of it is very thematic,” Baron Dixon, an Alwun House worker and artist said. “It runs the whole spectrum.”
J Scooter Harris, a local short-story writer, graphic novelist and artist had a few pieces from his series called The Suit. The pieces feature an illustrative style that shows the traditional female submission role reversed.
Harris said his inspiration comes from old pulp novels from the ’30s and ’40s, and comic books.
“The Suit is my new next step; getting back to my pulp roots,” he said.
Outside were multiple mini-bars, a food table and the main stage. All of this was cast under a constantly changing and colorful art show that was projected onto a billowing canvas hung above the entire event.
The West Garden Stage featured the Austen Mack Quartet who played jazz music which contrasted the bass-heavy music of the disc jockeys.
Another scan of the crowd showed a wide array of people. While the majority of attendees were dressed in casual to semi-formal attire, there was also a man wearing a Guy Fawkes mask and ass-less leather chaps and a lady wearing nothing but a sheer, see-through shawl. A sprinkling of floor-length gowns were scattered throughout.
Between the free shots of Hpnotiq and the exotic art on display, the crowd had gotten a little wild – all just in time for the entertainment to take center stage.
The show started off with an undeniably adorable rendition of a reverse mermaid (human legs, fish torso) dancing to old jazz music while laying fish eggs in the form of small, white balloons.
Provocatease changed the dynamic in the room quickly with dancers in monkey costumes harassing an innocent girl to get in touch with humans’ more animalistic behaviors.
The show continued with a hoop dancing number performed by a dancer dressed as Katy Perry. She later added flames to her show.
The troupe takes a modern angle to burlesque while still incorporating many of the classic elements.
“We approach much of our routine with a sense of humor,” Madam C, head mistress and director of Provocatease said.
Each member of the troupe has a specific skill set that they bring to the show. Madam C has 13 years of dance experience, eight years of belly dancing and has done work with fire acts.
“I have more of a chameleon style,” she said.
While traditional burlesque fans are often kept happy with nipple tassels and pasties, Provocatease boasts a variety of acts. Straightjacket removal and magic show elements are coupled with Saturday Night Live-style humor and other uncommon talents such as swing dance and acrobatics.
A funny-turned-sexy French painter, Orgazzmo, painted and washed his body before ripping off his pants revealing a gold, sparkly thong.
Orgazzmo later performed aerial maneuvers holding onto ribbons that dangled from the stage frame, his body suspended in various poses.
They kept the show light and fun while still retaining the sexual undertones of burlesque.
“I think we are just very flirty and we like it like that,” Madam C said.
Patrons, artists and visitors were free to roam the house throughout the evening.
In the basement, surrounded by exotic artwork, Mark Greenawalt painted a live nude model. The skin canvas painted from the waist up was decorated with a vibrant pattern of geometric shapes.
“Exotic art forces people to be more open and accepting,” Kim Moody, the founding director of Alwun house said.
The nonprofit has been showing art since 1971 and is known as Phoenix’s first alternative arts space.
“We are not pulling the blinds over you. You come and you see,” Moody said. “It is discrete enough that it is on the edge and that’s where we like to be.”
The Exotic Art Show at the Alwun House will run from February 10 to March 17. It is open for viewing Tuesday through Friday from noon to 6 p.m. for $5.
Contact the reporter at domenico.nicosia@asu.edu
