More Than Prurient Interest Art

In Erotic Art Becoming Mainstream? artist Genevive Zacconi says:

"I do not fall neatly into a genre," she says. "Some of my work is erotic and people say, 'Oh, there's a hot girl.' But I mean to make you think about the psychology behind sex. You are meant to talk about the chemistry between men and women, the social games we play. So yes, I have been called an erotic artist and that is true, but I am not always making paintings that are supposed to get you turned on. I want to get you thinking."

Shown here is one of her works -- it sure seems more 'thinky' than 'erotic' to me.

You can see more of Zacconi's works here.

Zacconi is also co-owner of the Trinity Gallery in Philadelphia, and while (not all of) her art is erotic, her gallery hostess, Ryan sure is. (Shown here on the left, with the tray; gallery director Genevive Zacconi and assistant Robin on the right. Center is a work by Fred Harper.)



In a quasi-related article, Erick Janssen, an associate scientist at The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, says that at its core, there's nothing wrong with erotica:

"In itself, sexuality isn't a bad thing nor are depictions of sexuality," he said by phone from his Indiana office this week. "It's not a simple discussion."

There's plenty of pornography that Janssen disapproves of - violent images, for example, or what he called a "no-brainer," anything involving children - but to lump all erotica together or dismiss it out of hand is misguided, he suggested.

In the past few years I've often wondered why Kinsey has been so silent... These times call for the voice of reason & enlightenment.

At least their planning their Second Annual Kinsey Institute Juried Erotic Art Show on the University of Indiana campus. The show starts on the 13th of this month and runs through July 20th. (I might be able to get to that even.)