Stripping Down for Halloween

Seven 'til MidnightWhen Halloween rolls around every year, it seems a few groups of concerned citizens, often teachers and parents, are outraged at how provocative the retail costume industry has become. The once chaste versions of characters from Alice in Wonderland, Wizard of Oz, and Red Riding Hood have now been adopted and adapted by adult women. Complete with cleavage-baring corsets, garter belts, and frilled, visible panties, these “adult” costumes are sure to turn heads at parties and Halloween street parades.

Keeping its focus firmly in the over-18 realm, Los Angeles-based “contemporary costume and lingerie” design firm, Seven ‘til Midnight launched its new line dubbed ‘Costume or Play – Wear Either Way.’ Taking traditional Halloween costumes that have been reserved for adults – pirates, nurses, sex kittens, and the French maid – and putting an even more salacious twist on them, Seven ‘til Midnight has designed tear-away adaptable outfits that can be put to use in public or private, as costume or playful lingerie. Though there’s no doubt some wearers will choose the more revealing option when heading out this October, there’s going to be some pretty damn lively bedroom parties this year, that’s for sure.

 

John Holmes is Risen!

Barwick's ExhibitUniversity of Iowa M.F.A. sculpture student Emily Moran Barwick has drawn inspiration from a rather unusual source for her recent exhibition at the school’s Eve Drewelowe Gallery: the erect penis of deceased porn legend John C. Holmes. After dying from AIDS related complications in 1988 at the age of 43, Holmes left behind a 2,000-title acting career and a reputation for having the biggest cock in the history of porn. Now with The John Holmes Prick Parade!!! Ms. Barwick is using replicas of a plaster cast of Holmes’ member that she first saw when working at a novelty store in Florida to create debate about, as she told the Iowa Press-Citizen, “body ownership and who owns the body and who is licensed to the body.”

Sending two dozen plaster penises to contributing artists as far from The Hawkeye State as Miami, Barwick then arranged and exhibited such pieces as the technologically-themed trio iCock, Cockberry, and Swiss Army Cock to gallery attendees. The exhibition, potentially offensive to some, is proudly supported by the university’s art department who arranged for the gallery doors to remain closed while the exhibition stood, and marked the entrance with a disclaimer, alerting prudes and neuters everywhere that their delicate sensibilities could be upset by the presence of twenty-four legendary dicks.

Although the exhibition has now closed to the public, interested readers can keep an eye on Barwick’s blog to see her latest exclamation point-laden efforts to encourage a dialog about body image, ownership, and commodification.
Or you can just look at the decorated dicks.

Adult Workers of the USA, Celebrate!

LA Direct ModelsThe first proposal for the celebration of Labor Day asked for “A street parade to exhibit to the public ‘the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations,” and since it’s unlikely the general public will spend this coming Monday praising the work of those who suck and fuck on camera, don’t you think you, as an avid enjoyer of the pornographic arts, should do a little something to commend their tireless effort to fulfill your deepest sexual fantasies? LA Direct Models certainly thinks so.

Hosting a Labor Day Extravaganza at the Hollywood Playhouse on Sunday September 4th, porn’s premiere talent agency intends to honor porn’s hardest working women and men the best way the adult industry knows how – by partying their cotton socks off! Jerry Anders of co-sponsor Adult Entertainment Broadcast Network, told AVN that the bash, which is hosted by big-bootied adult superstars Alexis Texas and Kristina Rose, is a chance “to celebrate all the hard-working people in the industry who keep it moving along all year, which is what the holiday is about.”

Couldn’t have said it better myself. Hats off to you, porn professionals, now party hard, take Monday off, then get your impeccable asses back to work! (Just be sure not to wear white lingerie.)

Something Novel, Something New

ane 2011

Later this week porn professionals will descend upon sunny Pasadena, California to showcase their freshest wares and latest innovations in the realm of adult pleasure at the 2011 AVN Novelty Expo. Hosting more than a hundred exhibitors, from ASLAN Leather to XMYBOX, the ANE is when and where the makers of the world’s finest vibrators, dildos, pocket pussies, lubricants, condoms, lingerie, aphrodisiacs, sex furniture, lotions, and self-lubricating vibrating studded cock-rings gather ‘round the campfire to unleash their original erotic creations upon the salivating men and women of the adult industry. Also hosting some of the industry’s notable personalities discussing everything from the materials used to make your favorite dildos to the role bloggers and reviewers play in the current state of the adult industry. (Everyone’s favorite Asian BBW pornstar, Kelly Shibari, is speaking at that one. Feel like adding another reviewer/blogger/co-panelist, Kelly? Do ya?)

 Those in the LA area interested in attending better act quick. Proceedings begin on the morning of Thursday July 7th, peak with The “O” Awards on Friday night, and continuing on Saturday morning with a floor show that must be seen to be believed.

Don’t forget to return here to Mr. Pink’s Blog for a full rundown of all the “O” Awards news!