Femina Potens


                                    
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 GIVE THANKS, SERVICE AND SUBMISSION BY INDULGING IN PURE DEBAUCHERY
 'ART OF RESTRAINT'
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
November 21st, 2009 - 8PM.

 Last August Femina Potens hosted a sold-out evening of erotic debauchery featuring amazing bondage artists such as James Mogul and Midori and even a delicious burlesque performance by celebrity Margaret Cho. On November 21st Femina Potens will open its doors at 7:30pm and roll out the red carpet for an exclusive group of perverted voyeurs and exhibitionists, for the kinky, curious, and the converted. By attending this kinky soiree you will not only be giving in to your deviant fantasies but also helping to sustain kinky culture in our community.

This August's Art of Restraint will feature rope artists JD of Two Knotty Boys, Madame Butterfly, Fivestar, Lochai award winning erotic photographer and kinky educator and performer, and dominant queen of the Kink.com castle, Maitresse Madeline. Award winning suspension model and Indie Porn Pioneer of the year, Madison Young, as seen on MTV, HBO, Independent Film Channel and Curve Magazine. Christina Horn, Charlotte Vale, Lila Kat, and Alix Iron will be your dedicated service submissives, constantly pleasing us with sweet treats by Edible Love Chocolates, sparkling beverages and boot blacking. Live drawings by Suzanne Forbes, the ultimate kinky voyeur. Through rope bondage and erotic performance the performers will be manifesting erotic gratitude for our bountiful. Our performers will utilize rope, metal, flesh, and other articles of choice that play with the archiving of our lineage.

Step inside and experience rope cinching tight into eager flesh as bodies struggle and dance in the air in an erotic ballet of dominance and submission. Be present as we explore together “Service: Exhibiting Gratitude”. In a time of the year when we give thanks for abundance, health and harvest, let us also give thanks with well mannered protocol. Taking pride in the way "Yes Ma'am" and "Yes Sir" make their way carefully from between our eager lips. Some of the most skilled rope artists and bondage experts in the country have gathered in this closed gallery setting to meld art and bondage to intertwine submission and empowerment in a dynamic exchange between two people and an audience starving for connection. Doors will be locked at 8pm sharp, placing you in the center of a hot avant-garde bondage scene. Welcome to the fourth edition of Art of Restraint.

Lights out at 11pm sharp...unless you are fortunate enough to be a Femina Potens Member. Members of Femina Potens will be invited to stay for the sexy after hours with the artists and models. Come be a part of what the SF Gate called "The Most Happening Art Space in San Francisco" and the SF Guardian calls "The Best XXX XX in the Castro".

THIS EVENT WILL SELL OUT. SO PLEASE PRE ORDER TICKETS

 'Art of Restraint' Erotic Rope Bondage Art Salon
Femina Potens Art Gallery
2199 Market St @ Sanchez
November 21, 2009 @ 8:00 - 11:00 pm
Doors open at 7:30pm
Doors locked at 8:00pm sharp - no ins and outs
$75 per ticket $50 for Members - Sign up to become a member today!
This event will sell out.
Advanced online ticket purchase is highly recommended through Brown Paper Ticketing: _______________________________________________________________

Madame Butterfly has been playing with string for decades, starting as a fiber artist she discovered that tying up people was much easier then tying up a loom. She spins and sells her own silk and bamboo bondage ropes.

Madison Young, your kinky girl next door, is making waves in feminism one orgasm at a time with her award winning queer production company Madison Young Productions and her award winning nationally recognized art gallery and performance space Femina Potens. Femina Potens is a sex positive art gallery and performance space dedicated to women and transgendered artists. Madison the world with her sex positive performances, workshops, panels, art work and readings from her upcoming memoir "The Tail of a Bondage Model". Madison 's writings have been published in On Our Backs and Girlfriends Magazine and can also be found in the anthology "Baby Remember My Name". Madison has been featured on MTV's LOGO channel program Out and About, the documentary Lesbian Sex and Sexuality Porn Today: Pushing the Limits, and was featured in Brian Alexander's recent book release "America Unzipped".

Fivestar is a video/performance artist and rope bondage rigger. She is fond of leather, clothespins and bruises. When she's not helping produce porn at the Armory she likes to sing while riding her bike. Check her out online at iamfivestar.com.

JD is member of the internationally renowned bondage duo Two Knotty Boys. He is the producer of over 100 rope bondage instructional videos and the coauthor of two popular rope bondage guidebooks, "Two Knotty Boys Showing You the Ropes" (2006) and "Two Knotty Boys Back on the Ropes" (2009). Aside from his work as an educator and promoter of the human form, safety and asthetics. sensual rope bondage he is an artist, using rope as his paint and the human form as his canvas. Unrestrained by tradition or protocol, his rope art utilizes Asian, European and American knots, in addition to rigging techniques based upon the physics

Although he's been part of the public kink scene for thirteen years, Lochai has been exploring kink and fetish since he was a six year old riding the school bus when he tied up his first "girlfriend". Since those humble beginnings, Lochai has built up an impressive resume not only as an award winning photographer, but also as a renowned bondage rigger, educator, and stalwart of the greater BDSM CommUNITY. It's no surprise that in August of 2008, he was picked by kink.com, one of the most respected companies in the adult entertainment industry, to spearhead their flagship site, hogtied.com. Lochai's iconic photo, "Beach Bound," had the distinction of being judged "The World's Most Erotic Photograph" by Erotic Signature. "Beach Bound" also has the distinction to be in the permanent collection of The Leather Archives in Chicago as well as in the World Erotic Art Museum in Miami. His work has been published in such publications as British Journal of Photography, World's Greatest Erotic Art of Today Vol. I & II, Secret, Skin Two, Bizarre, Prometheus, Cherry, A Magazine, Fetish Anthology, and Extreme Anthology as well as his own fine art photography books. He brings the same flair and energy to his rope work, whether he's performing or teaching erotic rope, photography and bdsm lifestyle classes at any number of national kink events. As an educator and organizer, Lochai is fiercely dedicated to his CommUNITY. He helps monitor and organize online communication platforms such as the AlternativePresenters.com, which he created, and freely shares his skills and knowledge to rope enthusiasts and photographers of all experience levels and from all walks of life. You can view his photography at http://www.kirinawa.com

Always a literalist, Tina Horn has taken the act of making a name for herself to absurd lengths. As a porn performer and practitioner of professional BDSM for over two years, she goes by Christina Mabry Horn, and you can call her Tina if you're lucky. Vast legions of bike punks and DIY rockers know her by a monosyllabic moniker referencing her resemblance to a 14-year-old English schoolboy. As for what they call her when she's at home, only her attorney knows for sure. Horn earned her BA in modern literature from UCSC and King's College London which may go some way towards explaining the Marxist-feminist-paraliterary critical theory slant, and also the body hair. Among her accomplishments are writing for Mcsweeney's the Believer, penning, publishing, and distributing her nominal sex worker memoir zine, releasing her former band's 7inch on her own label, booking three punk tours, and getting DP'd alongside a who's-who cast and crew of erotic artists and activists in her very first porno, Layover. Her double life as a social worker and volunteer for a variety of non-profits and art galleries keeps her honest. She is a show business impresario, an urban cowboy cyclist, a part-time hippie, a loud fast and loose drummer, and a face-melting wah rhythm guitarist. A hopeless rambler, Horn currently sets up shop in the San Francisco East Bay and cannot begin to tell you how badly she could use a spanking right about now. ______________________________________________________________ Femina Potens is a nationally recognized art gallery and performance space dedicated to the advancement of women and transgendered artists since 2001.

Sponsored by the Queer Cultural Center with support from California Arts Council, San Francisco Arts Commission, the Zellerbach Foundation and Grants for the Arts. Femina Potens is a leading queer organization in San Francisco, and has been featured on the LOGO channel, Q-Television, Bitch, Bust, Spread, Brian Alexander's book "America Unzipped", the San Francisco Bay Guardian, and the San Francisco Chronicle where Violet Blue called Femina Potens, "the most happening art space in the city; a revolution in art and sex."
 
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A DECADENT ARRAY OF OPENING RITUALS
THIS SATURDAY AT FEMINA POTENS!

Femina Potens is proud to welcome artists Jeeti Singh, Shelley Monahan and Daisy Eneix for the 'Ritual' Visual Art Exhibition, November 5-29. In honor of this exhibit we are bringing you a delightful trio of special events. The fun starts this Saturday at November 7th at 3pm when we unveil our brand-spankin' new Femina Potens Boutique! We are proud to bring you original and inspiring merchandise that could only be found at FP. Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to peruse and purchase artist prints, home-made medicinal vegan lube, high end wooden dildos, slingshot organizers, Nikki McClure calendars & post cards, cards from Thrusti Kikki Grabbi, jewelery designs by Lost n Bound,  jewelery by Cassidy Wright & Cory Gunther Brown from The Moon, PORN directed by Madison Young, Pink & White, Fauxxx etc.. and much more. Join us for our grand opening party with beverages, music and snacks all while supporting local and queer artists.

At 6pm we invite you to learn more about the practices of these talented artists at the Artist Discussion Panel for Members and Press. Find out why Jeetis creates paintings of women bound into traditional Indian prayer poses. See first hand how Monahan's work examines the tension between our biological need to nourish ourselves and our human desire to civilize it. And find out how Eneix creates reliquary scrolls and prints that address the visceral and ephemeral power of our physicality.

The wild -rumpus continues into the evening as we celebrate the opening of our November exhibit. Enjoy artwork full of sacred practices, beautiful animal carcasses and religious bondage! Sip your wine, share cheese and crackers with other creative, kinky and queer people at the Opening Reception of 'Ritual' at 7:30pm.


Boutique Opening Party
November 7, 3 pm
Ritual Visual Art Opening
November 7, 7:30-10
6pm Artists Panel for Members and Press



 

PHOTOGRAPHY SERVED HOT

THIS FRIDAY NIGHT AT KESSLER'S OPENING RECEPTION!

 

FP EDGE and Madame S are proud to present the titillating artwork of photographer Christine Kessler.  As we transition into San Francisco's Indian Summer, the temperature is rising.  Kessler celebrates this heat wave with HOT and lustful images.  Revel in the classic and carnal photographs that showcase beautiful models decked out in some of the sexiest and most coveted gear.  Kessler skillfully melds fashion, fine art, erotic and fetish imagery to create a collection of sensational photographs.  Join us at Madame S for the Opening Reception on October 9 at 7pm.  Meet the fantastic Christine Kessler and get turned on and inspired by her work.  Mingle with like-minded people and stock up on the highest quality bondage, leather and sex toy supplies that the city has to offer at Madame S Leather.

 

 Christine Kessler at Madame S

September 15th-Dec 1, 2009
Opening Reception Oct 9, 7-9pm
Madame S Leather
385 8th Street
San Francisco, CA

Madame S
www.madame-s.com

Hours: Open 7 days a week
11am-7pm

www.fpedge.com

____________________________________________________________  

Christine Kessler is a Los Angeles native and lives there today with her man, their dogs, and a backyard full of birds.  She's been firmly attached to the backside of a camera since she was 15, moving from film to digital in the early part of this century.  Her first book, "Pervy Girls" was published by Goliath in 2007, her second, "Nylon Girls" is due out this fall.  Her work has also appeared in Taschen's "New Erotic Photography" as well as other books, in numerous magazines internationally, in gallery exhibits, and on countless websites, and she is currently writing a monthly article for the UK's Bizarre Magazine.  Christine shoots prolifically and you can best enjoy her images by visiting her websites, ChristineKessler.com and MyFetishDiary.com.  She is also an avid blogger and publishes stories and samples from each of her photo shoots at www.MyFetishDiaryBlog.com.

Madame S and Mr. S Leather are not only a physical store in San Francisco and Los Angeles, California, but also an online bondage and BDSM store in business since 1979. Madame S and Mr. S are special when it comes to bondage and fetish gear because we make most of our products right here in the USA, unlike most of our competitors, which means, we make products that are by players for players hand made right here in our store in San Francisco. We doubt that you will find a store that carries 4,000 products not only available on line, but also in our physical stores. 

FP Edge is an artists' network run by the Femina Potens Art Gallery, focusing on building relationships and recognition between cutting-edge LGBTQI and Erotic artists and artworks, venues and residents within the greater queer, feminist, wellness and sex positive communities. Based in the SF Bay Area, Edge connects a diverse range of artists with the businesses, collectors, exhibitions and other events searching out LGBTQI and erotic-themed works or commissioned pieces. The network also offers the support of the gallery's marketing experience, artist and venue consultation services and a vast list of specialized contacts within the West Coast art scene. Strengthening and creating these community ties helps artists build their names and at the same time allows organizations to participate more within their communities. Overall, FP Edge aims to expose the community to a wider range of work from within the ever-changing queer landscape.

2199 Market St | San Francisco, CA 94114 US

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 SEX AND ART DESERVE A WITNESS

AT DARKHOLME'S OPENING RECEPTION THIS FRIDAY

FP EDGE and Mr. S would like to take you on a private journey through submission, restraint and ultimately freedom with the artwork of Van Darkholme. Join us for a sensational collection of photographs filled with roped and tied, strung up or suspended men - muscles strain, veins bulge, sweat glistens, men held captive in precarious positions submit in quivering pleasure-pain to their master's desires.  Intense, brilliant and dark, these powerful visions of consensual domination are captured in exquisite and compassionate detail.  Bondage devotees, photography / art collectors and admirers of the male form will find this volume a great addition to their collections.  Witness of Sex and Art meld at the opening reception on October 9, 7-9pm.   We invite you to enjoy refreshments, kinky company, peruse the sex toys and revel in the inherent beauty in Darkholme's male bondage photography.

 

Van Darkholme Photography 

September 16 - November 16, 2009

Opening Reception Oct 9, 7-9pm

Mr. S Leather

385 8th Street

San Francisco, CA


Mr. S Leather

www.mr-s-leather.com


Hours: Open 7 days a week
11am-7pm

www.fpedge.com

____________________________________________________________  

Van Darkholme: If you haven't noticed it already, I also have an interest in bondage. I view it as art and jo material more than anything else. It's hard to describe my thing with bondage but I will try. I'm constantly figuring new ways to put people in bondage. Yes, that's all I think of. I get this adrenaline rush when I'm in a session. My M.O. (Modus operandi) is that I love to record the bondage session with photos and/or videos. Then, I really get off on it later. When I look at the photos or video clips of the session days later, it really turns me on and I get a sense of satisfaction from it. I think everyone has his own idiosyncrasy and this is mine.

Madame S and Mr. S Leather are not only a physical store in San Francisco and Los Angeles, California, but also an online bondage and BDSM store in business since 1979. Madame S and Mr. S are special when it comes to bondage and fetish gear because we make most of our products right here in the USA, unlike most of our competitors, which means, we make products that are by players for players hand made right here in our store in San Francisco. We doubt that you will find a store that carries 4,000 products not only available on line, but also in our physical stores. 

FP Edge is an artists' network run by the Femina Potens Art Gallery, focusing on building relationships and recognition between cutting-edge LGBTQI and Erotic artists and artworks, venues and residents within the greater queer, feminist, wellness and sex positive communities. Based in the SF Bay Area, Edge connects a diverse range of artists with the businesses, collectors, exhibitions and other events searching out LGBTQI and erotic-themed works or commissioned pieces. The network also offers the support of the gallery's marketing experience, artist and venue consultation services and a vast list of specialized contacts within the West Coast art scene. Strengthening and creating these community ties helps artists build their names and at the same time allows organizations to participate more within their communities. Overall, FP Edge aims to expose the community to a wider range of work from within the ever-changing queer landscape.

2199 Market St | San Francisco, CA 94114 US


 

 
2010 Artist Submissions Print E-mail

Femina Potens Art Gallery is currently taking submissions for our 2010 Visual Arts Exhibition season.  Femina Potens is a non-profit community art gallery and performance space dedicated to the advancement of women and transgendered artists located in the heart of San Francisco's Castro District.  We are looking for art works in all mediums painting, photography, mixed media, sculpture (although small sculptures and wall mounted sculpture is best due to space restriction), performance artists, video artists, installation and new media.

All submitted art works would be considered for group shows. If your work doesn't fit into one of these shows please still submit works as these are only suggestions, and are subject to change.

2010 Potential themes:

  • Some like it Hot! Artist’s relationship with fire arts.
  • Love and Lace. Pin- up inspired art works.
  • Foodies; An artistic exploration of Women's relationship with food, and food related artwork
  • Found – Artwork on recycled and found items.
  • The Power of One; art works exploring the importance and pleasure of masturbation for National Masturbation Month.
  • National Queer Arts Festival; Our Queer History; Examining Queer Heroes through artistic expression
  • Our Queer Bodies; where science meets art.
  • The White and Black Show; Artists investigation of binary systems and our many shades of grey
  • Breaking the Silence; Artists speaking up against sexual abuse.

Femina Potens is also looking for works that relate to the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health of the queer community as well as site-specific installation artists that can create works for a commission around such subject matter for our window displays.

Submission deadlines are October 1st 2009. Please send all proposals to Femina Potens Visual Art Submissions Attn Madison Young c/o Femina Potens 2199 Market Street SF CA 94114. For more information, and the online application. Please visit here.

Please make sure the below materials are included in your proposal package:

A filled out artists application (downloaded from our web site)

A check made out to Femina Potens for $20.00 for our curatorial review fee. (Packages sent with out the $20.00 review fee will not be considered)

An introductory letter of interest,

Artist resume, bio, statement

10 images of on cd and printed for review by our curatorial staff

 

 
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Thank you to the dozens of artists who have already joined Femina Potens as a part of the 100 Artists in 100 Days!

Here is what one artist/member has to say about us:

"Femina Potens has given me the opportunity to define myself as an artist again after a break of many years.  Their willingness to take chances on the up and coming and the artists who don't fit into nice packages makes Femina Potens an extremely important gallery to have in our community, while exposing the rest of the world to the existence of this art." Catherine Murty, Sculpture/Visual Artist

I am so proud of all of Femina Potens' programs and you, the incredible artists who make our programs shine. For many of you, Femina Potens has been a creative incubator for you to explore and rediscover your artistic selves, and it has helped you to grow as artists. I am asking you to become a Femina Potens member as part of the 100 Artists in 100 Days Campaign and support the very valuable work that Femina Potens does.

Our goal is to get 100 artists in 100 days including writers, artists, filmmakers, educators, and performance artists who have exhibited, performed, or screened at Femina Potens, as well as friends, lovers, and family that support your artistic growth, to join Femina Potens at any membership level—that can be as little as $10 a month.

As a member, you will enjoy many benefits, including member discounts, free access to events, and limited edition prints from our artists. (See our website HERE for information on membership levels and benefits.) We also have a special offer for those who join TODAY! Your name will be entered in a drawing to win 2 VIP tickets to Autumn Art of Restraint or 2 all access passes to the National Queer Arts Festival.

Your membership keeps our programs alive! As a non-profit organization, Femina Potens depends on the support of our Members to continue our work as a thriving LGBT cultural landmark. Please join other  Femina Potens Artists, Lovers and Art Lovers in making the 100 Artists in 100 Days a huge success.

Please visit Femina Potens Donors Page at Network for Good to sign up today!

Warmest regards,

Madison Young
Executive Director

More words from our artists:

"I think that the arts and visual representation movement in the bay area is one of the core elements in queer activism.  Femina Potens has provided a platform for visual dialogue.  Being a FP member allows me to contribute to the community that I care about. As well as be in touch with like-minded people"

-Shawn Tamaribuchi, Performance Artist

 

While I was visiting San Francisco from Los Angeles, I decided to do my first open mic ever at Femina Poten's: Sizzle. Art, Feminism and Queer activism has always been my passion.  It's nice to support a queer and feminist venue that has always supported and nurtured my artistic growth."

-Luna Maia, Recent SFAC Grant Award Recipient for literature

 

"Femina Potens is a constant source of inspiration... I love the ongoing live performance events in which I can share my arts with a strong, vibrant, radical, and progressive community of artists and audience members. I always feel liberated and supported to fully express, and as one who's always felt like an outsider in many ways, this is a precious high point for me. And of course... the hot, progressive, fresh gallery shows never cease to amaze, delight, and spur me on creatively."

-Bast/ Performance Artist/Writer

 

Satin

  • all members get into all Femina Potens monthly programmed events for free
  • all members are recognized on Femina Potens web site
  • discounts at our bondage art salon Art of Restraint $10 off
  • twice a year limited edition post cards printed works from FP artists
  • exclusive members and press only artist preview  and artist talks on our newest exhibited art works

Lace

  • The above plus limited edition prints twice a year from FP Artists
  • 10% off art boutique items
  • exclusive members and press only artist preview  and artist talks on our newest exhibited art works

Leather

  • The above plus once a year a small original art work  from  an FP Artists
  • 10% off art boutique items
  • 10% off exhibited art works
  • exclusive members and press only artist preview  and artist talks on our newest exhibited art works

Golden Rope

  • Mentioned on all promotional materials including posters and show cards
  • The above plus once a year a small original art work  from  an FP Artists
  • 10% off art boutique items
  • 10% off exhibited art works
  • exclusive members and press only artist preview  and artist talks on our newest exhibited art works
  • Have your name or your favorite woman or trans artist,writer, performer,activist, or hero, permanently plated on our Golden Rope Supporter glass installation proudly facing Castro's Market St.

Satin: $10 a month - $120 a year

Lace: $20 a month - $240 a year

Leather: $40 a month - $480 a year

Golden Rope: $50 a month - donations of $1000 or more a year

 



 
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