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Indepth Arts News:
"Good in Bed: Sex, Eroticism and Pornography"
2005-05-20 until 2005-06-15
James Baird Gallery
St. John's, NF,
CA Canada
The James Baird Art Gallery in Newfoundland - a controversial show in a subdued part of Canada - presents Good in Bed: Sex, Eroticism and Pornography from 20 May, 2005 to 15 June, 2005. This show began as an idea to get many artists to show at the James Baird Art Gallery in St. John's Newfoundland. Art Director James Baird believes in provocative art. He likes pushing artists to new levels.
Not accustomed to pornography or erotic art, artist Rosemary L. Cosentino embarked onto this new territory with a common harmless toy- the Barbie. In the past, Mattel Inc., has been known to sue any artist attempting to what they call "deface" Barbie's reputation whether it be in an art exhibition or online art gallery. They failed to win in each case.
"Lickity Split" , the title to this painting, suggests a number of things. Painted by a man it would have brought many other connotations but being painted by a woman artist, changes everything.
"Barbies are children's toys as well as adult. A select production of Barbies are made for the avid adult collector who can afford a porcelain limited edition for $500 US. I grew up with them, and know no one who has not tried to play adult games with their Barbie dolls! They can be undressed for crying out loud- and what does Mattel expect? They managed to put breasts on the dolls and that's ok- they make them perfect with long hair, sexy clothes, pouty lips- why can't an erotic world exist with them? Children play imaginary games with them after all. In any case, Mattel was heavily influenced by an erotic Italian doll called Lola who was very similar to Barbie and was unpatented to my knowledge- only she was hung on rear-view mirrors of men's cars and was much like the Hawaiian surprise naked doll that glues to the dash of a car. The Italians never went after Mattel for having taken their doll and made an empire of her and tried to tone her down from being a sex toy.
I decided to push cheesy porn to another level. Why not show what ideas toys spawn in children? It is reality. No one ever captured them in an oil painting before that's all."
IMAGE
Rosemary L. Cosentino
Lickity Split
2005
Oil on Linen
18x24
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