LOS ANGELES - The Dreamland Loft in downtown Los Angeles will serve as the stage Saturday for "Naked," an art show curated by Heidi "bluegirl" Calvert. Co-sponsored by LA Weekly and BigShowRadioLA.com, the exhibit includes works by Oriana Small (a.k.a. porn star Ashley Blue), Dave Naz, acclaimed BDSM director/model Julie Simone and a host of other artists.
"I came up with this concept for 'Naked' where I wanted to challenge
artists to present their own alternative ideas of the meaning of the
word," Calvert said. "I give artists their own creative freedom and
just let them run wild with an idea. I just give them something to
inspire them, and this concept was 'Naked.' It can be emotional, it
could be physical, it can be sound, it can be basically whatever they
can think up. So basically, anything could happen. And I'm excited to
see what they come up with."
This will be the first time Small shows her artwork in a public forum, and she hopes it will provide a new perspective on her persona.
"It's a scary thing to actually make something and for people to see it," Small told AVN. "It's more soul-baring than just baring your skin."
Drawing and painting has been a lifelong passion for Small. She attended art school briefly but "dropped out and started doing porno and started doing drugs," she said. "I've come full circle because now I want to be an artist again."
Not that she's suddenly shirked her much-beloved irreverent side. "I can't take it that seriously," she chuckled. "I want to be taken seriously, but I can't take myself seriously. But it's really cool that it's being revived, and I feel good about it."
Calvert noted that there will be a number of performance artists doing live sets, including Jesse Merlin, who she said is going to be "singing opera while flogging a girl." There will also be burlesque acts, belly dancing, fire shows, DJs and more.
The complete list of artists and performers presenting their work is as follows: Heidi Calvert, Zenova Braeden, VK7, Gidget Gein, Dave Naz, GiGi Deluxe, Colin Manning, Molly Crabapple, Jezebelle X, Dame Darcy, bd Miller, Louis Fleischauer, Julie Simone, James Stiles, Misha, Eban Lehrer, Oriana Small, Ashes Monroe, Cyanosis Photography, Eleventhreehundred, Ozzie Rosales, Cynthia Codesido, Miss Numa, Jason Hadley, Liberation, Bastet 2329, James Groves, Randy Focazio, Sam Saturday, Shellee Luna, Lozano, Aunia Kahn, Chuck Hodi, Mr. Enciso, Miss Satanica, Sir Witch, Jesse Merlin, Kat Bardot, Lulu Lunaris, Kimberlee Rose, Cabinet of Curiosities, DJ Madd Mike, DJ Jude, DJ Sal and DJ Assault.
The Dreamland Loft is located at 1049 E. 32nd St., Los Angeles, 90011. Doors open at 9 p.m. For more information, go to www.bluegirlproductions.com. .
