World famous erotic photographer Ken Marcus took over the basement VIP Room at The Key Club on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood Friday night, and it wasn't long after the doors opened at 9 p.m. that the place was packed with performance artists, porn stars, photographers, magazine editors and more beautiful women than the average person could shake a stick at - or would want to.
"I did one of these parties about six months ago," Marcus said, "and it was so successful, I thought I'd do it again. It's a place for all my friends to network a couple of times a year, and to have fun."
Besides having been published in most of the major men's magazines, Marcus' work can be seen on his Website, Kenmarcus.com.
This evening, however, the walls of the VIP Room were lined with some of Marcus' best recent photographs, and a video projector flashed a slideshow of more Marcus beauty on the back wall of the room. Cozy booths lined the room, which also had its own bar, and while seating was at a premium, most of the party-goers didn't seem to notice or care.
Near the entrance, artist David Sparks, formerly of O Magazine and now the creative, design and editorial director (all in one!) of MirrorMirror, the magazine of "West Coast Fetish Culture," commandeered a table and was handing out free copies of the mag's premier issue.
"Of course I'm looking for advertisers," Sparks said, proudly pointing to some of his own sketchwork that appears throughout the issue. "But I'm also looking for creative people up and down the coast who've got something to say artistically that I can help promote. The west coast is very different from every other part of the country, and I want to showcase the most interesting people."
MirrorMirror has a Website, Mirrormirrormag.com, and those interested in subscribing, getting seen in and/or advertising in the magazine can make contact with Sparks there.
Between Sparks' table and the bar were a couple of "performance art" tableaux, including a B&D show by 'Sir Nic' and his "bevy of beauties," featuring creative whipping and ties, and next to it, veteran porn star Nina Hartley posing for the camera between two large bondage photos, while her fiance Ernest Greene circulated through the crowd, chatting up various acquaintances.
Also on hand was the "jessica drake entourage," which included bosom buddy DoLorian and new pal Monique Alexander, dressed to the nines and ready for an evening of fun. The gals recently performed some sexy softcore routines together for Robert Lombard's DigitalG, as introductions for Adam & Eve compilation tapes that are being put together by GiGi Appleton. Lombard himself also made an appearance, as did several porn newcomers including Cherry Rain, Hollie Stevens and Anna Mills.
The evening was marred by an unfortunate unprovoked attack on Mills during the party that left her with a concussion and contusions and lacerations the forced her to cancel her work for a few weeks.
