LOS ANGELES—"Sx Celebrated: Expanding Erotic Power," a one-day pop-up installation of Jerri Allyn's portrait banners honoring individuals working in sex-positive professions, will be held on Saturday, Sept. 28 at The Art Room in L.A.
The artworks are exhibited alongside a day-long series of activities designed to "challenge perceptions, foster understanding, and celebrate the diverse experiences of those working in body-positive and sexual health fields." "Sx Celebrated" will take place from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. at The Art Room, located at 908 S. Olive St., L.A., 90015.
Allyn and participants will explore sex education, body-positive activities, and erotic laborers' rights in this opportunity to engage with art, activism, and open dialogue on sexuality and workers’ protections. This project is supported by The National Tanes Fund, Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions (LACE)'s Lightning Fund, The Art Room, and The Woman's Building.
The one-day popup is a taste of a lengthier exhibition and events coming in 2025.
Admission is free; donations to The Woman’s Building, a tax-deductible non-profit organization, are welcome.
Allyn’s large-scale (5.5' x 3.5') photomontage portraits celebrate individuals involved in pro-sexuality work and grassroots social justice movements. These fine art prints, adorned with hand-sewn fabric frames and hung from the exhibit ceiling, blend historical and contemporary elements to explore diverse themes such as sacred unions, ingenuity, healing, and sensual feasting.
Each portrait is personalized with meaningful attire, objects, and symbolic phrases, accompanied by brief texts that offer insights into the layers of meaning.
Allyn's work aims to shift perspectives on sexuality and sex work, reduce associated stigma, and inspire concrete actions like supporting comprehensive sex education and advocating for the decriminalization of sex work.
Allyn’s art encompasses a wide range of media, from audio and video installations to electronic billboards, sculptural books, and printmaking multiples, culminating in site-specific, interactive installations and performance art events.
With an MA in Art & Community, Allyn is a founding member of performance art groups The Waitresses, Sisters of Survival, and Debating Through the Arts. In a career spanning over 30 years, Allyn has exhibited internationally and received numerous prestigious grants and residencies. These include a Rockefeller Foundation Residency in Italy, an International Lila Wallace Reader's Digest Residency in Mexico, and grants from the Joan Mitchell Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, PEW Center for Arts and Heritage, New York Foundation for the Arts, and the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.
Visit jerriallyn.com for more information.
Schedule of Events
10-11:30 a.m.: Wake Up to Sex Ed Mythbusters!
Get ready for an enlightening and entertaining experience with sex educator Safiya Darling as she presents a humorous and informative session on commonly misunderstood aspects of sexual health and wellness. Safiya brings her expertise and wit to tackle a wide range of topics, including debunking persistent myths about sex and safety, demystifying menstruation and reproductive health, the ins and outs of condoms, dental dams, and other barrier methods, and exploring the world of lubricants and their various uses. Safiya's passion lies in empowering individuals to better understand their bodies while challenging harmful misconceptions rooted in racism, misogyny, and transphobia.
12-2 p.m.: Erotic Power Portraits! Make Your Own
Embark on a journey of self-discovery or healing through art with Nicole Rademacher in her innovative portrait art workshop, rooted in the understanding that artistic expression can be a powerfu tool for processing and releasing stress, trauma, and suffering. Drawing on the profound power of creativity, Nic guides participants in exploring their unique erotic energies through the medium of portraiture. Nic's work delves into themes of intimacy, identity, and belonging, influenced significantly by her personal journey as a Latinx adoptee who has reunited with her biological family.
Space is limited. Come early to ensure a spot.
3-4:30 p.m.: Where We At? Roundtable Reports from the Field
This panel explores how the social changes of the 1960s stem from gradual progress driven by grassroots activists—a process continuing today. The discussion addresses advancements in comprehensive sex education, body-positive initiatives, and sex workers' rights advocacy. Panelists include Dr. Allie Melendez, a Los Angeles native and sex educator with More Than Sex Ed; Badly Licked Bear, a writer, educator, and senior lecturer at Otis College of Art and Design focusing on transgender sexuality and kink; and Fatima Malika Shabazz, an African American trans woman, business owner, and LGBTQIA+ rights advocate who leads policy for DecrimSexWorkCA.
6-7 p.m.: Film Screening of Lady Los Angeles followed by the discussion “The Power of Femme Resistance”
Lady Los Angeles, a short film debuting at Outfest 2023, explores a young trans woman's struggle to make rent after losing her income source due to the FBI's shutdown of Backpage. Addressing critical issues related to sex work, the screening is followed by a panel discussion with notable advocates. Antonia Crane, a queer writer, filmmaker, and sex worker, brings her diverse experience in activism and academia to the conversation. Sydney Rogers, a Black trans femme leader, contributes her expertise in LGBTQIA+ advocacy and BIPOC TGI rights. Mz Neon, a genre-bending musician and multimedia artist, rounds out the panel with her perspective as a performer and actress, including her role in Lady Los Angeles.
8-9:30 p.m.: Stripper Co-op Dancers Seize the Means of S3duction!
Celebrate International Sexual Health Awareness Month with an evening of performance and sex worker empowerment by the Stripper Co-op. This worker-owned adult entertainment company gives sex workers collective power over their working conditions and profits. The event features multidisciplinary artist and co-founder of Stripper Co-op, Kayla Tange, who creates work that examines spectatorship, desire, and ancestral trauma. Joining the event is pole dance instructor Nats Honey, who is the founder of Honey's Artistic Pot and serves as communications director for Strippers United. Also featured is Reagan, an actor, stripper, and performance artist with an MFA who co-founded Stripper Co-op and Equity Strippers NoHo.
