Reflections on the Leather History Conference

26 10 2011

I thought I would make it a trifecta of articles on the Conference I attended this weekend. I must say  that over all, I really enjoyed the conference. It was good to see my friends again, some of whom I haven’t seen in years. The vendors had an excellent selection of products. I missed out on buying a vest for esclave, but I am sure that who ever won it will get good use from it.

And I enjoyed visiting the library and sitting at Vi’s feet. I learned things about our history. Asked questions. Found a very odd book (on mamology of all things) in the library. I heard my elders and contemporaries (even some fresher faces too) tell stories of days past.

The only negative thing I would say is that there wasn’t enough tracks. The stories were all in sequence.  I wish that there were other “tracks” as it were, choices in who to hear.  But I guess they wanted to film it all and that make it difficult.

It is somewhat strange to see our history being recorded. We tend to be paranoid about cameras in our culture. With good reason too. Too many of us have been hurt by others that do not understand us.

But times are changing. And that does make me glad.

Too much of our history is lost.

MV





At the Leather History Conference

21 10 2011

20111022-000345.jpg It has been a long day. I started it in Charlotte, working while my slave spent her time getting us ready for the conference. I had initially planned on being here tomorrow morning, but there is nowhere to stop between Charlotte and Wilmington that makes any sense. So we are here. Now. Tonight.

I’ve already seen some old friends and I hope to see some more tomorrow. If you are here and you see me do say hello.

MV





North Carolina Leather History Conference

18 10 2011

A long time ago I taught history (a long time is about 2 decades btw). So, I am always interested in what we can learn from our past. See where we came from. Where we are headed.

That is why I am spending this weekend at the first ever North Carolina Leather History Conference. I am looking forward to it. I can’t begin to do it justice, but aside from spending time with old friends, making new friends, and enjoying my slave at our first conference since she moved here (really our first BDSM “Event” since the move too), I plan on spending a great deal of time in the Carter/Johnson Library. It is a tremendous lifestyle reference. A collection second to none.

Go. Just go to it if you can.

MV





Fetish Art Festival Returns to NC

8 10 2010

This is a fantastic event if you are into fetish art.  Next Friday, in Durham, NC. Unfortunately I won’t be there myself this year, but I went last year and had a blast. Fantastic pieces of art were on display and for sale. Great performances from rope work to burlesque.

More info can be had here. Be sure to buy your tickets early as I am told they expect to be sold out before the doors open.

The North Carolina Fetish Art Festival was created in 2009 by a group of kinky artists and art lovers in the Raleigh/Durham area. With few resources and little experience, the festival’s first year crew made a memorable event and spectacular party for the triangle area kinky art community.

Our mission is to support current fetish artists, inspire other members of the NC kink community to try their hands at interpreting their lifestyles artistically, and draw attention to the art and beauty created through the practice of BDSM and other fetishes. Additionally, we are also striving to support and excite the Triangle fetish community, and celebrate our freedom to create and share kinky and erotic art.

MV





LeatherFET or How to Fail at Organizing a Community Uniting Event.

3 09 2010

Charlotte Pano by James Willamor. Used under Creative Commons License, click for details.

What I write today is simply an opinion, my opinion.  I derived my opinion from my experiences in the local community.  I welcome all feed back and critiques.

LeatherFET was a fascinating event concept. Unite both the leather communities and the fetish communities for a party that would rock Charlotte all weekend.  Have good history and education track. Invite John Baku down for the keynote. Sounds wonderful. Can’t fail right?

Hmm, let us see what someone can do to make it fail. Let us take someone who has threatened to take the board of directors for a local BDSM education organization to court, left threatening voicemails that target a board member, her child and husband, and lost her sash and put them in charge of the whole event.  Put in charge of education someone who continually feels compelled to apologize to the community for her outbursts. Sell the event as an annual event even though it never happened before.

And belittle those who object to the leaders of the event as not supporting community building.

Yep the perfect way to have an event fail in my opinion. Most of the established community in Charlotte won’t be attending, I know I am with them. And I hope you won’t be either.

While I think the idea is a wonderful one, one I wish I could support. But in order to build connections in the community you have to have the respect of those in the community. I don’t have respect any longer for those associated with the event. One is known for the company we keep. And I choose to keep away.

If you want to read someone else’s opinion about the latest events in the Charlotte kink community, click here. (FetLife Membership required).

Peace.

MV





Fetish Art Festival in NC

2 09 2009

I plan on going to this event, once I heard about it.  It sounds like fun.  Wish I had some kinky photos to display.  Maybe next year.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact: North Carolina Fetish Art Society, NCFetishArt@gmail.com


Durham to host first North Carolina Fetish Art Festival

Artists and art lovers of the kinky persuasion are working together to produce the North Carolina Fetish Art Festival in Durham on October 18, 2009. The first event of its kind in the area, the NCFAF will show work from artists throughout the state, from the new to the experienced. The festival will also feature stage performances, live art demonstrations, and activities that will give all attendees an opportunity to create art for the event.

The planners of NCFAF hope to build an event which honors and showcases fetish art and artists, offers exposure to new artists and to the state’s kink community as a whole, and celebrates their belief that the bdsm lifestyle is an art unto itself.

With a spacious venue and the skilled DJs of Dirge Factory already on board, the next phase of this event’s creation will fall to the artists of the community. NCFAF welcomes artists of all levels of experience, and all mediums. The event will have competitions with awards in several categories, and all exhibited art is eligible for recognition. Organizers invite interested artists to contact them as soon as possible, for exhibit space is expected to fill.

In addition to the more traditional exhibits, this event will feature “live art,” with local players and their models using a creative range of bdsm mediums to make living exhibits who will rotate through a designate display area. This category, too, is now welcoming volunteers to be creators and canvas. Those participating should be experienced in the medium in which they are creating, particularly in safety practices. Prizes will be awarded to top performers in the live art categories.

Attendees will have the opportunity to view and purchase much of the art exhibited, as well as many items on display in the artisan vendor area. Onstage entertainment by local fetish-themed performers, live artist demonstrations, and opportunities to participate in event artwork will also keep event goers engaged. The event will offer body painting, a littles’ craft corner, group-participation projects, and more. In addition, finger foods will be served and a cash bar will be available.

While the scope of this project is a new experience for many of the planners, they are confident that the North Carolina bdsm community will come out and make the event a success. “We already have received a huge outreaching of support to make the fest memorable,” says Zita, the event manager. “I have had the opportunity over the last few years to know some of the alternative artists in this area, and I am certain they will do their part to make our night beautiful. That just comes naturally to them.”

Proceeds from this event will benefit the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom, an organization working to protect and advance the legal rights of consenting adults who engage in alternative sexual and relationship expressions. More information about NCSF can be found on their website at http://www.ncsfreedom.org.

For more information about the North Carolina Fetish Art Festival, or to exhibit, vend, purchase tickets, or volunteer for this event, contact the North Carolina Fetish Art Society at NCFetishArt@gmail.com.

Have you been to a Fetish Art Show? Let us know in the comments.

MV

Update: They sent me a flyer and an artist contract, should you be interest, both of which are available, after the break.

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