This Saturday El Pasoans can shed their inhibitions and attend Taboo: Gallery of the Forbidden. The event is October 3rd at Nequim Pinup & Boudoir Photography Studio, 7100 Gateway Blvd East. Taboo was created as an anniversary celebration for the studio, however, for the event’s creators, it will help shed some light on fringe lifestyles and behaviors.
BDSM refers to a set of physical, mental and emotional activities, and often denotes erotic inclinations; it is an acronym that encompasses various lifestyle and sexual preferences. For the purpose of this article, I will briefly describe each of the practices:
“B” and “D” stand for bondage and discipline. Bondage, as the name implies, employs the use of physical restraints, discipline uses punishment and rules. “S” and “M” refer to sadism and masochism, which are the receiving and inflicting of pain and humiliation to help achieve pleasure.
“Taboo was born out of the entire growing process of Nequim,” said Frank Villasana, principal photographer and owner of Nequim. “The Fifty Shades of Grey books and movies came out and everybody got excited about them. I started seeing a real interest in this [lifestyle]. We’re [he and partner, Sabine Green] are very open about sensuality and having known a little about that lifestyle, we decided to create this type of event that is safe, and that shows what the BDSM lifestyle is really about.”
Another reason Villasana and Green created the event is to help form a dialog about different sexual and sensual proclivities—often termed “alternative lifestyles.”
“We want to be the sword and shield for not just the BDSM lifestyle, but anything to do with sensuality and sexuality. There is no reason anyone should be in the closet anymore, whatever closet that is, be it gay, lesbian or polyamory [being in multiple, committed relationships concurrently].”
Nequim regularly hosts workshops on different sensual and sexual techniques. They began to see an increased interest in advanced classes, including bondage techniques.
“The interest really started amping up, so when our anniversary approached we decided to put our money where our mouth is and create something really different and intense,” Villasana said. “We want to be the voice for everything out there that most people consider taboo.”
The idea for Taboo was also sparked after Villasana and Green attended a local event that catered to sensual and intimate wear, toys, and tools. For them the event failed to capture the essence and core behaviors and beliefs of the BDSM lifestyle.
“We were rather disappointed. Yes there were vendors with adult toys, but people who were up there wearing the stuff were all models or go-go dancers. It was more fun and more of an opportunity be risqué, but [it] really didn’t get into what BDSM is,” Villasana explained. “So when we decided to do it [Taboo] we made sure it was going to be the real thing. All the acts we’re including in Taboo are exactly that—taboo. Things that most people don’t think should be out there.”
To that end, the event will feature BDSM demonstrations, fashion shows, representatives of the LGBT community and much more.
Bobcat, an over-the-top, irreverent dragqueen, will be the event’s MC. DJ Cesar Alonzo, a mainstay at Epic Nightclub, which largely draws a gay crowd, will help provide the event’s musical backdrop. An all-female, Houston-based quartet is also scheduled to perform; Somethin 4 the Fellas (S4TF) is an R&B group whose central message is sex and enjoying sex. They are advocates for women who want to empower themselves by embracing their sexuality and not being ashamed of being sensual beings.
“[S4TF] is a group of women who have the same mentality of wanting to be sensual without being labeled a slut,” Villasana said. “All of their music is about sex and that it’s ok to talk about sex.”
Simultaneous with their performance will be BDSM demonstrations. Local kinksters have been enlisted to educate the audience on some popular techniques. Orli January, her husband, and her master are scheduled to demonstrate proper flogging techniques as well as fireplay.
January describes herself as a full time participant in the BDSM lifestyle, and in a polyamorous relationship. She is involved in a power-exchange relationship in which she is the “slave” who is obedient to her “master.” Her life with her master is a 24 hour, 7 day a week endeavor. She was approached by Villasana and Green at an event where she was vending her wares and asked to participate in Taboo.
“That’s kind of the goal of Taboo—taking something that might be a little overwhelming and bringing it to the general public and saying ‘Hey, this is what it is,” January said.
She designs and sells floggers and other bondage equipment through her business, The January Shop. She and her master will show the audience proper flogging techniques, from the basics to the more intense stinging styles. She is a big advocate of the importance of establishing clear rules and boundaries within a BDSM scene (an agreed upon, pre-planned space where a BDSM activity will take place.)
“You have to have a relationship of trust, and negotiation on a scene before hand because consent is so important,” she said.
She continued to explain BDSM activities do not exclusively have to fall within the context of sex.
“It’s very possible to enjoy a BDSM scene without it being sexual,” she said. “You can engage in a flogging scene with someone and it can be great stress relief and an endorphin release, and never be sexual at all.”
January will also demonstrate the use of fireplay, an activity that employs the use of fire on or near the skin.
“What we will be doing is applying a mixture of rubbing alcohol and water, in such a way that it produces a warm, erotic sensation that sometimes stings a little, but is not damaging or even very painful,” she said.
January went on to explain Taboo is a healthy way of creating an outlet for people who are already involved in BDSM activities, as well as for those who are interested in learning more about it.
“I think there are good outlets for anything,” she said. “This is an event that will [hopefully] encourage people to talk about things more and find healthy outlets to express what they want to do.”
Sabine Green, modeling coach, designer, and office manager at Nequim, echoes that sentiment: “Creating an event like Taboo will encourage a dialog about the BDSM lifestyle, and those lifestyles that are hush-hush. We want to open up a discussion to share stories and help shed some fears. Furthermore a place like Nequim and an event like Taboo serve as part of an advocacy movement that will help validate people’s needs and desires. We want them to know there is an outlet.”
Another aspect of Taboo will be the unveiling of 5 photo galleries; each project centers on different themes. Sabine Green is the star of “Das Tier,” which focuses on the death of her domesticated self and the freeing of her female spirit. “Vampirella” features a local model and showcases her dramatic transformation from a woman of shame and insecurity to a powerful, confident being. ”3Vils” deals with the conceptual personas of Hear no evil, See no evil, and Speak no evil. “Boy2”celebrates male boudoir and centers on the concept of being “in the closet.” Interestingly, one of the models for this particular project is a straight male, which in Villasana’s words “makes it even more taboo.” The final installation is titled “Starry Night,” and is an artistic, one-of-a-kind take on the famous Van Gogh masterpiece.
National and local designers Hell Razor, Eclectic Visions and Metal Massacre have designed and will display bondage collars, gauntlet gloves and other gear used by lifestylers at the event’s fashion shows. Modeling for the show will be women from age 19 to 65 and from size 6 to 22.
Motivational speaker and author Asa Leveaux will be on hand to discuss his seminal, sex-positive book 365 Erotic Reasons Why I Love You, and leading a workshop titled “Journey to Badassery.”
“Asa’s book helps jump start [your love life] and get out of those narrow tunnels built around us from the day to day, mundane lives we all lead,” Villasana said. “While it can be said that it [the book] is written from a more average perspective, it can all be adapted to what fits your romantic needs.”
There will also be a burlesque performance by Ruby Slipperz, freakshow entertainment by Big Mike’s Psycho Circus and treats provided by Joe, Vinny, Bronson’s.
“Taboo is about sex and sensuality, but we’re not going to be showing any full nudity; it’s more of a demonstration,” Villasana said. “It’s an introduction to the concepts that are out there and to the fact that it’s not as taboo as they might think. Whether it’s BDSM, transgender, lesbian, gay, everything that people think is taboo, we want to bring that to light.”
Taboo: Gallery of the Forbidden takes place Saturday,Oct. 3, 2015 @ Nequim Pinup & Boudoir Photography Studio, 7100 Gateway Blvd E., lower level 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. Admission: $5. 18 and over only
[email protected]
915 307- 2945
www.nequimphoto.com
Text: Denise Nelson-Prieto | Photos: Courtesy of Nequim
