See Gina Blog

Citygarden – “Kindly Gepetto” by Tom Otterness, originally uploaded by Nikon66.

You should definitely check out this photographer’s work. His photos of the Citygarden in downtown St. Louis are just incredible. His shots are absolutely inspiring!

cirque final RGB letter size, originally uploaded by midnitesunltd.

A naughty and stimulating event entitled “Cirque du Erotica 2” took place at the Casaloma ballroom on Iowa at Cherokee Street this past Saturday evening. The event featured the Furious Vixen band (including the stunning Teya), “The Red Hot Dancers” (a gorgeous burlesque troupe), pole dancers and fire spinners, and a belly dancer too. Intense sensuality and incredible talent coursed through the space.

The crowd was a wide range of ages and lifestyles, all enraptured with the decadence. The Casaloma was filled with people. Some dressed in costumes, some in street clothes, and some in clubbing outfits. One friend of mine dressed as a candy girl (instead of a cigarette girl), one acquaintance dressed as a ringleader, and one dressed as a strong man.

Unfortunately cameras were strictly prohibited. Perhaps another of the Cirque du Erotica 2 events I will have that Canon Rebel I’ve had my eye on and will shoot the event as a part of it. I have already told this year’s stage manager that I would like to volunteer next year for it.

If you have the chance to attend next year, do. Leave the kids at home (and your purse and camera) and come out for a great time!

Yesterday afternoon was the opening reception for Man-Made, a national juried photography exhibition at the St. Louis Artists’ Guild.  Two of my photographs were featured.  (I blogged about the show previously).  I was thrilled to have so many of my friends show to support me.

The other photography in the show was for the most part outstanding.  I was honored to be presented with an award for one of my two shots.  I was given a certificate and a check.  I have learned if a presentation is held during one’s opening reception then do not have a cup in your hand or food in your mouth (yeah, I was looking awesome… LOL).

If you were unable to attend the opening reception, the photography will be on display until January 9th.

Sunday I attended the St. Louis Old School Tattoo Expo.  The event occurred Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at the Holiday Inn in Downtown St. Louis.  Over 100 tattoo artists were present.  Tattoo shops from across the country had booths at the expo and local tattoo shops including All Star Tattoos, Trader Bob’s, and Iron Age had booths too.

I was completely intimidated by the beautiful tattooed and pierced people who surrounded me.  I felt as if I stood out a bit, but I am sure they often feel the same in society – I did look “vanilla” and have only one piercing and only two tattoos, after all.  It was interesting to watch the artists work and I enjoyed viewing their work in the albums they shared at their booths.

Throughout the expo competitions were held for various types of tattoos, including black and grey, best back piece, best color, most realistic, most unusual, best arm sleeve, portrait, and many others as well.  Three winners were chosen in each category.  Seth won in two competitions – best back piece and best large black and grey.

I do hope that they find a better venue for next year’s expo.  The Downtown St. Louis Holiday Inn is a hole in the wall hotel made up of rooms, a too-smoky bar, crappy cafeteria, and a few sofas.  Last year’s expo was held at the City Museum and I wish I had gotten to attend it in a more fitting venue.

I took many shots during the expo on Sunday.  All of them are found here.  I hope to have attachment lenses for my S3 next year for the expo and will pay for the weekend pass so I can get more shots, of all of the competitions especially.  I provided my card to one of the competition judges, so that they can have access to my expo shots.  Hopefully the expo folks will like some of the shots I got.

If you have a tattoo, want a tattoo, or are otherwise appreciative of tattoos, you should consider coming to next year’s St. Louis Old School Tattoo Expo.

I have been invited by the St. Louis Artists’ Guild to participate in a juried photo exhibition called Man-Made.  Two of my photographs will be featured, Motion and Madness.  The opening is Sunday, November 23rd, at 1 p.m.  It is free and open to the public.  If you are unable to come to the opening, feel free to view the exhibition anytime between the 23rd and January 9th.  I hope you are able to make it to the opening, though!  Directions here.

This Saturday is Art Attack: Day of the Dead Art at the Koken Art Factory (2500 Ohio Avenue in St. Louis).  This is an auction to benefit KDHX and the Saint Louis City Open Studio and Gallery.  My gal pal Amy Vandonsel is in the show again this year and everyone should go and cheer her painting on.  Last year the Art Attack show was a lot of fun and this year’s promises to be even more fun!

Two paintings are put against each other in elimination rounds determined by the audience. The painting receiving the best response, as ascertained by the Applause-O-Meter, moves on to the next round. The fate of losing paintings is determined by the Wheel of Misfortune, which includes opportunities to bid on and rescue the works, as well as the ever-popular “certain death” option – which sends paintings straight to the gallows. Past paintings have met their end via chainsaw, samurai sword and a hillbilly hell-bent on destruction.

Doors open at 7 p.m. and in addition to the art-carnage, you can enjoy performances by the Alley Cat Revue burlesque troupe and a soundtrack selected by DJ Doug Morgan. Tickets are $10. For information visit KDHX.

Come out tonight if you can and support Amy (on the left in pic with moi).  She is being featured with several other lovely artists in a fab art show “As Above, So Below” (2101 Locust, St. Louis City) from 7 – 10 p.m.  Free entry, free food, and free Schlafly beer.  You may even see me there if you’re lucky! (*wink*)

Last night I attended Venus Envy at Mad Art Gallery. For those not familiar with Venus Envy, it is an art show that showcases female artists and performers. I expected something great since they picked such a great art venue. I had known that only fifteen artists’ work was to be featured, but expected that meant the organizers were seeking to be more exclusive this year. This was an incorrect assumption as I would discover.

Anyone who has attended Venus Envy in St. Louis knows that every show is entirely different than its predecessor: some of the shows are good and some are awful. This one was awful. Venus Envy’s entry fee was $5, but if you chose to pay a $55 “donation” then you were given access to a VIP room with champagne and a bag of schwag (is that the word I am looking for?). Unfortunately, the art show was not worth even the $5 entry fee.

The art was disappointingly trite and incredibly simplistic. I found the music bearable, the catered food tasty, and the alcohol was reasonably priced; but that was not what brought me to Venus Envy. I came to see art! Good art. Perhaps next year they will be more selective with the artists and the pieces that they choose. I know a few artists that they should have included that were not (and at least one of these artists submitted work). My message to the Venus Envy organizers? Do better next year!

If you still have not bought a 2008 calendar*, I suggest you buy a Kurt Halsey 2008 calendar.  Kurt Halsey is an incredible artist I have followed (online) for years.  Check out his work if you have not already.

*I already purchased my 2008 calendar (from The Unexpected Pit Bull).