..December 2007.. ..Shanghai, China..
Stills from the opening of the Striptease Burlesque photo exhibition at the Spring Gallery in Shanghai.
Striptease Burlesque Photo Exhibition
The Spring Gallery
December 9, 2007- December 16, 2007
Opening Reception December 9 at 7PM
The Spring Gallery
Address: No.5. Lane 209, Nanchang Rd. Shanghai 200020, P.R. China
Tel: 021-64737578Fax: 021-64734802
www.springgallery.net e-mail:springgallery@163.com
..December 2007.. ..Shanghai..
Waca standing next to the giant window mounted prints at JIBO Arts, a week before being moved to the Spring Gallery for the Shanghai version of Striptease Burlesque.
Striptease Burlesque Photo Exhibition
The Spring Gallery
December 9, 2007- December 16, 2007
Opening Reception December 9 at 7PM
The Spring Gallery
Address: No.5. Lane 209, Nanchang Rd. Shanghai 200020, P.R. China
Tel: 021-64737578Fax: 021-64734802
www.springgallery.net e-mail:springgallery@163.com
Striptease Burlesque
“Most of these women have day jobs.”
I first stumbled upon the New York burlesque scene in 2004. Burlesque shows would take place in the backrooms of small downtown bars. For $5, you and 75 others crammed into speakeasy type rooms to watch Dirty Martini, Julie Atlas Muz, Little Brooklyn, and Amber Ray perform stripteases on broken down wooden stages. The stripteases ranged from elaborate sensual fan dances in lush costumes to in your face bump ‘n’ grind.
The broken down wooden stages still remain but the number of people who attend these burlesque shows have grown exponentially in a short time. The performances have spilled over from the backrooms to the entire city. Performers from all over the world now travel to New York to be seen on big stages ringed with velvet curtains and mock stages in the backroom of bars.
My interest in photographing burlesque performers wasn’t to highlight striptease. The nudity wasn’t what attracted me. What grabbed my attention was the characters and satire each performer brought on stage.
The majority of these women have day jobs. Hours after riding the crowded subways home from work they would be tassel twirling in front of a raucous New York crowd.
The purpose of my portraits was to show the persona of each performer. I wanted an intimate glimpse away from the stage and crowd. As if their character were walking the streets of New York at noon or midnight.
..June 2007.. ..New York to Tokyo..
..It’s noon on Sunday. I can’t get my mind off that’s it’s midnight on the Edge of The World.
My exhibition is closing as I stare at an elderly pot bellied Russian man jump into the blue water across the pool. 2 years worth of work exhibited in one short month.
..May 2007 Tokyo, Japan..
Gallery EF
..I watched a girl sign the gallery guest book for an hour. I don’t know what she wrote because it was in Japanese. I appreciate the sincere interest everyone I spoke to at the opening showed. It’s been a good emotional experience.
All the struggles and tremendous expenses were worth it. The feeling was worth every Pound, $, or Yen. Now it’s time to dream it up all over again.
..June 2007 New York..
Little Brooklyn:
Sorry for the long radio silence. Congratulations on the Exotic World accomplishments. A couple of days before I left Tokyo I told friends Little Brooklyn will bring the crown back home this year. Was very close. Must have been a great performance. Now think I have fortune teller type of powers. It was great to hear your performance was a big success.
Thanks for the message about the gallery exhibition. I have to thank you once again for the opportunity to take that photo. It was the catalyst for the project. Prior to that photo all the other performers I was working with didn’t know where I was coming from with the project. I was seriously thinking about scrapping the project before I took that photo. I owe you a huge thank you.
As for Tokyo, the exhibition is still up for 10 more days. It was a large opening at the gallery. I was shocked at the reception and response to all of it. There were so many people at the opening Cherry Typhoon had to perform on in a small space in the gallery. The exhibition has gotten good reviews. The exhibition was a part of what they call photography month in Tokyo. There are about 400 galleries participating.
More good news is that the exhibition will be shown for a month in Shanghai. The Tokyo gallery has a sister gallery there. It’s all been a nice surprise. I have a lot of the small promotional fliers with your photo on it. I want to pass those along to you. Also want to show you the video tape of the exhibition and still photos. Your photos is hanging off the ceiling and is visible from the street. I stood outside the gallery on afternoon watching bikes pass and stare at the photo.
I’m fighting jet lag right now. But I hope to get back to a normal routine this weekend. Maybe next week we can meet up one night and I can give you all the fliers and show you the video tape. Thanks again. Sorry for being so hard to get in contact with. The exhibition was a long stressful but worthwhile process. Hope your well. Take care.
Paule
..May 2007 Among the buildings, Tokyo..
The day after the opening. Staring at the tea. Tired and relieved. Jet lag has set in. Thinking about what’s next? 14 hours back to New York in 3 days. 1 year and a half working.
..May 2007 Gallery EF Tokyo, Japan..
Everyone who made this exhibition a reality at Gallery EF. Thank you.
