Getting dirty in Detroit

By Maciejka Gorzelnik

Art enthusiasts checked their inhibitions at the door Feb. 8 as they walked into Bert’s Warehouse in Detroit for opening night of this year’s Dirty Show.

Now in its fourteenth year, the Dirty Show has become one of the largest erotic art exhibitions in the world according to dirtydetroit.com. Artists and performers come from around the world to display what many consider to be inappropriate, obscene, graphic and taboo.

For many, including photographer Kelly Luttrell, that is exactly the appeal of the show. Luttrell has attended the Dirty Show for many years and considers it to be cutting-edge and unlike anything he has ever seen.

“It pushes the boundaries of what an art show is considered to be,” said Luttrell. “For a long time it was hard to get shocking art like this in a mainstream show that appealed to the general public. And I think the Dirty Show kind of did that.”

Some artist produce work specifically for this event because other art shows will not allow pieces of this nature to be displayed. Artist Julie Fournier is exhibiting at the Dirty Show for the twelfth consecutive year and said she will continue to do so in the future.

“One show that I did before the Dirty Show involved the backside of a man, he was naked but no genitals showing. They didn’t want me to hang it though. They didn’t want nudity at all. Then the next month they were featuring art showing women’s breasts,” said Fournier. “It just struck me of what a double standard. Women’s breasts are okay but not the male form. People freak out in other settings so this is really nice to be able to paint nude bodies and be allowed to hang.”

Many of the pieces on display push the boundaries between art and pornography. Around the warehouse, body parts and various sexual acts can be seen in many forms and on various kinds of media including live performances. But co-organizer Erron Reed said it is about the perception of the viewers to define what they enjoy for themselves.

“Some people say it’s disgusting, some people say that there’s no need for it and that it’s not really art, it’s just porn,” said Reed. “You go to the Detroit Institute of Arts and you’ll see just as many nude parts there as you do here probably. It’s just the mindset that you take walking into a building. If you think you’re coming in to see art that’s nude, that’s what you’re going to experience. If you’re coming in here thinking you’re going to see porn, that’s what you’re going to get, too.”

When the show began 14 years ago, times were different. The Internet was not as widespread as it is today and according to Luttrell people were more easily offended.

“It depends on what your definition of obscene is. There was a time when obscene was someone spitting on a sidewalk. Things change. Ideas change. I think things like this are more accepted now,” said Luttrell. “We’re in the age of the internet where at the click of a button you can pull up whatever you want. Nothing is shocking anymore.”

Although shock value may be more difficult to achieve in today’s society, many artists featured in the show still manage to create that wow-factor. Due to popular demand, the Dirty Show has been extended for a third weekend until Feb. 23. If you plan on attending, Reed said to bring an open mind and be prepared to be blown away.