Galerie Erotique...sensual art and roleplay, open to all.

[ariosto]

The Galerie Erotique is an experiment in combining
three different forms of expression, art, roleplay
and discussion. Maid of Marvels and myself will play the directors of our little museum and we ask you to participate by dropping in to see the work, relaxing on our black leather lounges with a drink from our wet bar, commenting on the art and enjoying yourselves surrounded by sensual images.

Welcome...

 

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(reserved)

 

[ariosto]

Ariosto checked himself in the mirror one more time wishing he'd followed Marvel's advice and gotten that razor trim this morning. He walked around the walls straightening a frame here a frame there, brushing imaginary dust off the glass. He looked at the door again. Where was she!
He was reaching for some caviar when his assistant Mitzie Witssen stopped him.
"You'll get crumbs on your suit Mister A, why don't you sit down and relax."

Ari settled into the soft leather with a sigh.
She was right of course...silly to be nervous.
Mitzie was cool and elegant in her tight black dress that showed off her magnificent legs so well. When he and Marvel had decided to open this place one of their best decisions had been to hire Miss Witssen as their 'girl friday'.
He was checking his watch when when the front door finally opened and Marvel rushed in dusting snow from her mink.
"Ari get up! C'mon it's eight o'clock and I can see them coming!

 

[ariosto]

Pinups by Pearl Frush

Pearl Frush was born in Iowa, although she and her family moved to the Gulf Coast of Mississippi when she was still a child.
She enrolled in art instruction courses New Orleans before moving on to study in Philidelphia and New York. By this time her
family had moved to Chicago, where she joined them after enrolling at the Chicago Art Institute.

Frush opened her Chicago studio in the early 1940's, doing freelance work and working for the Sundblom, Johnson and White
Studio. By 1943 she was working for the Gerlach-Barklow Calendar Company, producing a popular series of work such as:
Liberty Belles, Girls of Glamour and Glamour round the Clock. It wasn't until 1955 that Brown and Bigelow started producing
calendars of her work, however she soon became one of the most successful female pinup artists of the fifties.

Pearl Frush's work was painted primarily in watercolours and gouache, and her crisp detailed style is reminicent of Vargas's
work. Her subjects are often more gracefully portrayed and less overtly sexual than other artists work of the time.

 

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Pearl Frush

Pearl Frush...

 

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Pearl Frush

Pearl Frush

 

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Aubrey Beardsley...Lysistrata drawings

Aubrey Beardsley's (1872-1897) flame burned brightly and for far too short a time.
Beardsley was mentored by Edward Burne-Jones who recommended that he take evening art classes at the Westminister School of Art when he was 19 years old. The following year, he was encouraged by the President of the Salon des Beaux Arts, Puvis de Chavannes, to visit Paris where he received his first commission to illustrate Sir Thomas Mallory's "Le Morte D'Arthur".
It was merely the beginning. Subsequent works included the illustration of Oscar Wilde's "Salome", Art Director of the quarterly "The Yellow Book", illustration of Alexander Pope's "Rape of the Lock" and Aristophanes' "Lysistrata" before his untimely death from Tuberculosis at the age of twenty five.

 

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Aubrey Beardsley...Lysistrata drawings

Aubrey Beardsley

 

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Aubrey Beardsley...Lysistrata drawings

Aubrey Beardsley

 

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November's mystery masterpiece and writing contest

With each show we'll put up a work without title or artist, see if you can guess who did it.
We'd also ask you to try and write a small story or poem that the painting might suggest. You can post your answers and stories here just be sure to indicate in the title that you are submitting an answer or a story. Winners will be announced when the next show is opened.

 

[Maid of Marvels]

Tossing her mink to Miss Wittsen...

"Do something with this, will you?" Marvel said turning to Ariosto as she straightened his tie and brushed an offending speck of lint from his tuxedo. Standing back, she gave him the once-over to see if everything was in place.

"Not bad. Not bad at all." Kissing him lightly, Marvel wove her arm through his. "Lets get a drink, I'm half parched. And did I see caviar? It's been ages."

 

[Huntress]

Bravo!

The parchment of the invitation in my hand is damp and slightly crumpled as I approach the door of the gallery. It's the first opening I've been to in years and frankly I'm a little nervous.

As I open the door, I can see that Ari and Maid have the beginnings of a wonderful collection -- Pearl Frush, one of my favorite pin up artists and the works of someone I've never seen before -- that's the best part of an opening: the opportunity to see art in a new light.

Spotting Ari and Maid on the far side of the room, I wave and cross over giving each a hug and fond kiss.

"Great work you two. May I be the first to wish you well in this endeavor!"

~H~

 

[Maid of Marvels]

Picking up a brochure...

from a silver tray on a corner table, Marvel opens it and begins to giggle. "Here is an excerpt from "Lysistrata" that accompanies by one of the illustrations in the exhibit. It almost sounds Monty Python-ish in its tone:

"THE EXAMINATION OF THE HERALD"

MAGISTRATE: Are you a man or a Priapus?

HERALD: Don't be stupid! I am a herald, of course, I swear I am, and I come from Sparta about making peace.

MAGISTRATE: But look, you are hiding a lance under your clothes, surely.

HERALD: No, nothing of the sort.

MAGISTRATE: Then why do you turn away like that, and hold your cloak out from your body? Have you got swellings in the groin from your journey?

HERALD: By the twin brethren! the man's an old maniac.

MAGISTRATE: But you've got an erection! You lewd fellow!

from "Lysistrata" by
Aristophanes, 410 b.c.

"Imagine what Beardsley might have accomplished if he had drawn for more than just four years?"

 

[SexyChele]

Stepping through the door, not quite knowing what to expect from this new gallery. Glancing around, I notice the elegant appointments, the perfect lighting to display a myriad of various works.

Taking a flute of champagne, I browse through the displays given. Yes, very interesting. I must admire Pearl Frush - love that 40s - 50s pinup look. Definitely reflects the tastes of the our host and hostess. The other works are....different, to say the least. Not to be coarse in our elegance surroundings, but I would almost think the artist had a phallic obsession. Perhaps covering his own inadequacy? I smile as I sip my champagne. And I am probably the only one in the room who has thought of that!

Making my way to our gracious host and hostess, I chink my glass against theirs. Giving Ari a peck on the cheek, and a hug to Maid, I smile.

"Good work, you two. Excellent job. Here's to a sucessful endeavor!"

I smile at Huntress before taking another sip.

 

[captainb]

Stepping out of a brief snow flurry, my smile widens at the sights in the gallery. I loosen my scarf and peer closer at the Frushes. Definitely to my taste, the barely clothed sensuality so much more alluring with their promises of more to be revealed. And the added bonus of a lady artist; once again the knowledge that women can and do love women somehow makes it just that more interesting. And this Beardsley fellow... I chuckle. Yeah, he wishes.

"Miss Marvel," I cry as I kiss the ladies on the cheek. "It's been so long since I've seen your sweet face! And Chele, beautiful as always. Ari, you and the Maid have a wonderful start to this place," as I shake his hand.

"But what is this?" I ask as I peer at the painting over his shoulder. "I'll admit without shame that I don't know much about artists, but I know what I like. For a wild guess, I'd say Raphael. But, as far as what the picture's about... I'd say it looks like Pan is feigning reluctance to join the dryads in their forest hot-pond. Ooh, caviar. And are these Ritzs?"

 

[ariosto]

Watching the crowd beginning to gather Ari relaxes and heads for the caviar and crackers and soon his tux is sprinkled with crumbs.

"Thank you all for coming to our show, please take your time, look around, have some champagne..."

He's on a roll now.
Mitzie looks at Marvel.
Yeah but the Captain's off on that painting by about 350 years.

 

[captainb]

I look at Mitzie. "Now that you say that," snapping my fingers several times, "that's it, it's that guy from the turn of the century, he painted a lot of incredibly realistic landscapes and mythological scenes, yeah, him. Berke Breathed painted a take-off of one of his paintings, with Opus being fed grapes." I nod wisely and take a long sip of champagne.

 

[ariosto]

Mitzie smiles at the handsome Captain most fetchingly...
"Your a lot closer now, than you think..."

Ari blunders between them.
"Captain! so glad you've arrived, Mitzie get the Cap some champagne will you?"

She departs with a glare and a frown.

"Now what were you saying about a take off by who?...oh and Captain, this man painted precious few landscapes, he was much more into...flesh."

 

[SexyChele]

Stepping over the discussion currently going on between 2 of the best writers on Lit (yes, I know there are more, but they aren't here, are they?), I sip my champagne with amusement. I realize just how hopelessly lax my education in art has been. I look at the piece in question, but all I can tell is that I like it.

"Ari, it looks as though I may have to take your Art Appreciation class. How much does that cost again?"

I look up at the Captain, smile, and whisper...

"What do you think? Shall we try to collaborate on this one?"

 

[captainb]

I raise an eyebrow. "My dear, are you accusing me of being a collaborator? Wait!" I shout, startling Chele who nearly spills her drink. I dig into my jacket pocket and pull out a folded paper, opening it for Ari to see. "Here, this is what I meant. Maxfield Parrish! It just came to me. But," I said, looking between the two artworks, "I'm probably way off on that guess."

 

[ariosto]

Blushing at the compliment, Ari looks at the Parrish and shakes his head.

"No Cap, here's another clue, He's French, late nineteenth century and..."

"Your giving to much away boss."
Mitzie taps her prettty foot.

"Uhhh....yes maybe so, well Cap, Chele, Mitzie let's sample that lovely 'finger food'. I wonder where Marvel has got to?"

 

[captainb]

I shove the pseudo-Parrish back into my pocket and extend a hand to Huntress. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you standing there. Pleased to meet you.

"Ari, lead the way to the snacks. I think I saw Marvel duck behind that pillar."

 

[Maid of Marvels]

From pillar to post?

"Umm... I was sorta kinda just... listening. Spy hunting as a career choice dies hard, you know." Marvel stammers. "However... You know there is a possibility that there might be an art forger around." She looks directly at captainb and arches an eyebrow.

"You know, Cap. You really ARE close. This artist was a mere 45 when Parrish was born.

"I made an interesting observation a couple of years ago about one of this artist's other paintings. There is one of a seated girl that bears an uncanny resemblance to Sarah Michelle Geller of 'Buffy' fame. Do you know the one I mean, Ari?"

 

[ariosto]

I think I do Marvel. I'll check back through my slides of B..uh oh...almost gave it away!
What were you saying about a forger!...Nothing in here I assure you is anything less than gen-you-ine!

Did I overlook Huntress?
Sorry love, I'm so glad you're here!

 

[ariosto]

The next morning...

Ari and Marvel survey the wreckage from the opening with slightly hung over eyes.

"Where's Mitzie?", they both say in unison.

Ari spots a painting leaning up against the desk with a note taped to it.

Dear Boss, I know that you expected me to clean up this awful mess but I decided to go home with the Captain instead.
Oh just before I keft a strange guy came by and asked to see you but I said you'd already gone home. So he left this painting for you to look at said he'd be back tomorow. His name is Fred Phann.
No kidding fred Phann. Anyway he says if you like it he's got plenty more.
Call me when the place is clean.
MW

Ari picks up the painting...turns it...turns it again and calls Marvel over to look.
"What is it?"

She takes it...turns it...turns it...
"Skin?"

"Yeah I guess so but what's going on?"