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La Luz Photo Gallery | All photos by Elise Thompson for LAist
Saturday night La Luz de Jesus hosted the the book signing for The Velvet Hammer Burlesque Book, in conjunction with opening reception for the group exhibition of photographs from the book. The beautifully bound and printed coffee table book was worth every penny of the 60 dollar price tag, as you will see in some of the featured artwork after the jump. Beautiful women and elegant men turned out in droves to appreciate the majesty of feminine form, in its various shapes and sizes.
Based in Los Angeles and founded in 1995 by Michelle Carr, Velvet Hammer kick-started the current era of Neo-Burlesque and caused a furor on stages worldwide. The infamous troupe's shows were a potent cocktail that mixed elements from traditional American Burlesque revues with a post-feminist punk attitude. -Michelle Carr
Photos after the jump are pretty sfw -- depending on where you work
Bubbles LaRue and Selene Luna/Bobbi Pinz | All photos by Elise Thompson for LAist
A Temptation of Gallery Photos
Vivian Escalante, president/coordinator of Dyke March, and DJ Lee autograph each other's books. Vivian's Dungeon Designs designed and maintains the Velvet Hammer website
Kerri French/Carlotta Blue
Selene Luna/Bobbi Pinz
featured photographs
model Jenny Shimuzu and the equally gorgeous Louise
Velvet Hammer featured photograph
Popular and debonair William Mitchell, and Catherine "Tiffany' Lugo Lychkoff. He had such good manners, introducing me to everyone we passed, that I became overwhelmed and forgot everyone's names.
Cady McClain, who recently finished shooting Soldier's Heart and editing a book of her artwork and poems (the first of three) called “Conversations with the Invisible.” But of course I blurted out, "Aren't you Dixie Martin?" Luckily we managed to get past that and have a normal conversation about museums and restaurants instead of how bizarre it was that they killed her character off with poisoned pancakes.
The Gallery filled with admirers
The charming and gregarious Joe Berardi Richard Edson
One of the Poubelle Twins Jewel of Denial. Such a fantastic hat. Peacocks have become a recurring theme of late. I hope it's a good omen | All photos by Elise Thompson for LAist
"The Velvet Hammer Burlesque" book presents photographs of the group's
voluptuous ensemble of dancers and performers - from their savvy on-
stage performances to an intimate glimpse behind the curtain.
Vivacious women of all shapes and sizes (the Velvet Hammer troupe
welcomed organic individuality) radiated an authentic, raw energy in
their routines that mesmerized the audience until (almost) the last
shred of clothing was stripped away. Every page of "The Velvet Hammer
Burlesque" serves up true rebellious American beauty fueled by a
passion for the wilder side of life. "The Velvet Hammer Burlesque -Michelle Carr"Published by Die Gestalten Verlag, Germany, 144 pages, hardcover,
$60.00, ISBN: 978-3-89955-202-7. Publisher contact
I saved the best for last. Nothing can follow this photo by Patrick Morrison. Except maybe a cold shower
Photo exhibition remains open until Mar 2, 2008
La Luz de Jesus 4633 Hollywood Bl. Los Angeles California 90027 (323) 666-7667
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Only you would get to talk to "Dixie" about poisoned pancakes.
No, I intentionally did NOT talk about the poisoned peanut butter pancakes that Dixie ate instead of Babe, thus dying at the hands of the serial killer known as the Satin Slayer after just returning from the dead barely a year before.
I mean, I didn't want to look like a GEEK or something.
nice work! i had really wanted to catch this event... thanks for the pics :)
p.s. -- the last photo really is ridiculously hot.
CORRECTION: The last picture is Jewel of Denial, NOT a Poubelle twin.
Thanks for the clarification!
Oh I hate getting names wrong!
I'm on it.
Just happened upon this page inadvertently and much as I appreciate the summary of that pleasant evening (and much as you may "hate getting names wrong"), I can't help but point out I'm reasonably certain the man in the photo captioned as Joe Berardi is actually Richard Edson; especially since the exhibition press release listed his name first among many with featured work "spanning the entirety of the Burlesque troupe’s existence". No denying an apparent similarity, if I'm correct, but an actor who's been around as long as Edson is hard to miss.
Sorry, I was informed he was Joe Berardi. I wasn't part of the troup, so a member emailed me all of the names after I sent them my photos. I had remembered him as Richard, and that is even the tag on the photo if you hover.
I checked out the imdb page of Richard Edson, and unless he has a twin, you are right, sir. 20 points!
He was very charming.