2010 February | Dirk Hooper

February 16, 2010

Review of Von Gutenberg Magazine

Filed under: Articles — Tags: fetish, von gutenberg — Dirk Hooper @ 6:56 pm

This is an archived section of the Dirk Hooper Photography website. Please click here to visit the new Dirk Hooper Photography site!

I can remember the first time I discovered the large slick fetish fashion magazines of Europe. Nearly 20 years ago I found a rack of magazines that had “Skin Two,” “O” and “Marquis” among others. I was endlessly fascinated by the art, clothing and fetish lifestyle articles in these magazines. The photos in those magazines literally changed my life! Needless to say, those early experiences in discovering the fetish world through foreign magazines have been a guide and inspiration in my own work ever since.

It’s always bugged me that America didn’t have a magazine of its own to contribute to the fetish world at large. Given the amazing diversity and the size of the fetish community in America, there are an endless number of stories to tell and up until recently, those stories have been untold. I recently received the first issue of a new magazine that focuses on the American fetish community named “Von Gutenberg”.

Headquartered in San Francisco California, “Von Gutenberg Magazine” is named after Publisher Erik Von Gutenberg. The magazine has a blend of articles and photography that looks at fetish fashion, models, artists, events and lifestyle movements in the fetish, art and BDSM community. “Von Gutenberg” is presented in the same slick and exceptional format that we have come to expect from the foreign fetish magazines, and naturally, the photography is incredible.

The inaugural issue has profiles of several fetish world personalities including models Heather Vandeven, Athena Fatale, Ava Garter, Anastasia Pierce and Marissa. Fashion takes a prominent place in the issue with features on designers Emilie Jerard and Atsuko Kudo, plus fashion houses Antiseptic and Polymorphe. If you like fetish photography, there are articles on Justice Howard, Violet Photography and Silent View, the model and fashion articles have some amazing photos by Lithium Picnic, Allan Amato, Harmony Nicholas, Gallery Serpentine and Wildone Photography, and Erik Von Gutenberg himself, among others.

There are plenty of reports in the first issue of “Von Gutenberg” that give an interesting cross-section of current trends in fetish culture. There is an article on “Tattoo Fetish” by icon Charles Gatewood, who might know a thing or two on the subject. The report on Steampunk fashion was the first major work I’ve seen on the subject, and a good indicator on how “Von Gutenberg” is covering the fetish world in a refreshing way. Issue One of “Von Gutenberg” also addresses upcoming events, fetish Down Under, fetish in Europe and the fetish art of Armando Huerta.

Those of us who love fetish and who have longed to see a publication that represents the United States perspective have a reason to celebrate. “Von Gutenberg Magazine” takes the beautiful European fetish magazine archetype and both honors what has come before, and expands the format in new and fresh ways. Given the state of publishing in the digital age and the added importance of supporting quality fetish work in general, I would highly encourage you to ask for “Von Gutenberg Magazine” at any place where you buy magazines. If you can’t find it on the newsstand, you can order it directly online at www.vongutenberg.com.

Article written and copyright 2010 by fetish photographer Dirk Hooper
www.DirkHooper.com

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February 14, 2010

Dirk Hooper News Updates for 2010-02-14

Filed under: News — Tags: art, fetish, hooper, models, News, photography, twitter — Dirk Hooper @ 3:06 am

This is an archived section of the Dirk Hooper Photography website. Please click here to visit the new Dirk Hooper Photography site!

Erotic art on display at Pin-Up-Alooza : festival insider : Video Archive http://bit.ly/9QuwxF #
THE X SHOW 14 February http://bit.ly/bzguem It's got four of my favorite artists in the show… I'd love to go to this! #

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February 11, 2010

Fetish Photographer Dirk Hooper Presents Large Exhibition at Art N Soul Studios

Filed under: Press Releases — Tags: dirk hooper, fetish valentine — Dirk Hooper @ 3:49 am

This is an archived section of the Dirk Hooper Photography website. Please click here to visit the new Dirk Hooper Photography site!

ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, February 10, 2010 – World-renowned fetish photographer Dirk Hooper will have ten pieces on display at the “Fetish Valentine 2” group exhibition. Hooper’s photos will be part of a show featuring five fetish artists and celebrating art and fetish culture at Art N Soul Studios in Allentown, Pennsylvania on February 13 at 8pm.

Hooper also participated in the first “Fetish Valentine” exhibition in 2009. “Art N Soul is expanding the show this year and making it bigger than ever, so I more than doubled my photos for the exhibition and decided to offer something special to support them.” Hooper produced a limited edition print that will only be available at “Fetish Valentine 2”. The print features Toxic Goddess Dame Lebeau in the photo “Inked” which has been displayed in three different juried exhibitions and two other curated art shows in the past year.

“Fetish Valentine 2” will have work from five different artists, a rope bondage demonstration and a live fetish photo shoot. Guests are encouraged to wear fetish attire and even to participate in the live events. Opening night for “Fetish Valentine 2” will be Saturday, February 13 at Art N Soul Studios at 516 W. Hamilton Street in Allentown Pennsylvania, and run for nearly a month.

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February 10, 2010

Toxic Goddess Celebrates Three Creators Who Have Work in Dirty Show 11

Filed under: Press Releases — Tags: dirk hooper, dirty show, robert henry, sandra pagan, toxic goddess — Dirk Hooper @ 2:24 am

This is an archived section of the Dirk Hooper Photography website. Please click here to visit the new Dirk Hooper Photography site!

DETROIT, MICHIGAN, February 9, 2010 – Toxic Goddess model Sandra Pagan, and Toxic Goddess photographers Robert Henry and Dirk Hooper, all three have work that has been accepted into the internationally renowned erotic art exhibition Dirty Show 11, starting this weekend. This is the first time that Toxic Goddess has had such a strong presence in a major art show.

Toxic Goddess founder and photographer Dirk Hooper said, “When we created Toxic Goddess Robert and I wanted more than a place to feature our own photography, we wanted to start a movement that was a catalyst for art, music and the community. All three of us getting accepted in the Dirty Show is a milestone in that effort.” Hooper’s piece “Zing” is a halftone print on canvas that features Toxic Goddess model Selkie.

Robert Henry, Toxic Goddess founder and photographer, entered a piece titled “End of Summer” which is a photo of Toxic Goddess Eclipse. “Within the context of my overall work, Toxic Goddess is the playground where I work out my ideas. It’s the place where I experiment and create work that I love. This is a great example of the work that comes out from a labor of love,” Henry said.

The Dirty Show features over a hundred erotic artists from around the world and has become the biggest erotic art show in America. “I am very excited about having my piece in the Dirty Show. This is my first real show and I am just going along with the new experience,” said model and artist Sandra Pagan. Her art piece is a series of self portraits assembled in a collage.

All three artists agree that Toxic Goddess has become a group that inspires and encourages the members to excel. Henry said, “Because it is such a small group, it takes on a familial atmosphere most of the time. We share each other’s triumphs and tragedies and that brings about a faith that helps lead to so many rewarding experiences.” Pagan summarizes, “Toxic Goddess does a great job in encouraging artists to grow. I consider us to be a small family and as a family we like to see each one of us grow creatively.”

The artwork by Pagan, Henry and Hooper will be part of the Dirty Show 11 in Detroit, Michigan starting on February 12 and running through February 20. Tickets for the Dirty Show and event information is available now through DirtyShow.org.

Toxic Goddess is part modeling troupe, part art movement and part cultural phenomenon. Founders Robert Henry and Dirk Hooper conceived of Toxic Goddess as a way to present their work to the public in the best way possible and are joined by makeup artist Danger Darling and effects artist Scott Van Eck. The guiding principle of Toxic Goddess is to do alternative modeling in a way that not only represents and showcases women in a positive and empowering manner, but to back that up by making the actual models part of the creative process and to share in the venture’s success. Toxic Goddess wants to reach out to, unify and promote, various underground communities including music, fashion, art and alternative social groups, particularly if they are run by or positive toward women. Visit ToxicGoddess.com for more information.

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February 7, 2010

Interview with Robert Henry for upcoming Dirty Show

Filed under: Interviews — Dirk Hooper @ 4:39 am

This is an archived section of the Dirk Hooper Photography website. Please click here to visit the new Dirk Hooper Photography site!

The Dirty Show is coming up in a few weeks and this is an interview with Toxic Goddess photographer Robert Henry about his piece in the show.

After the interview please visit www.ToxicGoddess.com to see Robert Henry’s photography.

1. Please tell me about the piece that was accepted into the Dirty show.

The piece is of Toxic Goddess Eclipse from the shoot “End of Summer.”

I conceived the shoot as a celebration of a girl becoming a young woman. Richard Kern’s book “Soft” was the work that got me thinking about it in the first place. Eclipse is such a fit, young woman and she emulated what I was hoping to achieve so well. The natural light of the setting sun worked so well to set the proper mood as well. The funny thing is that I named the piece after the entire set but, it takes on a double entendre given the shot is of Eclipse’s rear end.

2. How does this piece fit within your greater body of work?

Within the context of my overall work, Toxic Goddess is the playground where I work out my ideas. It’s the place where I experiment and create work that I love. This is a great example of the work that comes out from a labor of love.

3. How do you feel about having work in the Dirty Show?

Being selected into the Dirty Show is such an honor. This is my second time and I’m still kinda blown away by it. It’s an international show and to share space with so many amazing artists is wonderful.

4. One of the fundamental tenants of Toxic Goddess was to be an engine for creating artwork and a family of creative people. Does Toxic Goddess serve that purpose for you? Please elaborate.

Toxic Goddess fulfills me creatively in so many ways. Being able to work within a select group of models, who are so creative and wonderful beyond modeling, is very rewarding. Because it is such a small group, it takes on a familial atmosphere most of the time. We share each other’s triumphs and tragedies and that brings about a faith that helps lead to so many rewarding experiences.

5. What projects are you working on this year?

Toxic Goddess is at the fore with me at the moment. We’re in the early stages of our second book, looking to debut some new Goddesses, and gearing up for some appearances in the summertime. So I definitely am staying busy there.

Additionally, I’m still working on a series of 4×5 portraits, some infrared and Holga film work as well. I’m still creating work for my body of work called “Forms in Darkness” and that may lead to another show and possibly a book.

Within all that I’ve already mentioned is lurking a few other ideas that may become something more as well.

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