EROTIC ART EXPOSED IN ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA

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EROTIC ART EXPOSED IN ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA

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by WILLIAM ROTHSTEIN 

Even before you walked through the door, there were clues that this would not be your grandmother's art exhibit.

Two young men, clad in nothing but thin cotton briefs, lounged seductively in the gallery’s storefront window, caressing and comfortable in each other’s arms.

This bit of live performance art was the perfect introduction to the Opening Night Gala of St. Petersburg’s FIRST ANNUAL EROTIC ART SHOW, which took place on Friday, August 24th, 2007 at "Antiques 2061" in the Grand Central District of St. Pete.

The capacity crowd viewed hundreds of erotic works of art, many of which portrayed fetish, homosexuality and full frontal nudity. "Some of the pieces are pretty out there" said William Schramm, who hosted the event and issued a blunt warning to possible attendees- "If you are easily offended, don’t show up!" The warning must have been heeded, since no one seemed to be shocked by this overt celebration of erotica.

"This type of show would never have happened 10 years ago" commented one local artist as he watched the two nearly-nude young men cavort in the gallery window. "St. Petersburg has certainly grown up!"

Indeed, St. Petersburg now joins the ranks of only a handful of U.S. cities, including New York, Detroit and Seattle, that recently mounted similar erotic art exhibits.

Antiques 2061 Gallery is located at: 2061 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Attendees to the Erotic Art Exhibit must be at least 21 years of age.