LOS ANGELES, CA — Is it pornography or is it art? The World of Wonder (WoW) Storefront Gallery appears to believe that the answer is “yes,” and that Vivid Entertainment is an ideal illustration, if its Valentine’s Day “All-American Porn: 25 Years of Erotic Photography from Vivid Entertainment” exhibit is any indication.According to a press release distributed by Vivid Entertainment, the exhibit’s goal is to demonstrate how the adult cinema has entered and influenced the mainstream.
In order to accomplish this, a regular hall of Vivid heroes will be officially on display at the World of Wonder storefront gallery beginning Sunday, February 15th.
On Thursday, February 19th a free panel discussion hosted by WoW co-founder Fenton Bailey will begin at 7:00pm and be followed by a party with an open bar. Bailey is the co-director of Inside Deep Throat and co-executive producer of Pornography: A Secret History of Civilisation.
Speakers and topics to be discussed during the panel include Vivid founder Steve Hirsch explaining how his became the world’s top adult studio, followed by multi award-winning director Paul Thomas on the topic of directing adult films and insights into what it takes to be an adult superstar from the Vivid Girls.
In addition to cover art collectibles and never-before-seen limited edition behind-the-scenes photos, those who attend the 7:00pm – 11:-00pm opening reception party on Valentine’s Day will also have the opportunity to indulge in an open cocktail bar, meet Vivid Girls and see excerpts from Vivid’s third premium cable series, Deeper Throat, , which will premier on television the same night.
With Vivid Girls including Jenna Jameson, Tera Patrick, Ginger Lynn, Christy Canyon, Sunny Leone, Monique Alexander and Savanna Samson becoming increasingly common household celebrity names, the timing and accuracy of the exhibit seem excellent.
As WoW founders Bailey and Randy Barbato see it, “Vivid had a dramatic impact on the industry with its very first movie, Ginger, starring Ginger Lynn in 1984. Until Ginger, most adult movies were marketed with explicit images on their VHS covers and, as a result, were hidden from view by retailers. Vivid changed all that with beautifully designed covers that had strong mainstream appeal and showed gorgeous women, glamorous photography and stylish art direction.
World of Wonder Productions is an independent film and television production company with a gallery located at 6650 Hollywood Blvd., in Hollywood, CA. The exhibit was constructed in part as an homage to the 25th anniversary of the founding of Vivid Entertainment. The exhibit will continue until March 13th from noon until 6:00pm Tuesday through Saturday.
“We’re looking forward immensely to unveiling this show where porn meets art,” co-curator James St. James observes. “Having the Vivid Girls in attendance is going to make it an exciting and beautiful event.”
A portion of the exhibit’s photo sale profits will be donated to Adult Industry Medical Healthcare Foundation (AIM), the industry non-profit which provides HIV and STD testing, counseling, treatment and support services.
Members of the media wishing to attend either the February 14th or February 19th events may contact Jackie@Vivid.com for information. Non-media interested in those events may RSVP to Thairin Smothers at gallery@WorldofWonder.net.
Attendees must specify which event they wish to attend and be 18 year-of-age or older.
More information about World of Wonder can be found at www.WorldofWonder.net. Details concerning Vivid Entertainment Group are available at www.VividEntertainment.com.
