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Check out this video edited by the ever-talented Ms. Calamity Chang, of Beatles Burlesque, featuring Ticket To Ride’s cover of “Oh Darlin”. (Calamity: what are you NOT able to do?) Oh, and still photography by your humble burlesque photographer, me, Ms. Melody Mudd.
And go to this show, if you haven’t, or if you have. It’s fantasticaly fun! Every second Monday of the month at Public Assembly, Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
By J.D. Oxblood
(July 13, 2010)
The artist Skye Ferrante has done something novel that, perhaps, no artist has done before—given a share of his profits to the artist’s model. Throughout the course of art history, models either paid FOR the work—think of all the commissioned portraits hanging in the Met—or were paid very little, by the hour, for standing still, hours at a time, or, if anything extra, models got slipped the Matisse. In the new show at Nolita’s “Erotic Luxury” shop, Coco de Mer, the art of burlesque is on display in three different media: photography by Don Spiro, watercolors by Luma Rouge, and wire sculptures by Skye Ferrante. Often the same performer is represented in all three media, and the performer will receive a cut on sale of any work. While the art on display is amazing, the revolutionary concept of the show is even more so. Ferrante’s goal is to get burlesque-derived art into the hands of private owners, and get some money into the pockets of said performers. Besides, as he put it, these pieces of art are “cheaper than a bottle at The Box.”
I am sure I don’t need to tell you about Veronica Varlow’s cheekbones – they speak for themselves. This stunning beauty has movie-star cheekbones to compliment her beautiful, lithe body.
Sigh.
I popped into the Slipper Room the other night and found Ms. Varlow celebrating her birthday with her fabulous friends. I took some photos like I like to do – ps Calamity Chang was there dressed all in RED (while she was dressed) – and then… I cannot tell you what happened after. Because I am not sure. I do know that I left my credit card and ID at the bar. I also know that it was a classic Wenesday night at the Slip…
Here is a photo, done two ways, for your Friday Fun.
Yours in Burlesque-i-ness,
Melody
Photos by me, Melody Mudd. Contact me at melodymudd@gmail.com. I’m friendly. I am also on flickr, twitter, & facebook, of course.
I don’t care if it isn’t even May yet. It’s ALMOST May. And then it’s ALMOST June. And then there is VEGAS. And then MERMAID. In the same month – Miss Exotic World AND Mermaid Parade. So maybe it’s a bit early, but I am super excited which means I am going through old photos of both. I found a few candid shots of happy sea creatures from last year’s Mermaid and thought I would share for Friday Fun. Maybe this year won’t be so grey and rainy… although umbrellas are one of my fave accessories.
Enjoy.
exes and ohs,
Melody
All photos ©2009 Melody Mudd. Contact me at melodymudd@gmail.com and find me on flickr, twitter, & facebook.
Ms. Calamity Chang
Were you there? I was. The line-up of Calamity Chang‘s latest initiative, Beatles Burlesque, was fabulous – Ms. Calamity Chang has been doing this for a while and she knows what she’s doing. To say nothing of the PR. I was psyched to see that this show was listed, like, EVERYwhere. I grabbed my camera and headed out to Public Assembly on Monday night, and here is some of what I captured, for your viewing pleasure. If you can imagine the powerful vocals of Broadway Brassy leading the excellent band through a solid collection of Beatles numbers while you peruse the gallery below, you might get a taste of my night. Enjoy.
Indigo Blue at BHF weekend pool party, June 2009. Photo by Melody Mudd.
One of the many aspects of burlesque that I love so very much in addition to the humor and intelligence that are so often found in any given number, is the wardrobe. And I say “wardrobe” rather than “costumes” because, well, the costumes are always so madly gorgeous, crafty and innovative, yes, but the wardrobe that so many of the lovely ladies and gentlemen of BQ strut around in on a sunny afternoon is just FABULOUS.
Case in point. Miss Indigo Blue. Poolside. Vegas. In Rainbow. Note footwear.
Yours in Burlesque-y-ness,
Melody
Come and find me on facebook, flickr and twitter. Or email me at melodymudd@gmail.com
Madame Rosebud in Lurid Pulp, 2009 by Melody Mudd
Find me on flickr, facebook, twitter, and at melodymudd@gmail.com
Leroi the Girl Boy
The Slipper Room is a sure thing. Espesh on a Saturday night. I made a point to hit it on a night when Tatah was in town, and Leroi was out – haven’t spotted her in a while – and Minnie, and Darlinda and Dirty and Rosewood and Monkey and Trixie and Saturn and…what needs to be said here? The lineup speaks for itself. Here is the evidence. Enjoy.
Minnie Tonka & Darlinda Just Darlinda advertise their upcoming show, The Burning Bush vs. The Second Coming. Photo ©2010 Melody Mudd
I LOVE when the religious and the burlesque come together to turn me on.
And Minnie and Darlinda seem to know this very well. They drop something fabulous at every major holiday. Ladies, I HEART what you do so much. Have I told you this lately? I cannot WAIT for Moses and Jesus to duke it out. At Le Poisson Rouge – when was the last time you saw prophets partying at Le Poisson Rouge? With Lady Rizo and Tigger hosting??? I mean really. The linup is gorgeous, obvs – don’t miss this show. I will see you there.
April 3, show is at 8p, produced by the Schlep Sisters and Thirsty Girl Productions. Check out the FB page with all the info here: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=327069514398&ref=mf
Yours in burlesque-y-ness,
Melody
Photo by Melody Mudd. Contact: melodymudd@gmail.com or find me on facebook, twitter, flickr.
House of Sugar Exhibits Ed Barnas' Burlesque Photographs
For my fellow burlesque followers and fans, if you missed the Ed Barnas Exhibit at House of Sugar on Monday night, March 1, I’m so sorry, but you can at least check out the photos that were on display, here:
http://www.edbarnas.com/exhibit/20100301pa/
I have to say, in this uber-digital age, it is exciting to head out on a cold winter night to check out a selection of photos that have been chosen, printed, framed, hung and lit for one’s viewing pleasure. And even more so when you are a fan of the artist, as I am of Ed Barnas.
The show was at Public Assembly, or as some of us still call it, the old Galapagos, in the front room that used to be the pool. It’s a great space for it – lots of room, separate from the bar area but still a couple of steps away from a cocktail, and with a glass storefront, so hip Williamsburgy passers-by can peep in and wonder what all the excitement is about. They also put up a full slideshow of Ed’s shots on a screen up on the stage in the main room. Good stuff.
I do wish I could have stayed for the performaces that evening, but could not, not this time around anyway. See y’all real soon on the scene.
yours in burlesque-y-ness,
Melody
facebook ~ flickr ~ twitter
You’ve probably come across this photo several times by now, but several people made comments about it going black and white, so here it is:
Bastard Keith & BB Heart at the Burlesque Blitz. Photo ©2009 Melody Mudd.
You dig?
For hi-rez images please contact melodymudd@gmail .com
Here it is folks – ten days overdue, a gallery of sextacularly hot photos for your visual pleasure. In case you missed it, Joey Nova premiered his much-anticipated Sextacular! Sextaculer! last Saturday, January 30, at Hiro Ballroom. The evening was a perfect blend of classic burlesque, aerials, acrobatics, fire work, rap, musical numbers, live bands and Joey Nova surrounded by lovely beauties, as usual, just being his cute Dreamboaty self. Let’s face it, Ladies and Boys, the man is a Boat of Dreams.
Joey Nova's Sextacular! Sextacular! Photo ©2010 Melody Mudd.
Joey Nova surrounded by gorgeous performers, as usual, at the top of the Sextacular! Sextacular! premiere at Hiro Ballroom, January 30, 2010. Clockwise from Joey, who is the hot guy in the photo: Marcee Beaucoup, Sizzle Dizzle, Bird of Paradise, Vikki Likkerish and Stella Bordella. This is the teaser shot, folks. Please tune in shortly for the full photo essay by yours truly.
For lots and lots of burlesque photos, See Melody’s flickr photostream here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/43399907@N03/
The Lovely Ladies of Capital City Burlesque, hailing from Edmonton in Alberta, Canada, milling about in the lobby of the Orleans Casino, Miss Exotic World Weekend 2009. Oh what a fantabulous weekend it was. Seen here from left to right: Ruby Gallows, Lucky L’Amour and Miss Motor Joan.
If you haven’t read it yet, check out JD’s piece that inspired the posting of this photo – Vegas looked like this at some other fabulous point in time, right? It wasn’t always tourists in shorts and t-shirts…
Photo ©2009 by Melody Mudd
LAMPHEAD by Melody Mudd.
Feeding the Monkeys in Thailand. Photo ©2008 Melody Mudd
Window on the World, by Melody Mudd. Khao Sok National Park, Thailand, 2008
Anish Kapoor's Cloud Gate, Millennium Park, Chicago, Photo ©2009 Melody Mudd
The big bean known as Cloud Gate at Millennium Park in Chicago is so much fun to play with, espesh if you have a camera. It weighs 110 tons. One Hundred and Ten TONS. In other words, it is very heavy. It measures 66 feet long and 33 feet high. British artist Anish Kapoor created this awesome thing out of super highly polished stainless steel. It’s like seeing the Chicago skyline through a giant drop of water.
NANDA's spectacular performance at Miss Exotic World this June left me breathless, and I was only taking pictures. Photo by Melody Mudd.
Hungarian Burlesque Legend La Savona signs vintage photographs of herself for fans at Miss Exotic World, Vegas, June 2009. Photo by Melody Mudd.
Anita Cookie, Sizzle Dizzle and Gigi Lafemme at City Winery, May 2008, shot with film by Melody Mudd
I believe they were singing Thank Heaven for Little Girls, from the film “Gigi” – it was fabulous and hilarious. Were you there? Please tell us about it…and Happy Friday!
