Before they hit the international stage, Yana and Tha Paranas will perform a very special cabaret set for Melbourne at the East Brunswick Club July 16th to help raise money for the trip.

Special guests Roadkill Rodeo and high voltage hybrid performance artists  The Town Bikes will also be performing.

Get tickets at Forty Five Downstairs or Ticketmaster.

“It’s such a stand-up inspiration for an art show that, naturally, the Australian Family Association and their associated cronies had to come and spoil the show. And boy, did they ever, stepping beyond their usual sex/body-phobia into a whole new realm: yes, women’s genitals are offensive and degrading… to women!

….

Throughout the gnashing of teeth by AFA (and Australia Post, and - yes - “State secretary of the Communications Electrical Electronic Energy Information Postal Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia, Graham Lorrain”), it’s hard to work out what has sent them into more of a lather: the use of the word “cunt”, or the images of women’s genitals?

On the former topic, yes, it’s true that the “worst” words you can throw at a person have been narrowed down to two that are distinctly female: “cunt”, and “motherfucker”. But it’s worth reclaiming “cunt” (as many people, feminist and otherwise, are aiming to do); it’s a fine, old word with a rich etymological history (hell, it was good enough for Shakespeare!). If we can take back “bitch” and other epithets, why not “cunt”? Why not take it as a compliment? A cursory Google search on the topic will reveal an extensive library of pro-cunt blogging, journalism and web-ringing.”

The Dawn Chorus: Australian Family Association: Female Genitals (Cunts) “Offensive”, “Degrading” To Women

Police, Adelaide City Council and festival organisers have all received complaints about the promotional material.

….

Inspector Steve Kameniar, of police operations, said police had received “a number of complaints” and “the matter is being investigated”. He would not comment further.

Genital posters ‘degrade women’, Sunday Mail, 1 March 2009

The artist responsible for the sculptural exhibition, Cunts…and other Conversations, Greg Taylor, was contacted by Australia Post, who threatened prosecution unless the “offensive material” was collected.

The reason for refusing to process the postcards given by Australia Post was that “a reasonable person would find it offensive.”

Said Taylor, “I take offence to the assertion that the people who are supportive of this exhibition are not reasonable. I know many people were looking forward to receiving this invitation in the mail who are very reasonable!”

“Where is the consistency? In Melbourne and in Adelaide the first two batches were received by the intended recipients, so it really does highlight the power of one ignorant person who, to my knowledge, does not work for the Office for Film and Literature Classification.”

The artist now faces a situation where key members of the media and VIPs have not received the invitation which features photographs of the sculpted works and the title of the exhibition.

The exhibition has faced challenges from the beginning, when during the preview in Melbourne in 2008, a City Councillor ordered the removal of posters after receiving only two complaints. In Adelaide, Taylor could find no distribution companies prepared to handle his poster and flyer distribution due to the negative connotations of the word ‘cunt.’

“This exhibition is an attempt to begin conversations that might challenge our thinking. I want people to question how a word that simply meant ‘a woman’s pubic area’ came to be the vilest thing one can say.”

CUNTS… and other Conversations is a collection of clay life size portraits of over 140 cunts, premiering in Adelaide. An edition has been purchased by MONA (Museum of Old and New Art, Tasmania).

WHAT                   Official Opening CUNTS… and other Conversations
WHERE                 Upstairs, 155 Hindley Street, Adelaide
WHEN                  Wednesday 25 February, 6pm-8pm

CUNTS… and other Conversations: open 12pm to 7pm, 26 February until March 18, upstairs at 155 Hindley Street, Adelaide.

For interviews, press quality images & further information:
Jennifer Greer Holmes, 0421 932 466

See the  Cunts and Other Conversations exhibition for yourself!

Greg Taylor will be exhibiting at the Adelaide Fringe Festival in South Australia. Opening night is 25 February 2009.

Exhibition Press Release

Certain to be a Quentye* of a Conversation

CUNTS… and other conversations is the most stimulating and thought-provoking event in the Adelaide Fringe program.

Featuring over 140 sculpted life size portraits of women’s cunts, Melbourne artist Greg Taylor is hoping to generate discussion that lives on long after his installation.

“It is a challenging show to some, but it is a work of celebration and empowerment to others. It’s the kind of show that makes a stimulating backdrop for women’s issues to be discussed, which I encourage,” he says.

CUNTS previewed in Melbourne in 2008 and attracted 2000 visitors over ten days including school groups, mothers with their daughters and medical students sent by their university lecturer.

The models for CUNTS range in age from 18 to 78 and are from various religious backgrounds; Christians of many denominations, including Catholic, Protestant, Salvation Army as well as Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Pagans, Witches and Atheists. The women come from all walks of life; teachers, doctors, lawyers, accountants, writers, actors, musicians, artists, life models, students, architects and theologians. The models are heterosexual, bisexual, lesbians. Some are virgins. All of them want one thing; for young women to be free of growing up with fear, ignorance and loathing of their bodies and sexuality.

Xanya Mamunya is a harpist whose cunt features among the works. She says of the modelling process, “It was empowering because I am from a generation that never even looked down there. I wasn’t even told about the menstrual cycle until I thought I was bleeding to death. Modelling for the exhibition made me feel that I was part of something that I think is very important – for everyone.”

Filmmakers Bree McKiligan and Suze Houghton will film at the exhibition opening for their documentary Cunts, the Movie.

Local Sunday Mail columnist, blogger and feminist Clementine Ford will officially open CUNTS and other Conversations.

WHAT                    Official Opening CUNTS… and other Conversations
WHERE                 Upstairs, 155 Hindley Street, Adelaide
WHEN                   Wednesday 25 February, 6pm-8pm
WHO                      Greg Taylor, Xanya Mamunya, Clementine Ford

CUNTS… and other Conversations is open 12pm to 7pm, 26 February until March 18, upstairs at 155 Hindley Street, Adelaide.

For interviews, press quality images & further information:
Jennifer Greer Holmes, 0421 932 466

* Queynte: The principal etymological precursor of the word ‘cunt’, found in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.

Filming Cunts and Other Conversations

Cunts The Movie film team will be filming Opening Night on Wednesday, 25 February. We will be talking to the visiting sitters, interviewing the audience and getting the lowdown on what is happening.

Contact us if you are coming to the exhibition and would like to be interviewed.

The AIDC is a intensive three-day event which attracts delegates and speakers from around Australia and overseas. Upward of 600 national and international delegates will converge on Adelaide. The conference offers the full range of participants in the factual film and broadcasting industry the opportunity to meet, network and be exposed to industry best practice from Australia and overseas. In addition, masterclasses and forums raise and explore current challenges and showcase work.

The Cunts The Movie filmmakers will be meeting with potential broadcasters and funders.