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In September 2003, Heart and Andrew Morgan organized their first group photo shoot, which they called the Bay Area Women of Color Photo Project. More than four years later, the Project has evolved into an ongoing collaboration between models and photographers that has a growing influence on erotic fine arts photography in the San Francisco Bay Area. As Heart puts it: "I like being depicted in ways that show my strength, my body, my sensuality, my artistry and my intellect as a strong-minded Woman of Color. I have been working closely with a good friend of mine by the name of Andrew Morgan, professional fine arts photographer. Together we discussed this issue and came to the conclusion that there are very few images anywhere to be seen that depict Women of Color actively engaged in the fine arts and elegant fetish scene." She states the goal of the project succinctly: "The project's goal is to produce professional, high quality photographs of Women of Color that depict women in interesting and artistic ways. We would like there to be more images available that can be used to promote the concept of ethnic diversity, and encourage more Women of Color to emerge." Originally conceived as the Bay Area Women of Color BDSM Photo Project, the project changed its name in 2006 to reflect the greater diversity of images and attract more interest from the fine arts community. We caught up with Heart for a chat about what the goals of the project were and are -- how they've changed, and how they've stayed the same. Eros Zine: As you've explained the project to me, it seems that the new title reflects the idea that this is about more than just the visibility of women of color in the BDSM community, but about their visibility in the arts overall. Does the fine arts community present a special challenge for women of color?
Eros Zine: You mention Helmut Newton, who did work with women of color as models. What is different about showcasing women of color who are in control of the art they're creating? Heart: Well, we're talking about two different things; we're talking about work that's done for more commercial purposes, for the commercial element of fine art. It's a whole different thing when you've got all these publishers and distributors who are promoting someone as part of these high-level shows that become part of the iconic imagery of the United States and abroad. That's a whole different machine. We're talking about dollars and cents, the bottom line. So if their publishers and distributors are demanding certain imagery that they think they can sell, they're basically, in a way, being guided by this machine. Which is fine; however, with our project, we've got people who want to be seen, who want to have their own community identified and acknowledged. The intent and the collaborative element is different here than when you're motivated by a board or a gallery that's telling you what they can and cannot show. It's a whole different ball game. Eros Zine: In addition to the name change, what other changes have their been since the inception of the project? In 2005-2007, Ms. Von Livid joined as our new Creative Director. The women (one man prop. model) who have graciously modeled for us exemplify Ethnic Diversity within the WOC community ranging from: Fine artists, Heterosexual, Bi-Sexual, Lesbian, Femme, Pansexual, Sub, Daddy Dyke, Daddy Dyke Divas, Butch Dyke, Femme Dyke, Leather Dyke, Domme, and various body types. As of September 2006, Our current Project Photographers are Andrew Morgan, Larry Utley, Shilo Mc Cabe, Jeff Compasso, Darling Propaganda and Darque of Indigo Blaque, Refa One and Crystal AM Nelson. Eros Zine:You mention boards -- museums, galleries, these traditional artistic power structures. Do you think that with the loss of funding with fine arts, the projects like yours are becoming more important because they're community-generated? Heart: Well, all our photographers have other jobs. A lot of them are doing other types of commercial work so they can make a living at it, or they're doing a different job altogether but they have a love for this type of artwork as self expression. When you're generating art based on inspiration -- "what I like" -- and how they're inspired to create artwork, a body of work that will reflect and leave legacy for themselves and the people that they love and care for, as well as having community influence, you're dealing with a whole different intent, vs. being hired by a magazine to sell a product. Of course, in some ways it's more difficult because the money is hard to come by.
Eros Zine: What are your hopes for the project? What concrete deliverable will tell you that you really made a difference? Heart: Well, we did have a deliverable when the Folsom Street Fair came to us and wanted to include us in their program. That was a change. We were included in the project to increase diversity and outreach, to bring more people to the table. I feel that influence is concrete -- when you have something that's nationally known, and you're included in their full-color program guide as a way of going forward with their diversity, a mandated mission statement, that's pretty significant. What we do is very grassroots, and we're just trying to make some kind of a difference in community and art and have influence in a way that's not up in your face. Eros Zine: You mention that it's not "in your face" -- how is your brand of activism different? Heart: I've done activism work in my other life, which I still do, on various levels. I've seen the different machines and the protocols and the different models that have been used. Some of them about really getting in your face, going and protesting and really telling someone they're wrong, that type of thing. Other protests focus on nonviolent communication, trying to see what each side can bring to the table. Some of the iconic imagery that's used always wants to pit people against each other; there'll be a dualistic component, or there'll be a didactic component, which I don't find very appealing -- I don't like being preachy. So what I do is try to ask to bring some kind of level of insight -- "Aha! Maybe I should think about that," or "Maybe I hadn't thought about that, because I hadn't seen it enough." It's a forum that'll finesse your mind and spirit and also finesse my cultural acceptance in a way that is imagery making. The image has a power to change perception and invite you in, in very subtle ways that you can't talk about. One guy who was heterosexual emailed me and said "I never thought I would be excited about seeing two dyke women together in a picture. Nothing sexual happening or anything like that, just beautiful imagery with great clothes, and I know I'm not going to have a sexual identity thing with them, but I still feel this is a sexy, hot picture." When I got that email from this very straight guy, I thought, "That's what it is." Can you identify and connect with the community, composition, and intent of our pictures? Eros Zine: What sort of creative projects you've seen recently are most reflective of the BAWOCPP mission? Heart: The recent local with national outreach attempt in the alternative community was done at the 2007 Folsom Street Fair's Venus' Playground (all women's space). In 2006 the women's planning committee asked us to suggest a women photographer that shoots diverse women's community. I submitted two women photographers from our project and they chose Ms. Shilo Mc Cabe for the 2006 and 2007 official Venus' Playground photographer. Eros Zine: Do you believe the BAWOCPP has had a measurable impact in the fetish community? Heart: I would say yes, because Folsom Street Fair has national outreach and was inspired by what we were doing and featured us in a two page all color pictorial in 2006. This was a First in the history of Folsom to feature an all women's event in addition to it being a project about Women of Color. Also, the Pride Parade called us and offered a partial sponsorship slot so that we could be in the parade.
Eros Zine: What new directions are you exploring with the BAWOCPP? Heart: We were hoping to find a few more fine arts photographers to take more fine art oriented images. Also, we wanted to find a few more models were were also into the fine arts to be included. It was a way to broadening our scope and allow the photographers to have more opportunities in what they decided to shoot. The BDSM focus was very very specific and limited in some cases when recruiting. As a result, a MFA Photographer Crystal AM Nelson contacted us and volunteered to model for the project; she is working on her MFA thesis. I am doing the roping for her MFA photo and video project and appear in a few of her images. Her project has historical references about African American slavery, female sexuality and bondage. Her images are very powerful. Eros Zine: You mention on the site that women of color modeling in various artistic and lifestyle communities are not coming forward, partially, because the images most commonly presented are of people unlike themselves. Do you mean merely that the fetish photography scene focuses on models who are not of color, or is there an additional issue at work in that fetish photography does not always reflecting the diverse desires of women from many different backgrounds? Heart: Yes, the fetish models in the various magazines have a certain body type and are usually gender specific. Our volunteer community models cover a variety of sexual orientations (Straight, Bi, Lesbian, Butch, Daddy), and various body types (Thin, Thick, BBW, Stocky, short and tall). The photographers that are shooting for the various websites
Many fetish clothing designers gravitate towards models that evoke their look and only a few WOC are able to navigate and get in with those who have the power to choose. Dante Posh and Ms. Von Livid (both modeled for the BAWOCPP) are international WOC fetish models, but they have had to work really hard at getting into that specialized scene. Both are very thin models and are about 5'10 or taller and are about a size 2 or 4. Our photographers shoot images that they enjoy from an artistic point of view. It is a collaborative effort. The models supply their own clothes and do their own make-up etc. It is about creating images that influence acceptance vs. selling a product with the image. Eros Zine: In founding and administering a project like this, do you believe you are taking a step toward helping the BDSM community at large embrace a kind of diversity that can make it stronger? Heart: I hope so. It has been a long haul since 2003 with many skeptics at the beginning and probably some now. Yet, we were also embraced by those who understood the idea. Additionally, when people are able to see inter-gender, size and ethnic diversity in various media, events, and in life in general the exposure will offer more opportunities to connections. It is easier to accept things when one is familiar or has seen it a few times. For those who have issues with their bodies and self image, well this project might trigger someone. It has happened already. Certain people with issues about their bodies feel that we should show more models of say dress size 30+. We rely on models to apply and volunteer, and the volunteer photographer must feel a connection to that person as well to get a great picture. It is a collaborative thing. So some parts of the community feel left out then want to accuse the project of being size-discriminatory.
Eros Zine: Where would you most like to see the BAWOC Photo Project go in the next five years? Heart: We need lots more sponsorship or in-kind support so we can start branding our idea, do more print advertisement campaigns in the fine arts community as well as in the alternative community, run some ads in some trade publications, produce few art shows and maybe produce a DVD of our images. I would love to do another multimedia event such as the one we did at the Supperclub SF. I love seeing our images projected on a 12'x12' wall. Maybe we could be underwritten by a hosting organization, but that is just an idea. The concern is about loosing control of the project and then needing to have a board of directors, etc. So far, we are very grass roots. Also, we would like to be included in some more interview articles that focus on Art, Diversity and Gender. We are working on the concept of including a special gallery edition by Larry Utley that includes a gender fluid male for the first time. It is about putting forth images that highlight the concept of fluid energy. Eros Zine: Thanks, Heart! Readers can see the work of the Bay Area Women of Color Photo Project at Stormy Leather in February. Find out more about the Project at bayareawoc.com.
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