If there's a more satisfying way to relieve the doldrums of a dull, rainy Tuesday lunchtime than an enlivening, post-sandwich visit to the Museum of Sex in Manhattan, then a detailed description of that may be left in the comments section below.
Burlesque is not all about sex, yet here it is on the third floor of the museum that is refreshingly bright, clean and tastefully arranged in a storefront building on 27th Street and Fifth Avenue.
Curated by Sarah Forbes, The Nudie Artist: Burlesque Revived appeals keenly to the senses. It's beautifully lit, presented in luscious colors and exhibited in three sections. The exhibit was a joint effort by the team at the museum headed by Creative Director Mark Snyder. Forbes had been considering a burlesque show for a number of years; New York City burlesque has progressed heartily in the last ten years and is as clever, innovative and humorous as it is sexy.
The first section is a cinematic history of burlesque including the preserved dressing room of Mara Gaye, a professional showgirl of the forties and fifties.
The second is a collection of large, bold photographic works of New York burlesque stars by Leland Bobbe, decorated with stenciled aphorisms on their trade from the stars themselves.
Forbes was keen to let the burlesque "community tell their own story" and there really hasn't been an exhibition on the subject like this before.
Scotty the Blue Bunny tells us: "The difference between a stripper and a burlesque performer is a stripper will get upset if she doesn't get money, a burlesque performer will get upset if she doesn't get applause." A worthy explanation of the difference between the two genres.
The third section includes presentation of the lusty works of Luma Rouge who, at first glance, seems to be a flamboyant court sketch artist who was bored after work one evening, chanced on a burlesque show and let loose with her pencils.
The exhibition will be up for another three months and is highly recommended.
The Nudie Artist: Burlesque Revived
The Museum of Sex
233 5th Avenue at 27th Street
New York, NY
Sun -Thu: 10am - 8pm
Fri - Sat: 10am - 9pm
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