Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Three more days for Seven Minutes In Heaven


Remember the game Seven Minutes In Heaven? Two of your friends were selected to go into the closet for seven minutes to do whatever they wanted, which mostly consisted of making out. These days, making out in a closet is is for wimps. Or maybe it just seems to me that teens these days are more about going into a closet for seven minutes and playing their luck with pregnancy and HIV. Anyway, I'm straying from the point. Seven Minutes In Heaven is back!

Thanks to the talented minds of Jessica Garcia and Linda Arredondo, SMIH will be on display Saturday, March 3 from 6pm to 10pm at the Fox Motel located on 302 Newell Avenue, just Northeast of the downtown area. And if you ask me, the curators of this sexually inspired art show picked the perfect location. The disclaimer on the invitation alone is enough to peek one's interest: "Warning: This show contains explicit imagery."

For those of you not from San Antonio, or just not familiar with Fox Motel, it's got quite the reputation for renting out rooms by the hour. I don't think an explanation is required for you to get the picture of the kind of seedy establishment this is. But who are we kidding, we all know sex sells, right?

According to a press release, SMIH is a "curated group exhibition of 13 artists whose artworks will explore ideas of the erotic and notions of sexuality."

Erotic art is intended to evoke erotic arousal by depicting sexual scenes. The exhibition will feature paintings, sculpture, performance, and site specific installations. The featured artists include Alfonso Espronceda, Ana Fernandez, Catherine Garant, Wesley Harvey, Mira Hnatyshyn, Barbara Justice, Jung-Hee Mun, Kelly Reid Walls, Matt Van Hellen, Vincent Valdez, John Cody, and works from the curators Garcia and Arredondo.

Although I wish I could give you more information as to what to expect on Saturday night, I'm still in the dark myself. Although I can say that Fernandez, one of the artists, hinted about an installation she would be exhibiting on a bed in one of the rooms. It's an installation which she admits was inspired by the venue itself.

The show is free to the public. Music will be provided by DJs Phoenix and Sneaky Le Sneak. Food will be available from the Chili Queens Food Truck. For more information, you can visit the Facebook page for SMIH at www.facebook.com/events/217671898321853/

Thursday, February 23, 2012

What are they singing about now?!


So Katy Perry's new album is scheduled to drop March 27th. But really, can we call it a new album? Not really. Teenage Dream: The Complete Collection is a special edition album which includes all 12 tracks from her original Teenage Dream album, but also includes three new songs, and a mix of her six No. 1 hits.

So technically, it's a new album because you don't own it, but seriously, it has all the same music you've heard before. According to critics, her latest song, Part of Me, is supposed to give listeners a darker side of Perry, given her post-breakup situation with former husband Russell Brand.

One Aol Music blogger said that Perry's music is being described as "darker" and "deeper." The blog went on to say that Bonnie McKee, a collaborating songwriter of Perry's, told MTV News that Perry is "going through some major life changes, so it's not all about bubble gum and fun."

I have to admit, I listened to Part of Me for the fist time tonight, and despite the lyrics of the song, the melody is still bubble gum and fun to me. Who hasn't done the whole post-breakup "fuck you" song thing anyway?

Let's go back to a Jagged Little Pill that Alanis Morissette sprung on us in 1995. It was such an angry album with an edgy sound. And who can't forget 6x Grammy winner Adele who poured her heart out about her loser ex. And although everyone loves a little Taylor Swift, we all know she's talking about her latest tragic relationship. Katy Perry's words may be a little "darker," but her music will remain the same pop fun that we've been getting from her, and that is why her fans will continue to support her.

Another major recording artist in the headlines today is Britney Spears. According to multiple sources, Britney, along with Janet Jackson and Fergie have been linked to the new season of The X Factor. But according to the Chicago Sun-Times, it seems Britney has the best shot at this point.

While others seem to be on the fence regarding Spears as a judge, the fact is whether or not people thing she has a voice or not, she's been very successful in the music industry. Did anyone seriously believe that Paula Abdul had a great voice? Granted Abdul never shaved her head in public, nor did she have a very public meltdown where she had to rise from the ashes, Abdul also had a pretty fruitful music career.

With another successful album and tour behind her, Spears seems like she may have time to devote to a tv show, but who knows what will happen at this point.