The struggle between artists and commercial business for South Street real estate is a well-known fact of life for Philadelphia residents. And these days the artists seem to be tugging the rope a bit more to their side of the mud pit.
The area just south of South Street is full of creative energy, even if they haven't fully taken over South Street proper yet. And one day last week we decided to check out Aphrodite Gallery, an erotic art gallery in one of the two very nearby spaces of Passional Boutique, both on Fifth Street just South of South Street. One space sells corsets and costumes for both men and women. The other sells toys and accessories.
Passional is a store like none other Philadelphia. This is not just a sex store--Passional employs sexperts who can answer every question you have, from a medical anatomy lesson to how, exactly, that toy is inserted "Where?!" They'll even help you ask some questions you probably didn't think you needed to ask because Passional's expertise is in the fetish and fantasy genres. Employees are sex-positive, all about healthy sexual development and will make you feel comfortable among objects and subjects you are very much taught to be discomforted by.
KC Beitinger has been working at Passional since October last year. "I don't believe in safe sex. I believe in smart sex," she says. KC was eager to talk about sex toys and fetishes with us until we clearly had enough material to fill enough blogs for the rest of the semester.
Sam Reis is co-curator of Aphrodite Gallery, which opened about a year and a half ago. The artist Hataiiia is being featured in Aphrodite this month, in a collection of almost life-sized black and white nude prints. All are of women. Just about every 4th Friday the gallery opens a new show, in coordination with other South of South gallery open houses on that night of the month. All Aphrodite shows are erotic, and they are always looking for more talent.
By Rebecca Howe and Emily Heinz, South of South, group 6
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