This was the 5th Annual "Sex, Drugs, and Rock n' Roll" exhibition held by the Paper Heart Gallery, but this year the event was spread out into three different nights.

The first night was the last Friday of 2005 (December 30th).  My assignment again this year was to continue in the theme of "Sex, Drugs, and Rock n' Roll" and after brainstorming ideas I opted for a bodypainting of the cover of the Dr. Feelgood album by Motley Crue.  I really loved this CD when it was originally released and Motley Crue fit well into the theme of "Rock n' Roll" (assuming, of course that an 80's metal hairband is a subset of Rock & Roll).  The title Dr. Feelgood covered the "Drugs" portion of the assignment with a little help from a naughty nurse outfit for that special touch.  And for the "Sex" portion, I finally had the pleasure of working with the mesmerizing Michelle Monroe who absolutely oozes sexuality in front of the camera.  Her tattoos added an extra kick to the look since the Motley Crue boys are covered with them (notice the Marilyn Monroe on her right thigh).

When doing bodypaintings, I typically try to find a way to incorporate a background that compliments the painting.  The CD cover background is the "government-issue" mint green tiles that might have been found in a military operating room.  The Paper Heart Gallery didn't have any tiled walls like this so I made my own.  I used Tempra paint on one of the large picture windows at the front of the gallery and painted the tiles.  I found a really cool roll of faux grout that made it easy.

For props, I didn't have to provide a thing.  Michelle had a friend who supplied us with a hazardous waste receptacle, medical tools, and rubber tubing.  Oh yeah, and Michelle just happened to have a naughty nurse outfit lying around for just such an occasion,... and those white stockings,...and those killer boots.  She is a total pro!

I think the painting itself took about an hour and a half to complete and nearly all of it was done with Totally Tattoo paints through a Badger Airbrush.  I invited photographer James Patrick to come up from Tucson to shoot the images and he did a fantastic job.  He shot digital images with a two-head studio lighting set up.  He came up with the idea to do a second set up at the red wall near the stage which really complimented the red in the nurse outfit.  You can see more of his work at http://www.onemodelplace.com/member.cfm/P_ID/84446 and at http://www.camodelinc.com/ .

There was also another twist of fate that forced me to modify my plans.  I had signed on to do the special effects make-up for a short film project called Romey & Jules.  It just so happened that this was the first night of filming.  Luckily the film set was only a couple of blocks away from the Paper Heart so I was able to complete the first round of make-up for the movie and then drive over to the gallery to do the bodypainting.  I would have to be back on set fairly soon though and because of this I scrapped the Randy Rhodes idea (maybe next year I'll bring it back).  Instead I had to come up with something that could be completed quickly.

For some reason I remembered that owner Scott Sanders did a bodypainting himself for the first year of the Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll show and it was a brick wall.  I springboarded from that idea and did a graffiti painting of the words "Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll" with a brick wall background. 

On the third Friday of every month, the Paper Heart has an artist's reception for all of the artist involved in the Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll exhibit.  Stephanie Berger of the Arizona State University State Press Magazine asked to interview me so we planned to meet at the Paper Heart for the interview on Third Friday and I offered to do a painting specifically for the cover.  For the full story and the additional pictures from this event, go to http://www.futureclassx.com/bodypaint/chelsea/music/music.htm .

Hit the Decadence

We want some body to love

by Chelsea Ide
Published in the Phoenix NewTimes, December 29, 2005

Before he ascended to the great gig in the sky to light more left-handed Fenders on fire, Jimi Hendrix said, "Rock is so much fun.  That's what it's all about - filling up the chest cavities and empty kneecaps and elbows."

The spirit of Hendrix will be alive and well - and probably painted on the naked body of some hot chick - at the sixth annual Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll Show, a loud, dirty, uninhibited exhibition that opens Friday, December 30.  Not only will the walls of the Paper Heart, 750 Grand Avenue, be decked with images of decadence and debauchery from artists like Richard Bledsoe, JJ Horner, Natascha Payton, and Joseph Szindinski, but, as in previous years, there will be a body-painting demonstration by Mark Greenawalt.  He'll adorn his female models with famous rock imagery, from Jim Morrison's brooding mug to Gene Simmons' seven-story tongue.  Scandalesque, a local burlesque troupe, will further sex up the night with some choreographed booty-shakin'.

And, of course, what would a rock 'n' roll-themed art show be without rock bands?  Too damned quiet, that's what, so the Green Lady Killers, Bodhi Tree, and Quarter Inch Crown will rock the stage at the raucous event, which kicks off at 8 p.m.  Tickets cost $10.  The exhibition runs through Monday, January 2.  Call 602-262-2020.