Gods of Erotica
By Tim Baros

Robert W. Richards' "Gods of Erotica, An Excursion Through Four Decades of Male Erotica," will be on view at LLGAF from January 22 - Feb. 22, 2003.

This exhibition of drawings progressed from the countless erotic story illustrations that Richards did early in his career. He had several commissions to draw porn stars for magazines and realized that, at least in their minds, they were authentic movie stars. From then on, Richards' inspiration for the drawings were the glamorous, highly-fictionalized photographic portraits of stars from the glory days of Hollywood.

"I never intended to create a historical document with this artwork, but it became one on its own. Collectively, the drawings trace a dramatic arc through gay erotica from pre-video to pre-AIDS to today's chaotic, confused and highly profitable porn industry."

The "Gods of Erotica" exhibition includes more than forty heroically-sized pencil drawings in triptych format, as well as a large collection of Richards' black and white color illustrations from his four decade exploration of charged-up male sexuality.
Richards will be present in the gallery on Saturdays from 3 - 6 PM throughout the run of the exhibition.

Special Events with Robert Richards ($10 suggested donation):
Defining Erotica - An Illustrated Discussion: Feb. 4, 6 PM
Ladies Night: February 11, 6 PM

Valentine Heat - A Slide Presentation of Men In Love:
Feb. 14, 6 PM