Three Questions with
CHRISTIAAN HOWARD

Christiaan Howard is the creative director of Afterdarkk Media, a company that hosts and promotes fetish events several times a year in downtown Denver. The next event will be on July 28 at Club Pure, 2637 Welton Street.

How do you define fetish?

I define fetish for myself as give-and-take between two people, whether they're strangers, friends, man-and-wife, boy-friend-and-girlfriend, etc. I find in Denver a lot of people believe that fetish has to be a prelude to sex. But while there's always the ulterior motive, it can be a powerful experience all on its own. I think that body worship itself is very primal, ice cream without the calories, because you can feel so much about the person, and share so much, but then go on your way without experiencing shame or anything. As a definition, fetish is body worship between two individuals, excluding what people would consider the mainstream sexual parts of the body. It's just a fixation on something-- it's very sensory intensive: breathing in someone, tasting someone, listening to someone say what you want them to say can be very lustful.

What makes Denver's fetish scene unique, if anything?

A lot of people are really willing to help out. A lot of people are into it, it just matters to what degree. Some are there just to look, some to play, some for the fashion of it, although I really don't agree with that. I mean, fashion is a very important part of fetish, but if you're going to have a look-but-don't-touch attitude, why are you wearing something like that in this environment anyway? And Denver has a lot of beauty here in the people. A lot of youth subcultures are into fetish here, which I'm not sure is the case in all cities. Some of the cities I've been to have a very mixed crowd of people, older (2550). There's more of a gay/ bisexual overtone in other places, but if it's here I can't see it. But one of the reasons I'm having my next event at Pure is that they're very active in the gay community. Anyone can have a fetish, and I'd be lying if I said I put on community events if it was only my own crowd who came.

With the city of Denver cracking down on ecstasy, are there any repercussions for fetish events?

I was told last year by vice that there were halfnaked people running around, there was weird stuff going on, and they expressed interest in finding out what sort of narcotics were there. I think that was a very ignorant attitude for them to take. My events are all over 21, and I think that we're free to do whatever we want, if we're not breaking the law. I'm actually planning on going before the Denver city council this fall to see if there is anything I and other promoters can do to about the situation. If I make sure that my buildings up to code, and people are gathering to have a good time, things should be fine, but the ignorance of the city is just going to ruin it for everyone. If South Carolina can have afterhours clubs, I don't see why Denver can't. People want to be with beautiful people, and if they want to dance or flog somebody at 3 a. m., I don't see why the city wants to stop us. I'm putting on my flyer that I'm suspending my warehouse events-- it'll be just clubs from now on-- so everything will be on the up and up, and the alcohol is taken care of, but people will have to pay more and leave earlier. They did something like this in San Francisco, and but then that city repealed the same stupid policy that Denver just enacted.

--Kate Williamson

Local Arts

On June 16, respected local landscape artist Mark Nelson is offering his paintings to help raise money for Mission Denver Christian Church. Fifty tickets will be sold for fifty paintings. You must be present to win-- but everyone wins. The night of the event, numbers will be drawn, and when your number is pulled, you pick a painting. Okay, I am ready to sign up just for that. But there's more. The hybrid raffle will be part of an evening of cocktails, snacks, and, rumor has it, live music, held at the lovingly restored Victorian home of Mission Denver's The Reverend Paul and Mrs. Sarah Ramsey. If you're not keen on partying at a pastor's house, put to rest your fears. Paul's a goatee-sporting, motorcycle -driving, art-loving kind of pastor. I know; he and Sarah live across the street from me. Tickets are $125 (a helluva bargain for Nelson's work). For tickets or more information, call Mission Denver at 303-777-4489.

I swear this isn't going to become a religion news column, but here's other divine tidbit: Ron Judish Fine Arts is moving from its Wazee digs to a lovely old church a stone's throw from Mark Sink's Gallery Sink at 30th and Wyandot. I hear Ron is planning to have completed the move in September. Right-- I'm betting winter 2002 for an opening date. I'll be there, praying that cheaper gallery overhead might mean a cheaper Ken Kelly piece.

I went to the Myron Melnick/Stan Meyer show at Robischon Gallery and had a ball. It was a nice crowd and the work looked great. So why was Jim Robischon a bit perturbed? First, it seems people felt justified in touching the admittedly very tactile creations of Melnick. So a gentle reminder, art lovers: until you get it in your home, look, don't touch! Second, Robischon was recovering from some minor foot surgery that made standing for hours not so pleasant. We all suffer for art.... After the show, some folks repaired to Melnick's work/ living space for refreshments including potent margaritas. There were many, many collections of things to study: pottery, glass, jack-in-the-boxes, and, most of all, chairs. Hundreds, maybe thousands, of chairs fill a room in the basement to capacity. Melnick buys them up-- the good, bad, and ugly-- then sells them (where else?) on eBay.

--Kimberly Graham

Fashion Clip

Take out your palm pilots and scribble down the date-- because Pandora's Toy Box is running a series of free seductive lectures to be held on the third Thursday of every month. And, you know if Kevin Larson-- owner of Pandora's Toy Box-- is involved it will be full of sex and sizzle.

The free lecture series debuts May 24 with the alluring "Connect with your Celestial Self for Better Health and Sex." Veronica Foster of Astrological Health will discuss the sexy side of astrology, romance, and seduction. June 21 will bring international speakers, Julliana and Tim, to discuss Tantra (that's Tantra with an augmented "Sting" in the middle) for men and women. Todd Carter from ID Lubricant in Los Angeles will also be on hand to discuss "the pleasure of lubricants."

The rest of the erotic series will indulge in enticing topics such as "Relationships and Sexual desire" (July 26), "How to Strip for your Man" (August 23), and "The Art and Intricacies of Light Bondage and Submission" (October 18). "Creating the Perfect Sensual Evening," on September 20 looks seductively messy-- and is my personal pick-- as Larson boasts that "9 1/ 2 Weeks was amateur hour."

Turn off Temptationless Island and head on down to the real thing at Pandora's Toy Box, where Kevin Larson invites singles and couples to "share a glass of wine with us and improve your zest for life."

--Kity Ironton