Kinsey exhibit shows artwork highlighting sexual identity, politics

At the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction, there is a good deal of sexual artwork on the walls.

This summer, similar art will be on the walls in the School of Fine Arts Gallery.

Now in its sixth year, the Kinsey Institute’s Juried Art Show exhibits artwork in typical Kinsey style that “may entertain, educate, perplex or even irritate viewers.”

This summer’s gallery description goes on to say, “But hopefully they will also stimulate thought and discussion about the link between creative expression and
sexuality.”

Kinsey Institute art curator Catherine Johnson-Roehr said these annual shows are an outlet for contemporary artists who would normally have a harder time exhibiting artwork that deals with sexual content.

Johnson-Roehr said the Juried Art Show is more sophisticated than one might presume.

“It also represents things like sexual identity, sexual and gender politics and also the human figure, which has been in art for millennia and isn’t considered erotic at all,” Johnson-Roehr said. “So you see, the show is not all about sex, it’s not all about erotica. It’s very interesting.”

As SoFA’s gallery director and a jury member for Kinsey Institute, Betsy Stirratt emphasized the importance in showing a wide range of artwork, including that with sexual content.

She said some of the pieces are a lot more subtle and thought-provoking.

“One that comes to mind is a video of moths mating,” Stirratt said. “It sounds a little weird and funny, but it’s very touching. It’s the life cycle. The art show is not just about human sexuality, it’s sexuality in general.”

Johnson-Roehr said she has yet to hear someone complain about the show’s explicitness but would receive it respectfully.

“Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but this is artwork, and those who submit it consider themselves to be artists,” Johnson-Roehr said. “It’s more than you see in mainstream media, and you certainly see body parts that you might not see on television, but we’re not interested in offending anyone.

“The artists are expressing themselves because they have something to say.”

Stirratt recognized the exhibition of the art as an educational duty to provide different aspects of what art is.

“And we will continue to show that kind of work,” Stirratt said. “It’s a matter of free speech and expression.”

Just as impressionist painting is considered classic after initial reactions of outrage, Johnson-Roehr said this kind of artwork is becoming more acceptable as time passes.

“We’re not expecting to see it at the Metropolitan Museum of Art any time soon, but there are more and more artists who feel they need to include this more explicit imagery in their artwork without it being pigeon-holed as ‘erotic’ art,” Johnson-Roehr said. “Nude is nothing new in the art world, but we still have a ways to go before people

become completely comfortable with seeing this kind of art.”