HOLLYWOOD'S FINEST FETISH

The 10th Annual Fetish Ball is upon Los Angeles once again; one of the city’s most venerated nights. This year’s event, “Kinky New World” finds founder James Stone celebrating a decade of unadulterated merriment over the course of 3 evenings in June. Stone and his promotion company ESP will hold events at the following locations: Friday, June 16th at The Laboratory, Saturday, June 17th at The Variety Arts Center and Sunday, June 18th at Ultrasuede Lounge. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door for Saturday night’s gala event and at the door only for both Friday and Sunday night’s events. Call 323-644-1811 or visit www.fetishball.com for more details.
Those in the international Fetish community revere Stone’s Fetish Ball as North America’s largest erotic themed event. Annually, attracting over 2,000 patrons, the Ball is a veritable who’s who of Fetish celebrity, showcasing photographers, live music, performance art and fashion. An aesthetic journey into the realms of fantasy, The Fetish Ball provides those involved in or enthralled by the Fetish community an opportunity to connect and celebrate their lifestyle. An eclectic mix of observers, participants and admirers of all persuasions generate a thrilling atmosphere for the preeminent Fetish party in America.
“Object of Desire” on Friday, June 16th runs from 7:00pm until 11:00pm and is a photography exhibit to benefit the Tom of Finland Foundation which is a nonprofit foundation dedicated to preserving and supporting the erotic arts. Featured photographers include Steve Diet Goedde, Ricky Castro, Trevor Baker, Gary & Pierre Silva, Forrest Black, and Amelia G. No advance tickets are available. A $10.00 donation at the door is required. Friday night’s festivities will take place in Downtown Los Angeles at The Laboratory located at 835 S. Spring Street. Call 213-689-4725 for directions and parking.
Five floors of fantasy, frolic and fetish can be found at The Variety Arts Center located at 940 S. Figueroa @ Olympic Blvd. in Downtown Los Angeles on Saturday night June 17th from 9:00pm until 2:00am. Special guests include DJ Alan and DJ David from London’s infamous fetish club Torture Garden along with their visual artist David; DJ’s Jason Lavitt (Makeup, Coven 13) and James Stone (Sin-a-matic, Fetish Ball); Mistress of Ceremonies, Persephone; House of Harlot – the latest collection from London’s couture fashion designers; Lucifire – a one woman cybercircus sideshow; Flesh for Eve with Vampire Technology; Whiplash – clothing with an attitude, and international fetish model Dita. Tickets for Saturday night are $35 in advance at various locations throughout LA and $45 at the door if there are any left. Tickets are available at the following locations: 665, Versatile Fashions, Retail Slut, Syren, Snows, Whiplash, and Crypt.
On Sunday June 18th from 10:00pm until 2:00am you can join Stone and friends at the closing night party “Taboo” at Ulrtasuede Lounge (formerly Love Lounge) located at 661 N. Robertson Blvd. in West Hollywood. The cover will be $10 or $5 with your ticket stub from Saturday night. The talent for Sunday night includes DJ Alan from Torture Garden (UK), James Stone (Sin-a-matic, Fetish Ball), Jason Lavitt (Makeup, Coven 13) and special guests, fetish divas Midori and Lucifire.
“Oscar Wilde said, ‘A man should be a work of art or transform himself into one,“ so says James Stone, a Los Angeles based nightclub impresario. Certainly, Stone has proven Wilde’s point as he’s managed to create a world of his own choosing and his efforts have become a part of Los Angeles cultural history. While his club creations are legendary, even scandalous, he has helped to empower a community and an aesthetic.
Growing up in a conservative suburbian home North of Los Angeles in San Gabriel Valley, Stone was raised with the pressure to conform, which conflicted with his own desires. As a child, National Geographic introduced enthralling new worlds – beautiful and exotic. Stone created his own universe, in which all values of life, art, home and labor could coexist. With soft-spoken bravado, Stone has been able to create a world for himself and others. “I want to live the lifestyle that I choose,” says Stone. “Thankfully, it also supports me.”
Originally, the Fetish Ball started as a Halloween Party at the Probe on Highland Blvd. The next few years it was held in July and was known as the Ball Bizarre. In ’94 it came to be known as the Fetish Ball and has been held at the Park Plaza, the El Rey and several times at the current locale, The Variety Arts Center. Starting in ’97, each Ball had it’s own theme. The year’s themes are as follows: “Kinky Karnival” (’97), “Worship” (’98), “Metamorphosis” (’99), “Kinky New World” (‘00).
Each year fashion is a major component of the festival. This year’s life-sized, blow-up doll costumes were custom designed by Abel Villarreal and worn by Eric Evans and Dita. See this year’s striking pink and white fold-out flyer for images from a very fun but suffocating photo shoot by Tim Palen.
For more info, visit the Fetish Ball’s official web site at [ www.fetishball.com ]