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Issue # 7-XXX Her Legs & Hope to Pry pt 2-
of D!HZine.
www.dangerholezine.com
Conducted By: Liouxsie
DANGER HOLE: You've
mentioned the paradox of art v. porn in the
past. This may be an unfair question, but what
do you think differentiates art from porn, or
vice versa? If there is a difference, what sort
of qualities would you associate with art
versus porn?
GLASS: Art and porn can both
be tasteful, ugly, senseless, erotic,
demeaning, awe inspiring, and nauseating.
Erotic photography fuels ideas behind most of
the art I create. Both entities arose voyeurs
and tantalize the senses. One difference not
everyone could be considered an artist but
anyone can be a porn star.
DH: Do you consider your work to be pornography
or erotic art? Is there a difference, in your
opinion, between the sexually explicit,
"provocative" artistic nudes, and "smutty,"
"tasteless" pornography?
GLASS: The christian right and
other flock following groups have deemed my
work pornography because they fear anything
that doesn't adhere to their doctrine of
living. They've been after me since day one as
a young punk I lived in the bible belt down
south not many kids around like me. My stuff
could be considered erotic or fetish for the
most part its pretty tame. Provocative art and
smut shocking as it may be to the moral
majority does rear its ugly head when it
becomes fodder for frat frat boys, rapists, and
child molesters.
DH: What would punk porn look like to you?
Would there be a sense of humor in the imagery,
strength in the characters? Would it be
marketed and sold? Good production quality, or
spread through grainy xeroxed zines?
GLASS: the first time I
collaborated with a punk porn site
pornforpunks.com one of the sets online was of
a girl with a glass eye squishing meal worms
between her toes. not my thing but but everyone
has a vision. There was this movie Suburbia I
saw back in the 80s featuring TSOL DI and The
Vandals and a cast of gutter punks squatter
kids (including a not them famous Flea of Red
Hot Chili Peppers) living in a dilapidated
forgotten suburb in CA. Punx Productions did a
remake of this as a porno The Little Runaway
starring Rachel Rotten and DI was in the cast
like in the original. I would do something like
this it was silly dirty fun. Public romps like
an old school gig I would just add more leather
and latex lite bondage. Market to independent
record stores and sex shops run in limited
editions like vinyl records with different
covers mixing high end and traditional xerox
art for each edition, until no ones buyin
anymore.
DH: Is punk as a
lifestyle/genre/fashion & political
statement, an art form?
GLASS: The original punks were
artists and degenerates sick of the world and
music popularized around them. Using there
talents created something that was their own.
Punk is one of the more creative art forms
since Dadaism. Unfortunately the mass media and
general public have access to it nowadays and
its watered down and acceptable not dangerous
as it used to be. The real underground still
holds integrity as artistic expression Search
And Destroy and you'll find it.
DH: Punk is a very political subculture; sex,
willingly or not, has become a pretty heated
topic in the political world. Your art
encompasses both punk and sexuality. Do you
think politics play any part in your art, or
can you see how they might have a place in a
viewer's interpretation of your art?
GLASS: I try not to
intermingle politics with what I do but there
may be a few references entangled here and
there. Viewers make there own interpretation.
Recently I illustrated a record cover for a
friends band Black President (look them up you
wont be let down) its an outright political
statement. Don't be confused with the name it
has nothing to do with Obama and is not a
literal meaning. The artwork is a raven chasing
the bald eagle out of the presidential seal of
the United States. I was also inspired by
Arturo Vega who created the original Ramones
logo he's a cool mutha fucker.
DH: Clearly, you value beauty and the female
form. But more than that, you told alt-porn
website Razordolls in an interview that you're
into "strong willed women with twisted minds,"
"independent women with minds of their own who
see through the bullshit force fed by modern
society." Although you've faced some opposition
from more radical feminists, given your love of
beautiful, fierce punk lades, wouldn't it not
be a total stretch to call yourself a feminist
or at least pro-(strong)women?
GLASS: Opposition from
feminists seems to be a thing of the past.
There where no alternative porn venues or
internet access at that time at least not
readily available to the public. They just
needed to get to know me. I wouldn't say I'm a
feminist like I'm not offended by IL
Duce(mentors). most of my friends are tough
girls with radical exteriors. I prefer the
company of more to their lives than a shopping
mall. I don't dig feeble minded submissive
followers so I guess pro strong woman is fair
to say.
DH:Be honest: have you
seen your share of pornos? If so, are you
familiar with the more mainstream,
'traditional' pornography with Playboy-esque
"whores-next-door"? Do you find your less
traditional models more erotic? Why? Do you
think everyone could benefit from more widely
circulated images of these unconventional
beauties?
GLASS: Of course but I'm not a
porn aficionado still prefer photography to
film. "Whores next door" I like that. those
bimbos have everything. They are very
attractive under all the airbrushing. Give me a
tattooed latex wearing tattered t shirt rockin
booted high heeled stompin fishnet tearing girl
anyday. I've always found less traditional
women more attractive an interesting. As a kid
I had a thing for Debbie Harry (but who didn't)
the android from blade Runner and Wendy O
Williams. They blew me away never saw any girls
that looked like that. woman of this caliber
are more celebrated these days a lot of there
look is consistently copied buy the mainstream
since they cant come up with much original
themselves. I think anyone could benefit from
unconventional beauty. The cookie cutter barbie
dolls will never go away.
DH: Do you think you're
a misogynist or an artist for displaying these
punk women in a pinup, scantily-clad light?
Would you say your viewers are more likely to
objectify and ogle your illustrations, or
admire and appreciate them (or perhaps
both)?
GLASS: Most of the girls I
depict are real people I had the pleasure of
immortalizing. I adore women I'm definitely no
misogynist. My audience may appreciate the
artwork but I'm sure they ogle the girls as
most women and men do in general weather they
care to admit it or not. Its animal instinct.
Even strict Catholics cant ward off impure
thoughts.
DH: As a punk artist, it's
probably safe to assume you value DIY ethics,
but as an artist, you also totally acknowledge
the need of money to survive and support your
new family. How do you balance being
financially secure and still punk? Do you have
any thoughts on what would make someone a
"poser", or a "sell out"? o That said, in the
case of the Suicide Girls (who you once listed
as in inspiration to your work), do you feel
that they can still stay true to authentic punk
ideals even with their sharp marketing and
promotional sense? Does their infiltration into
the mainstream dirty up their punk roots at
all, in your eyes?
GLASS: I am by no means
financially secure unfortunately. Shit I just
bounced my rent check this month. Being in my
shoes is a gamble I'm for ever hustling. If I
don't have any paying art gigs I balance it out
with screen printing T-shirts for bands,
artists, events and rock n roll tattoo inspired
clothing lines. "No Future" right? I have along
way to go until I can pay off depts incurred
over the years, stop living in apartments, and
cover all my bills and expenses. On top of it I
have to provide for my family. I don't believe
you have to be poor to be punk but but its and
endless struggle for someone like myself. I'm
always a day late and a dollar short.
Fake people copying the trends just to look
cool is a poser trying to be something their
not cause they are too shallow to find who they
really are. Someone allowing the people
financially backing them to make their
decisions for them could be a sell out. I wish
i could join the club and sell out of all my
shit ha ha.
Suicide girls seem to be under control nowadays
because of there popularity. Its ashame that
I've been told some of the models have never
been compensation for their participation. The
photos are still stunning but there are many
alternatives god girls, razor dolls, inky
girls, barely evil etc. Nothing mainstream is
really "Punk" to me Cash from Chaos ring a
bell? Anyone can look the part today and be
called Punk it doesn't mean shit anymore.
DH: In your illustrations, some of the themes
are of violence (gun-toting warrior ladies and
some wearing little more than blood and
straitjackets) and others are of a lighter,
almost cute,punky kitsch. How do you explain
this extreme range? Do you view all of your
models as capable of taking on that many
dimensions?
GLASS: My girls are angry and
so am I. Relationships have always been with
woman of the Jekyll and Hyde order. They can
fall in love or threaten to fuckin kill you.
slap you square in the face or pamper you with
sultry kisses. They could bathe you or drink
lots of beer and piss on your chest.
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