Paintings of hot-blooded nymphs longing for ecstasy. Ten-foot golden phalli. Walls hung with sadomasochistic pen-and-ink drawings. And a Grecian urn or two. These unlikely objets d'art are among the permanent exhibits of the World Erotic Art Museum, which opened October 15 in Miami Beach. The museum's president, renowned erotic art collector Naomi Wilzig, hired over-the-top party planner Barton G. to design a fashionable affair that reflected her $10 million collection's sexual spirit without overwhelming the senses.
Instead of his signature displays featuring wildlife and other grand elements, Barton G. produced a sparely decorated party that emphasized performance rather than decor. The entrance on Washington Avenue featured spandex-clad models who stared out at pedestrians. Inside, the foyer was draped in peach velvet and decorated with white orchids. Upstairs in the main gallery, models mimicked the works on display. One male model was painted white and covered in graffiti scrawl reminiscent of the work of Keith Haring. Another model's bare body was painted in lace, while leather-clad actors performed simulated S&M. "We downplayed [decor] a bit," said Barton G. "We let the venue speak for itself and approached it in a really sophisticated, museumlike way."
—Juan Carlos Rodriguez
Instead of his signature displays featuring wildlife and other grand elements, Barton G. produced a sparely decorated party that emphasized performance rather than decor. The entrance on Washington Avenue featured spandex-clad models who stared out at pedestrians. Inside, the foyer was draped in peach velvet and decorated with white orchids. Upstairs in the main gallery, models mimicked the works on display. One male model was painted white and covered in graffiti scrawl reminiscent of the work of Keith Haring. Another model's bare body was painted in lace, while leather-clad actors performed simulated S&M. "We downplayed [decor] a bit," said Barton G. "We let the venue speak for itself and approached it in a really sophisticated, museumlike way."
—Juan Carlos Rodriguez