'Integrating Sex into Everyday Life'. Solo show
LFL Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition by Danica Phelps titled "Integrating Sex into
Everyday Life". The exhibition will run from September 5th to October 4th, 2003. The
opening will be on Friday September 5th from 6 to 8 PM.
DMP
8/13/03
Dear Family, Friends, and Colleagues,
I apologize about sending you a photocopied letter like this (and
it's not even New Year's), but I've been really wrapped up in
some big life changes without really staying in contact with a lot
of you. Some people have sat with me through lots of tears, and
others I just haven't had the opportunity to talk to. So, I wanted
to write it all down so that I can be sure that I've given all the
information to everyone who should know.
Well, first things first which is that part of why I haven't been
around much is that I haven't been around much. I've been
traveling a lot working on projects for a month at a time here
and there, and it makes it hard to keep in touch with people (and
the credit card companies). For example, I've walked a total of
680 miles since last September in 4 cities for different "Walking
9-5" projects.
When I have been home, I've been trying to figure out my
personal life. There have been some revolutionary changes in
my life since May of 2002, the biggest being that I have fallen
head over heels in love with a woman. After having been
married for 7 years to the first person I kissed at the age of 20,
it's been quite a surprise to have a sexual awakening at the age
of 32. I am so thankful to have been able to very thoughtfully and
carefully transform my marriage into a strong friendship. So I've
gained a really close friend.
I'm afraid that I've thought of myself as an asexual person all
this time. I mean, there is certainly a lot more to life than sex,
but I've discovered in this past year, that there's not much that's
more fun when you're deeply in love! I think the main thing is
that feeling this way about your partner can cut through a lot of
bullshit. I can be so angry with Debi for some foolish thing, and if
she just kisses me once, the anger starts to melt away. I think
maybe sex is the magic that reminds us how much we love one
another. But there has to be enough attraction to make you
want to do it when you're pissed at each other! My God, I want
to make love with Debi every time I lay my eyes on her.
I was always a wanna-be lesbian. At Hampshire College, even
with half my friends being lesbians, I didn't think I qualified, you
know? I realize now, that wishing you could be a lesbian is not
like wishing you could be tall which you literally can't change.
Sometimes the changes are pretty involved (I'm so glad I didn't
have kids), but WOW, it's worth it to be able to love a woman.
This has, of course, all manifested itself in my rather diary like
drawings. A friend of mine once asked me why there wasn't
any sex in my work, and I said, "Well, there isn't much sex in my
lifeÖ.". Now there is. I'm having a show in September called
"Integrating Sex into Everyday Life" because that's what it's felt
like this past year for me.
So please come by and see the show and say hi and let's catch
up. I'll be living in the gallery for the month and I'll be there
almost everyday, so you'll be pretty sure to catch me.
Danica
OK. All my best for you and I'm looking forward to hearing
about what's been going on in your life.
The opening will be on Friday September 5th from 6
to
8 PM.
LFL Gallery
530 W24th Street
New York, NY 10011
t. 212 989 7700
f. 212 989 7720