Laura Henkel

Laura Henkel
Born (1967-02-06) 6 February 1967
Miami, Florida
Residence Las Vegas, Nevada
Nationality American
Education John F. Kennedy University, B.A.
Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Sexuality, PhD
Occupation Sexologist and gallerist
Known for Erotic Heritage Museum
Sin City Gallery
12 Inches of Sin
Website www.laurahenkel.com

Laura Henkel (born 6 February 1967) is a sexologist[1][2] and gallerist.[3] She is best known for her work with museum curation[4][5] and for her Downtown Las Vegas arts venues.[6][7]

Education and Background

Born in Miami, Florida, Henkel spent her formative years in Irving, Texas. She later attended John F. Kennedy University where she earned her B.A., Liberal Arts. She continued her studies at the Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Sexuality, San Francisco, and was awarded a Doctorate in Human Sexuality and a PhD in Erotology.

Curation and Galleries

Erotic Heritage Museum

After demonstrating expertise in the appraisal and sourcing of vintage erotic items, Henkel was asked to open and curate the nonprofit Erotic Heritage Museum in Las Vegas, Nevada. The project initially became her Ph.D dissertation and later involved the professional curation and management of a 17,000 square-foot arts and history exhibition area and an additional 7,000 square-feet of revolving art installations.[8][9][10] She was periodically sent by museum management to parts of Europe and Asia to collect, appraise, and transport items for official EHM exhibits.[11][12]

The facility received international recognition, named one of the World's 12 Sexiest Museums in 2010.[13] Under Henkel's direction, the museum was also host to a variety of art-related functions, including an uncensored Shakespearean presentation[14] and a variety of performance art shows.[15][16][17][18]

Laura Henkel's "Sin City Gallery" began as Laura Henkel Fine Art,[19][20] a small contemporary gallery which continued Henkel's exploration of human sexuality through the arts.[21] The space would later rebrand as Sin City Gallery,[22] becoming an internationally recognized venue with exhibits and installations across a variety of mediums by artists including Japanese artist Hajime Sorayama,[23][24] New Zealand multi-media artist JK Russ,[25][26][27] American fine art photographers Bunny Yeager,[28][29] Steve Diet Goedde,[30][31] and Justice Howard,[32] among others.[33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40]

Sin City Gallery is listed as one of the 25 Best Art Galleries in America and was awarded "Best Gallery in Nevada" from the nationally considered American Art Awards in 2013.[41][42][43]

Other Curation

As arts curator and appraiser, Laura Henkel has independently organized and managed a number of educational lectures, exhibits, and art installations, including the 2013 cross-cultural US opening of South Korean sculptor Wook Jang Cheung's "Long Journey Home,"[44][45] which she coordinated through Chinese liaison Shunmei Jin[46] at The Shops at Crystals, CityCenter, MGM, Las Vegas.[47]

Henkel's educational lectures includes the 2014 "Queerly Provocative" panel, a discussion of LGBTQ community issues as they relate to the world of art[48][49] and lectures for the 2011 highly controversial exhibition, “Multiples: The Artwork of John Wayne Gacy," with notable criminologist Dr. Jack Levin and respected art therapy specialist Dr. Dave Gussak.[50][51] Henkel also contributes curatorial expertise to music and art festivals.[52][53]

Henkel also curates art installations for organizations.[54][55]

12 Inches of Sin

In 2010, Laura Henkel began the "12 Inches of Sin" annual international juried art exhibition to provide opportunities for learning through the visual arts. Within this methodology, the exhibition seeks to move beyond the idea of produced sexuality and offer an alternative, inclusive and meaningfully personalized view of human identity, sexuality, gender and expression.[56][57] With its call for entries judged by a panel of international experts of the field,[58][59][60][61] the show quickly gathered a worldwide following and brought artists from all over the globe into the Las Vegas Arts District,[62] beginning with submissions of art from 5 countries in its first year and growing to 26 countries in its seventh year.[63]

All work submitted must follow a strict rule of being no larger than 12 inches in any direction, a restriction Henkel initially designed to “to get as much art into the space as possible.”[64] The rule creates tension, causing an additional challenge to the creator. Works by artists new and established around the world are selected for being "sophisticated, intelligent, witty and provocative."[65] A panel of international judges determine the overall narrative of each exhibition. Judges are respected experts in the field of art, academia and publishing.[66][67]

12 Inches of Sin celebrates the art exhibition with an annual immersive art experience.[68][69] Artists and patrons gather from all over the world to Las Vegas,[70][71][72][73][74] and a portion of proceeds from the event are donated to the charitable organization The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.[75]

In 2015, Henkel folded the success of the "12 Inches" venture into a fully funded Kickstarter campaign, raising funds for the publication of a coffee table book series featuring various works of the show in a multi-volume set entitled "12 Inches of Sin: So Much Art You Can Barely Fit It All In".[76] Each year a new book is created with the Best in Show winner on the cover.

Eric Minh Swenson, a Los Angeles-based filmmaker and documentarian, filmed a brief documentary on 2016's "12 Inches of Sin V" which featured the exhibition's "opportunity to secure works of art from prestigious and emerging artists that embody both the cutting edge of today’s contemporary art world and the vast breadth of artistic expression."[77][78][79][80][81][82]

ArtCulture PR

Curating over 400+ installations and exhibitions and serving in various leadership roles for arts and cultural organizations, Henkel created ArtCulture PR to assist artists, creatives and cultural organizations to manage their portfolios, strengthen brand identity and curate art. She is contributing writer to arts and cultural publications.[83][84][85]

References

  1. ↑ "Laura Henkel: Las Vegas Sexologist Talks About the Intellectual Stimulation of Her Unique Museum". Vegas Seven. 11 February 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  2. ↑ "Scientific Advisory Board". South Asia Institute for Human Sexuality. 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  3. ↑ "These Women Are All Business". DTLV (Downtown Las Vegas). 26 March 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  4. ↑ "Paid to Ponder and Gather Erotic Art". Reuters (US Edition). 10 September 2007. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  5. ↑ "Porn Museum Nestled in Sin City". Los Angeles Times. 2 August 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  6. ↑ "Sin City Gallery Named Best in Nevada". 18b: The Las Vegas Arts District. 26 March 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  7. ↑ "Desert Companion – August 2018". Issuu. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  8. ↑ "Erotic Heritage Philosophy". The Las Vegas Sun. 24 September 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  9. ↑ "Embracing Erotic Art". The Las Vegas Review-Journal. 27 July 2008. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  10. ↑ "Inside the Erotic Heritage Museum". YouTube/Las Vegas Weekly. 24 September 2008. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  11. ↑ "The Curator of the Erotic". Las Vegas Weekly. 18 September 2008. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  12. ↑ "Q&A Laura Henkel: Unashamed to Explore Eros, Museum Gives People 'Permission to Be Themselves'". The Las Vegas Sun. 24 September 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  13. ↑ "Visit the World's 12 Sexiest Museums". ABC News. 15 March 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  14. ↑ "Shakespeare with a Wink and a Nudge". The Las Vegas Sun. 11 June 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  15. ↑ Itzkoff, Dave. "Las Vegas Orders Cover-Up of Topless Mural Figures". ArtsBeat. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  16. ↑ "Sex and the 'Sity' - Vegas Seven". Vegas Seven. 9 September 2010. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  17. ↑ "EROTIC HERITAGE MUSEUM TITILATES WITH AFTERNOON VARIETY SHOW – VEGAS REPORT". VEGAS REPORT. 25 January 2010. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  18. ↑ "A Free Day in...Las Vegas". Bloomberg L.P. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  19. ↑ "Vegas Buzz". Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  20. ↑ "ShulmanSays.com » P.Detta's ALTERNA-LIFE Portrays a Kooky, Creepy, Clever World". shulmansays.com. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  21. ↑ "Small Space, Big Dreams". Las Vegas Weekly. 31 March 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  22. ↑ "A Sin By Any Other Name". Vegas Seven. 10 February 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  23. ↑ "Heavy Metal". issuu. 1 January 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  24. ↑ "Sorayama's Sexy Cyborg Pin-Ups Do Vegas". The Creators Project. 12 February 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  25. ↑ "Artist JK Russ' Video Celebrates Female Empowerment". Vegas Seven. 15 May 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  26. ↑ Fund, Art Productuion. "JK RUSS: P3STUDIO". Art Production Fund. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  27. ↑ "What's the Inspiration Behind Artist J.K. Russ' Collages?". Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  28. ↑ "Bunny Yeager, Pin-Up Pioneer: Sin City Gallery Celebrates the Model/Photographer". Las Vegas Weekly. 4 June 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  29. ↑ "The Notorious Bunny Yeager". Vegas Rated. 14 July 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  30. ↑ "Photographer Steve Diet Goedde Gets Inimate in 'New Works at Sin City Gallery". Las Vegas Weekly. 11 July 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  31. ↑ "Stank Sexy Things: Goedde's Polaroid transfers turn..." Stank. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  32. ↑ "From Kink to Ink: A Former Fetish Photographer Gets Rude". Vegas Seven. 11 July 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  33. ↑ "Allan Teger Returns to Sin City Gallery with 'Bodyscapes'". Las Vegas Weekly. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  34. ↑ "François Dubeau's Seductive Simplicity". Culture of the Senses. 12 September 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  35. ↑ "Artist JP Rakehorn Gives Us His Rub, Sweat and Smears". DTLV. 12 May 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  36. ↑ "Marshall Bradford Desert Bound". Vegas Rated. 17 February 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  37. ↑ "Hit the road, Jack -- Sin City exhibit takes you to Valley of Fire". Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  38. ↑ "Artist Anthony Bondi's postcards from Las Vegas". Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  39. ↑ "Freedom and fluidity: the art of Aaron Sheppard". Nevada Public Radio. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  40. ↑ "Ali Fathollahi Opens 'ADOLESCENCE'". PAINT THIS DESERT. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  41. ↑ "American Art Awards: Best in State 2013". American Art Awards. 20 March 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  42. ↑ "President of American Art Awards Names Sin City Gallery Best in Nevada, 2013". Highlight Hollywood. 25 March 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  43. ↑ Lisa Derrick Pop culture journalist, cartwheelart com; art curator (5 April 2016). ""12 Inches of Sin V" Art Gets Sexy, Immersive in Las Vegas April 9". HuffPost. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  44. ↑ "Wook Jang Cheung in Vegas". Asian American Press. 14 September 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  45. ↑ "Wook Jang Cheung's Surreal Silver Sculpture at Crystals". Las Vegas Weekly. 25 September 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  46. ↑ "Korean Artist's Journey Begins At Crystals". Schulman Says: Direct from Vegas. 26 September 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  47. ↑ "ShulmanSays.com » Korean Artist's JOURNEY Begins at CRYSTALS". shulmansays.com. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  48. ↑ "The "Provocative" Posse". Paint This Desert. 6 September 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  49. ↑ "Suzanne Shifflett Brings 'The Sum of All Its Parts' to Sin City Gallery". Las Vegas Weekly. 10 September 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  50. ↑ "Las Vegas Arts and Culture: Love it or hate it John Wayne Gacy is in Las Vegas... Well at least his art is..." Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  51. ↑ "The Art of Murder(ers)". Psychology Today. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  52. ↑ Lupiani, Joyce (24 September 2015). "Art Motel at Life is Beautiful will feature all-star lineup of artists and creatives". Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  53. ↑ "Life Is Beautiful's Artist Lineup Features Local and International Stars". DTLV. 9 July 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  54. ↑ "An Erogenous Zone in the Cultural Corridor — DTLV". DTLV. 2 June 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  55. ↑ "Aaron Sheppard – THE 705 EROGENOUS ZONE". aaronsheppard.com. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  56. ↑ "Gallery to Feature Art Outtakes from '12 Inches of Sin' Show". The Las Vegas Review-Journal. 29 June 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  57. ↑ "Art Exhibit Challenges Ideas of Eroticism". NPR. 24 April 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  58. ↑ "Call for Art Invites Opportunity to Exhibit: '12 Inches of Sin' at Sin City Gallery in Las Vegas". Las Vegas Arts Commission. 19 August 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  59. ↑ "Artist Call Detail: 12 Inches of Sin International Juried Art Exhibition". California Arts Council. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  60. ↑ "12 Inches of Sin and Le Salon des Refusés du Péché 3rd Annual International Juried Art Exhibition". 18b: Las Vegas Arts District. 1 April 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  61. ↑ "Call for Art Entries: 12 Inches of Sin 2015". ArtSlant Worldwide. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  62. ↑ "12 Inches of Sin Opening Exhibition". Las Vegas Arts Commission. 28 February 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  63. ↑ "Q&A: Dr. Laura Henkel Discusses '12 Inches of Sin' Kickstarter Campaign". XBiz: Adult Industry News. 2 March 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  64. ↑ REVIEW-JOURNAL, CAROL CLING LAS VEGAS (5 April 2016). "12 Inches of Sin art competition grows from modest beginnings". Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  65. ↑ "Juxtapoz Magazine – Exploring Eroticism: 12 Inches of Sin V". Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  66. ↑ "One Sexologist's Quest to Stimulate Las Vegas' Art Scene | The Creators Project". Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  67. ↑ "Call for Art to Exhibit '12 Inches of Sin' | Arts4Nevada". arts4nevada.org. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  68. ↑ "Sin City Gallery's '12 Inches of Sin' expands in its fifth year with 'Immersive'". Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  69. ↑ Lisa Derrick Pop culture journalist, cartwheelart com; art curator (5 April 2016). ""12 Inches of Sin V" Art Gets Sexy, Immersive in Las Vegas April 9". HuffPost. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  70. ↑ WRITER, F. ANDREW TAYLOR VIEW STAFF (6 April 2016). "Daylong art event to revolve around '12 Inches of Sin' show". Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  71. ↑ "Sin City Gallery 12" of Sin Juried Show (NSFW)". Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  72. ↑ "The relocated '12" of Sin' expands into a three-day festival". LasVegasWeekly.com. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  73. ↑ "12 Inches of Sin festival brings the sexy art back". Nevada Public Radio. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  74. ↑ "Erotic Art Show Organizer: 'This Is Art, Not Porn'". Nevada Public Radio. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  75. ↑ "Everything Is Erotic at 12 Inches of Sin — DTLV". DTLV. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  76. ↑ "Kickstarter: 12 Inches of Sin, Volumes I – IV". Kickstarter. 31 March 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  77. ↑ "TWELVE INCHES OF SIN V". Retrieved 10 July 2016 – via Vimeo.
  78. ↑ ERIC MINH SWENSON (17 January 2018), TWELVE INCHES OF SIN VI, retrieved 30 July 2018
  79. ↑ SWENSON, ERIC MINH (28 July 2017), AARON SHEPPARD : MUD WRESTLING INSTALLATION, retrieved 30 July 2018
  80. ↑ SWENSON, ERIC MINH (29 July 2017), ERIC WALLIS : TWELVE INCHES OF SIN, retrieved 30 July 2018
  81. ↑ SWENSON, ERIC MINH (6 June 2018), 12 INCHES OF SIN VII, retrieved 30 July 2018
  82. ↑ SWENSON, ERIC MINH (21 May 2018), NUDE SURVEY SEVEN : CURATED BY EMS : 12" OF SIN, retrieved 30 July 2018
  83. ↑ "BLVDS LV 56 "Culture" July/Sept 2016". Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  84. ↑ "BLVDS LV 48 "Wealth & Wellness" Jan/Feb 2015". Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  85. ↑ "Paint This Desert Guest Ed: Artists Guide Mermaids Through the Desert". Paint This Desert. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
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