Open House: History and Culture of British Erotica 16th/17th September

Taking inspiration from the building’s past as a printworks for pornographic magazines, The Barge House has curated a weekend that will explore the history and culture of British erotica.

This event is part of London’s annual Open House weekend, a city-wide celebration of the buildings, places, and neighbourhoods where we live, work and play.
The Open House initiative is a simple but powerful concept: for one weekend in September hundreds of great buildings of all types and periods open their doors to all, completely for free. Each year a quarter of a million people take the opportunity to get out and get under the skin of London’s amazing architecture.
During this weekend we’ll celebrate the building’s illustrious past with a provocative programme of exhibitions, discussions and performances.
The Bar, Mezzanine and Event lounge will be transformed into gallery and performance spaces that will host stimulating talks, screenings, installations and workshops based around sex in print, celluloid and online, plus the factors that influence porn culture.
Saturday 10am – 11pm & Sunday 10am – 9pm Bar & Kitchen open as usual – why not book a table for brunch, dinner or drinks.
SAT 16TH & SUN 17TH SEPTEMBER: Free Admission
See below for the weekend's programme.

SATURDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER

AllDay Audio Installation of Jonny Trunk’s “Dirty Fan Male” A hilarious re-enactment of a treasure trove of fan letters sent to British soft-porn stars, complete with characterful voices and original music – will be available on headsets throughout the weekend
Ram Books: Vintage Adult Entertainment Vintage porn magazines offering a taste of saucy media from the late 1970’s to present day. Part shop, part museum, part time-capsule!
Installation: “Too Ugly For Words” by Miss Pokeno An oak dining table, historically the centre of the household, engraved with demeaning sexual insults often thrown at women.
Exhibition: Reynolds & Rose – Japornism Erotic Contemporientalism, re-interpretating traditonal Japanese Ukiyo-e Shunga
Exhibition: Carrie Reichardt Carrie is a self-titled Craftivist who works blurs the boundaries between craft and activism, using the craft techniques of mural, mosaic and screen-printing to create intricate, highly politicised works of art.
In Conversation : Ram Books & Friends A unique opportunity to learn about the illustrious history of the London porn scene, as well gaining a rare insight into the building’s saucy past.
Presentation : Feeld with Ana Kirov A dating app for the curious, open minded couples & singles
Presentation : “Four Chambers” A new wave of film makers existing in-between the genres of both art & pornography.
Talk : “Porn Panic” by Jerry Barnett Jerry Barnett, technologist turned porn vendor turned free speech campaigner, gives an overview of porn history in terms of technology, censorship, business, and money
Panel Discussion : “Argy Bargy – a lively conversation about the sex industry”
Alix Fox, award-winning journalist, broadcaster & sex educator, leads a panel of discussion alongside sexpert Luke Douglas, Cathy Keen from Feeld and Jerry Barnett from Sex & Censorship.
FREE TICKET Screening : “Respectable” The Mary Millington Story
4.30pm. A documentary film that charts Mary’s rise to fame – including being photographed topless outside 10 Downing Street – and the tragic end that followed. The film’s writer and director Simon Sheridan will be taking part in a Q&A session for those intrigued by Mary’s story.
FREE TICKET 7pm
Live Music : Hawthorn & King Expect seductively soulful yet raunchily raw renditions of motown, blues and jazz standards by Holly Hawthorn, lead singer of the BKs (Blues Kitchen house band) accompanied by sensuous guitar virtuoso Artur King.

Spanking Workshop Coco de Mer’s resident sexpert Allison England will deliver a workshop on spanking, which promises to turn slap n’ tickle into a fine art.
FREE TICKET Matthew Glamorre, godfather of London’s underground scene, will explore the polarities of gender in politics, religion and identity in his live art show Scism The Gender Agenda, which combines performance, music, spoken word and video.

SUNDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER
AllDay
Audio Installation of Jonny Trunk’s “Dirty Fan Male” A hilarious re-enactment of a treasure trove of fan letters sent to British soft-porn stars, complete with characterful voices and original music – will be available on headsets throughout the weekend.
Ram Books: Vintage Adult Entertainment Vintage porn magazines offering a taste of saucy media from the late 1970’s to present day. Part shop, part museum, part time-capsule!
Installation: “Too Ugly For Words” by Miss Pokeno An oak dining table, historically the centre of the household, engraved with demeaning sexual insults often thrown at women.
Exhibition: Reynolds & Rose – Japornism Erotic Contemporientalism, re-interpretating traditonal Japanese Ukiyo-e Shunga.
Exhibition: Carrie Reichardt Carrie is a self-titled Craftivist who works blurs the boundaries between craft and activism, using the craft techniques of mural, mosaic and screen-printing to create intricate, highly politicised works of art.
Talk : “The History of Censorship” by Jerry Barnett Jerry Barnett, technologist turned porn vendor turned free speech campaigner, gives an insightful overview of pornography and censorship through the ages.http://www.bargehouse.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/jerry-barnett75.jpg1
Reading : “The Censor” Anthony Neilson reads his controversial play, challenging the audience to see beyond the graphic sexual images, to a deeper truth about interaction, honesty & affection. Q&A follows.FREE TICKET
Workshop : Smut & Saucers Decorate your own vintage cup & saucer with erotic prose & pictures hosted by artist and designer, Adele Brydges.£25 TICKET
* Cocktails, Prosecco & Afternoon High Tea will be available from Bar *
DJ : Martin Green Cocktails and speakeasy vibes to a backdrop of lounge, exotica & erotica.http://www.bargehouse.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/martingreen.jpg