Stormy Leather Hosts Sexy Performance Art and Gallery

The popular and successful BDSM retail store, Stormy Leather (www.stormyleather.com) hosted a hugely sexy (no pun intended, I think) and hot performance by Japanese bondage master, Mike West (http://tiedoutwest.com/), October 17, 2008. The event also showcased erotic photography by San Francisco artists Patti Beadles, David Steinberg and others. Billed as “Voyeuri/SM,” the well attended event also featured an old-fashioned, Goth edged burlesque act. As one might expect, the guests were as sexy, entertaining, and interesting as the evening’s events. The Stormy Leather staff did a wonderful job of creating an entertaining and hospitable atmosphere as they scurried around setting up refreshments, greeting guests and assisting the performers/artists. I especially appreciated Stormy Leather employees Bunny and Kathy after they dressed for the event in some of Sormy Leather’s  hottest and sexy outfits: Bunny in a sexy red bosom enhancing, waist slimming tight corset and Kathy in a sleek rubber/vinyl body hugging pencil dress and sexy top that transformed her from an attractive coed-looking store manager to a white hot vamp. I had made my reservations for the event with Stormy Leather spokescutie, Bunni LaValliere who proved to be an energetic and skilled MC for the event. Arriving at the store a little early, as is my wont, I had the pleasure of meeting the very attractive and bright manager of Stormy Leather, Kathy, who has a real knack for organization and hospitality.

I was wandering around the basement gallery and schmoozing (one of my favorite things), beverage in hand, when a scuffle erupted a few feet away from me. Mike West was manhandling and tying a struggling, naked, cute young thing. This proved to be the dramatic and dynamic start of the first Act. By the time I realized that was the case and wandered upstairs where Mike’s performance was happening, I had missed the first part of Mike’s rope magic as worked on the luscious and beautiful Elizabeth, last seen (by me) at the Rope::Burn Halloween Show by Mike West where she performed as the Dom during the super hot intermission show. I saw enough of the act to know that the guests were enthralled by Mike’s exquisite rope work and Elizabeth’s talented interaction and response. Elizabeth has a real ability to bring out the drama in a scene like this.

The second act began with Mike putting the very sexy, demure and black-thong clad Penelope into a harness box-tie attached to the ubiquitous stainless-steel ring hanging from the high ceiling. The guests started drifting back in from the intermission in time to see Mike start to go into his creative, methodical performance. His hands and ropes seem to blur as he goes into a kind of inspired frenzy. Penelope is soon in a rope gag and blindfold combo; her comfort level is dropping and she chirps and squeals as Mike applies his artful points of pain. A large red ball gag goes in under Penelope’s wide eyes; it’s in tight; she won’t be pushing it out. Mmphhing and squeals are muffled by the gag. Mike places a black and white (is this a trademark item?) blindfold over her eyes and her right ankle goes up in a lift-tie making her extra vulnerable for a hard hand spanking. The right leg gets tied and lifted up so Penelope is now in total suspension. By the way, the whole show is taking place in the open area of the Stormy Leather store just past the front door, clearly visible from the sidewalk. About this time two passers-by do a big-time double-take as they notice the scene going on in the store. Their response is so startled that the audience inside all notices and a ripple of giggles and laughter goes through the room. The tourists stare gape-mouthed for a few minutes and move on…only in San Francisco… God, I love this place!

As I have come to expect, Mike West brings his performance to a crescendo with terrific pacing and an uncanny sense of drama. He brings Penelope down from her suspension only to torment her with hot wax, skillfully dripped all over her nubile and beautiful body; she unsuccessfully and vigorously struggles to get away from the torture of the hot wax, but to no avail; she cries out, but Mike has no mercy. Cries don’t count when the safe word has not been deployed. I am constantly amazed and impressed with the stamina, pain tolerance and sheer guts of these young women as they endure super tight bondage, hard whipping and spanking, tight, painful nipple clips and all kind of ingenious and sinister torment. Mike skillfully brings his performance to a close like a 3 point landing, leaving the audience awed and a little breathless. The show has been so hot that I see one of the store employees, Trick, is stripping down and fondling the lifelike manikin on the opposite side of the performance dais (later, Trick told me that he was just changing her clothes as part of his job, but I have my doubts).

Mike West’s powerful show was followed by more revelry in the downstairs, gallery area of the store. The cute and sexily corset-clad Bunny was on stage announcing the raffle winners and by golly, who should be one of the winners but me! I won a delightful bag of goodies including a very practical and nice looking leather paddle (which I can’t wait to use on someone’s cute little ass!). Bunny then introduced the final act of the show, Maple Sugar, who did a sexy old-fashioned, Goth edged burlesque.

This show was the latest in a continuing tradition of gallery shows featuring fine artists and photography and live demonstrations and performance art at Stormy Leather, 1158 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94103, Toll free 800.486.9650. Their website is: www.stormyleather.com . Keep an eye out on their calendar for upcoming events and please visit their store for your kinky and fetish item needs; they have a fabulous collection of BDSM gear and clothing. They are supporting the BDSM community with these great shows so please support them with your business.

    
“Cactus Jack” Chris Kilo is the owner/writer for www.theboundandkinkyblog.com . A photographer/videographer/reviewer and associate of the website www.bound2bkinky.com he was a member of the notorious theater group, the Cockettes with whom he performed for several years including their famous off-Broadway stint in New York City. He was in the Cockette cult-classic movie, Tricia’s Wedding. He went on to co-write, star in, and produce the musical comedy, Mama, I’m Coming Home in the early 70’s at the Lone Mountain Theater in San Francisco. He continues to write, perform music, teach college and do bondage photography.