Vendors, Performance Artists and Attendees Shine At Cirque Voltaire

The Mad Tatters:  Brandan Styles and Ellie Rusinova
Local artists and creators of Cirque Voltaire
Photo courtesy of Brandan's FB profile

Last Friday night, two well regarded, local artists known as the Mad Tatters hosted Cirque Voltaire - Denver's first surreal circus art event.  Denver Subculture attended and not only were we impressed by the success of the show, we also had a damn good time!

Salon style display of some of the 30 artists featured
at the event. Photo courtesy of Klint Krenzke.
See more of Klint's event photos on Facebook.

The Mad Tatters, Ellie Rusinova and Brandan Styles, greeted their guests in character as Dr. B. Zurk and Madame Madness.  They delighted everyone with art and entertainment that was whimsical, mysterious, bizarre, even shocking. They also provided something which heretofore did not exist in Denver - an opportunity for unusual artists such as themselves to experience community with each other. Harkening back to the Dada movement in Europe nearly a hundred years ago, The Mad Tatters sought to create a haven where the modern world’s lack of meaning and depth is conquered by artistic collaboration. Cirque Voltaire was so-named as a tribute to Café Voltaire, where many of the Dada artists met to express themselves without risk of oppression.

Local act Tovio and Kalliope.
Photo courtesy of Klint Krenzke.

There were greater than 30 artists showing impressive work, as well as numerous live performances that were highly entertaining.  But we have to admit that we were rather taken with with the vendors and the costumed crowd (some of whom were perfomers as well - but they were working the crowd and we were digging it!). Vendors displayed remarkable talent in crafted items that were both anachronisitic and macabre. We delighted in getting to know their creators.  Without a doubt, they were jovial, charming people who were genuinely pleased about the positive response to their work.

We LOVE this.
Photo courtesy of davewoodphotography.com

To our pleasent surprise, after the event, we also discovered a few striking black and white photos of Cirque Voltaire. While stalking everyone on Facebook (sketchy? maybe. creepers? for sure!), we encountered local photographer Dave Wood who gave us his permission to feature his work here as well.

Below, you will find some of our favorite encounters from the night.  Hopefully you get an opportunity to seek out these people around Denver, and find out for yourself that they are as strange as they look.  Which is why we here at Denver Subculture love all of them!

Keile Ament Altair and Stephinity Salazar
Owners/Artists:  Boutique Alchemystique

Our favorite item of the night.
Stunning top hat embellished with numerous vintage items.
By Boutique Alchemystique.   

Gorgeous vintage style hat.
All headpieces by Boutique Alchmystique are
adorned with authentic antique items such as watches.

Xavia Schmidt
Owner/Designer: Discerpo Necto Decrepitus

Among items such as miniature hats and bloomers, Xavia
also designs the lovely chokers shown above.

Rin Stewart-Thomas and friends support the event
by donning original designs by Xavia and gorgeous
makeup fit for surreal circus.

We don't have the artist's name but this piece
really caught our eye!

Local burlesque performer Tata Tatiana.

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Photo courtesy of davewoodphotography.com

Handmade dolls by Hope Morgan of Haunted Sparrow.

Maximilian Shiffman - Drummer for Narwal Birdskull.

Photo courtesy of davewoodphotography.com.

Professor Phelyx - A fine Mentalist Magician!
Flanked on either side by unknown,
yet equally silly cohorts.

Ammy Whiteunicorn Gione.
Snakecharmer. 

Photo courtesy of davewoodphotography.com

Dylan Johnson of Cerrious Design,
with Katelin Stagliano.
Offering iPhone covers and usb drives
a la Steampunk inspiration.

Event attendee Aimee L. Matheny wowed us with
her gorgeous getup.

Last but not least, the obligatory Kiss costume.
Worn by George Peele
Baritone Tunesmith and Custom Singing Telegream artiste!

We hope you liked our freak show!  To see more of Denver's rebellious-best, subscribe to our feed.  Like our Denver Subculture Facebook page too. Or we'll find you and kill you.

The long link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Denver-Subculture/204833952880524?ref=ts

F#$! the mainstream!

Pole Stars: Studio 3sixT and Star Bar Team Up

Partner Jen West & Instructor Allison Meine
of Studio 3sixT

Denver Subculture loves the provoctive and we are firm supporters of all things sexy - including good strip clubs.  "Yes, waitress, please bring a shot of voyeurism with a sexy back." Thankfully there are strippers out there who do what they do because they love it, not because they have to, and we take great joy in watching.  Furthermore, we are quick to admit that we know what it is to fantasize about getting up on the stage to experience the eroticism of spinning around a pole, mostly naked, while admiring eyes twinkle.  Let's face it, it's fucking hot.

Allison demonstrating athletic
aspect of pole fitness.

For years, only the bold and daring knew the thrill of such things, but these days anyone can give the pole a try thanks to the recent proliferation of pole fitness studios.  New to the scene is Studio 3sixT, who opened their doors mere weeks ago.  Last Thursday night they made a stellar effort to get the word out by setting up a pole at the Star Bar and showing patrons how to spin their way to hotness and health.  Basic spins such as the 'Fireman' and the simple but slick 'Pole Around' offered brave souls the basis for the more advanced moves they can learn in classes.  Studio partner Jen West and instructor Allison Meine also demonstrated several levels of highly advanced pole technique.

3sixT student Brynmar Bland
showing off her sexy. 

To the surprise of some, many of the moves showcased an impressive combination of strength and grace more commonly seen in gymnastics and ballet.  As it turns out, dancing on the pole can fulfill more than one sort of goal.  Want to prove your athleticism and compete?  Grab the pole.  Want to have a killer body and love getting it?  Grab the pole.  Want to grind your hips, flip your hair, spin to the bottom and roll around on the floor like a slut?  Grab the pole.  That's what it's for and we'll be happy to watch no matter which one you pick. If you let us.
Click to learn more about Studio 3sixT.
F#$! the mainstream!

Sofi Needs A -nother Show in Denver!

Sofia Toufa - Vocal Artist on 'Sofi Needs A Ladder'
Photo courtesy of:  thatchickelle.com

By: Kristine Condition
In my last post about the Denver Nail Lounge I made reference to a show I saw at Beta a few weeks ago.  Tommy Lee was in town that night, mixing it up with DJ Aero.  I was super enthusiastic about my first opportunity to see him in an electro environment.  Having met him and seen him perform at many Motley Crue concerts, I was certain of the good time I was about to have.

I’m a rocker at heart, but I also grew up dancing to a lot of techno.  It was HUGE when I was a teenager in the mid 90’s, and if you danced – you danced to techno.  You did it looking like David Bowie meets Tim Burton, and that was a highly unusual look at the time.  There was no Lady Gaga, no Rhiana, no one in popular culture making it okay to be oddly colorful and somewhat disconcerting.

Today’s teenagers view an avant garde personal appearance as admirable and desirable because modern media gives them the courage to do so.  Mainstream kids in my day, the cookie cutter mother fuckers, had no appreciation for the eccentricity that was central to the way my friends and I looked, dressed and lived our lives.  They were incapable of understanding our romance with theatrics and the underground, and we were frequently shunned.   Thank God, because that was the point.  Most important to this article is the fact that they did not ‘get it’ with regard to the long nights we spent dancing.

Sofia Toufa
Photo courtesy of: twitpic.com

When I dig past the inevitable painful memories of my teen years, I can find exquisite moments wherein I was dancing.  Moments when I was aloft in smoke and lights and music, feeling beautiful and at home on top of the highest speaker I could climb.  Sharing it with everyone in the room, yet blissfully alone in my pretty techno bubble.  Personal freedom came courtesy of those secret nightclubs and illegal raves and we consumed it ravenously.  Often without all the drugs people assume were part of the experience. The dancing was the drug.

Eventually the kids who kept the GAP in business got hooked on a couple of the techno anthems that were huge at the time.  One night I showed up at my prized underground dance club and every unoriginal fuck I hated in high school was standing in a line that had never before existed.  They were soon to be at the raves too, and the scene met its demise for a while.  C’est la vie.

In 2011 electro music is enjoying the good life again, flowing in the major artery of the mainstream.  As a result, though, the problem of posers is as real as ever.  Except they now try their damndest to look LIKE the subculture.  In short, it is now normal to be weird.  Because this is the case, it’s all the more difficult these days to discover artists and music that are engaging in an authentic way.  I’m always hunting for that raw, genuine edge that is detectable because it emanates from within its source – as opposed to being put on by someone trying to emulate it.

Tommy Lee and DJ Aero
Photo courtesy of: flickr.com

When I saw Sofia Toufa perform at Beta in Denver I surprisingly discovered that flavor of originality and verity that is so elusive.  Needless to say, I was thrilled.  As I said, I went to see Tommy and exploit the opportunity to revisit a strobe light induced oblivion.  Tommy, along with DJ Aero, did not disappoint.  As I danced and pushed drunken bimbos out of my way in the front row, I could see Sofi standing nearby.  I didn’t know that she had any relevance to the show beyond being Tommy’s girlfriend.  I’d encountered them backstage at a different show in the past and their fondness for each other was evident then.  Little did I know that she was about to