bullinthevaginashop interview

Jaclyn Perrelli is the author of the artsy oriented blog with the brilliant title of bullinthevaginashop.blogspot.com. I don't really know her, but from what I can tell she is very intelligent, a keen observer of human nature, and she really digs the book and exhibit of "Sex Machines".

Jaclyn conducted a refreshingly different interview with me a few weeks back. Some of the questions were coming from such odd tangents that I had to ask her for clarification! None the less, we got thru the interview...and here it is:
JP- Assuming you prepare against the obstinate naysayer, is controversial content subject matter "in like Flynn"?
TA- I can only answer for my project, of course. I always thought that Sex Machines was a double edged sword: the subject matter carried with it an inherent fascination due to its oddity and sexual components, but also I feared it also carried alot of baggage I and the publishers had to work hard to overcome. We wanted to make a book about America and its people, using the machines as a way into the world. Our fear was that the book would be misunderstood as a "Fetish" book, meaning a book that doesn't really transcend its subject and speaks only to those into the fetish. We wanted to make this social document that appeals to everyone, and tried hard to overcome the sensational aspects of our subject matter. Artistically we succeeded, and created the book we wanted to. Financially, I think it's still a loss for the publishers...I think it may not be selling as great as hoped. As far as print sales go, we still have yet to see if America wants to hang this work in its homes. Photo LA is coming up, a big dealer/collector event, and we'll see if it sells.
But...I guess if my project was about inventors of bicycles, rather than inventors of sex machines, it most likely would not have gotten a book deal. But even then, it got tons of rejections.....so I dunno. The sensational aspects both helped and hurt it...one cannot really separate the two, especially with my project.

JP- Sex Machines: Photographs and Interviews is not a book just about sexuality but also a book about sociology. Unfortunately, entire groups of people believe that physical pleasure is excessive and therefore undue. To the best of your knowledge has the book fueled greater negative or positive energy?
TA- I was prepared for lots of negative everything, but I'd say now that the book is out, 90% of the people "got it" and thought it was a fascinating social document. When I was pitching it as a project to publishers, most pubs thought it was a fetish book, I was a pervert, it was "adult" material, or....that it was not sexy enough. The response was more negative then. Now...it seems those who dig it love it and tell me, those who don't seem to keep to themselves. Fortunately, everyone I've heard from in the book seems to feel good about being part of it. But...I don't think my book is really a proponent of expanding ones sexual boundaries...it just kind of tells it like it is and shows us what Americans are doing. Don't confuse the idea that I documented this subculture with the idea that I'm part of the subculture. I'm just an average married guy, two kids, no sex machine under the bed or in the closet. But, the book has fueled all things positive, from its readers and its participants, knock on wood.

JP- If you had to abandon all but one of the photographs which is the keeper and why?
TA- The Keeper would be Scott Ehalt, sitting at the kitchen table with his machine called The Pile Driver. I always saw that shot as this project's version of Grant Wood's American Gothic painting. It says it all with the least amount of words: Great american icon, outlandish machine invention, average domestic interior. All the parts of the project are in that shot.

JP- To people who believe art is steeped in corruption, what words might you offer to demonstrate that art, even when unnerving, is essential? TA- Making art comes out of people in an instinctual way...it is part of instinct. We humans are going to make art, the good stuff atleast, about the stuff we are interested in. If it's got nudity in it or sexual expression in it or something racist or political...this is what humans are all about. It's going to be what it is.

JP- Now that you're absolutely certain a percentage of the usual populace needs grander sexual stimulation have you made plans to disrupt your photography for a diy course in inventing? TA- Nah, I'll let the inventors do their things. I can barely hammer a nail correctly. But if you can make it to a lecture we've been doing, there are always inventors from the book on hand. Right now I need to figure out how to make a living again with photography, raise the kids with my wife, and try to get the next project started.