**Trailer:**
Step into a world where sensuality meets artistry in “Erotic City,” a groundbreaking exhibition curated by 93-year-old feminist artist Martha Edelheit. Featuring over 40 artists from the 1950s to today, including icons like Joan Semmel, Carolee Schneemann, and Tom of Finland, this show redefines eroticism as playful, consensual, and deeply human. Edelheit, a trailblazer in exploring female desire and the body as a canvas, challenges societal norms with her bold, imaginative works. From the intricate fantasies of Edo-era woodblock prints to the vibrant, provocative pieces of the 1960s avant-garde, “Erotic City” invites you to question what it means to be erotic—and to celebrate the beauty, humor, and power of the human form.

**Paraphrased Digest:**
Martha Edelheit, a 93-year-old artist, defines eroticism as sensual, consensual, and playful, emphasizing warmth, humor, and shared intimacy without harm. This vision comes to life in “Erotic City,” an exhibition at Eric Firestone Gallery featuring over 40 artists from the 1950s to the present, including Joan Semmel, Carolee Schneemann, and Tom of Finland. Curated by Edelheit, the show highlights her pioneering feminist works from the 1960s, which explore female desire and the body as a canvas for tattoo imagery. Her art, once considered radical, challenges societal norms and reimagines figurative painting and the nude.

Edelheit’s work has recently gained recognition, particularly after her inclusion in the 2022 Jewish Museum exhibition. Despite her contributions to the avant-garde scene in 1960s New York, she received little market attention until recently. Art critic Blake Gopnik praised her midcentury works as prescient feminist art, lamenting the exclusion of women and people of color from mainstream art history.

Edelheit’s inspiration stems from a revelatory encounter with Edo-era erotic art, which she admired for its detail, humor, and aesthetic quality. She distinguishes eroticism from pornography, avoiding harmful or exploitative imagery and focusing instead on sensuous, beautiful works. The exhibition explores how perceptions of eroticism vary across cultures and time, challenging viewers to reconsider what they find erotic. For Edelheit, the presence of genitals or breasts does not inherently make a work erotic; it’s about the power, beauty, and humanity of the body as it is.The text discusses the evolving perceptions of nudity and sexuality in modern culture, particularly in the context of art and media. The author reflects on how societal attitudes toward the human body have shifted over the past six decades, noting the impact of the internet on accessibility to erotic content. However, she also critiques the rise of shaming and abuse surrounding nudity in visual media, calling it a tragedy. The author emphasizes the importance of addressing these issues, especially in a politically charged era that feels reminiscent of repressive historical periods like McCarthyism. She challenges the notion that sexuality is exclusive to the young, sharing her own experiences and observations about aging and sexual interests. The text concludes with a lighthearted mention of her family’s reaction to her curating a bold and risqué art show, portraying her as a spirited and unconventional figure.

**Trailer Paragraph:**
In a world where the human body is both celebrated and scrutinized, this thought-provoking exploration delves into the shifting tides of eroticism, nudity, and societal taboos. From the transformative power of the internet to the resurgence of repressive ideologies, the narrative challenges preconceived notions about age, sexuality, and art. With a blend of humor and poignancy, it invites us to question the boundaries of shame and freedom, all while celebrating the enduring vitality of human desire. Prepare to be intrigued, inspired, and perhaps a little scandalized.