Steampunk Genre Fits Well With Fantasy Photographer Dirk Hooper’s Work

May 30, 2010 - PRLog -- TULSA, OKLAHOMA, May 24, 2010 – Fantasy photographer Dirk Hooper will be among seven other Oklahoma artists in the “Steampunk” art exhibition at the Art-N-Style Gallery beginning, Saturday June 5th.  The show will have a cross-section of illustrators and photographers who will present their own interpretation of the steampunk genre.  The exhibition is curated by artist Mike Kennedy and will be the first time many of these creators have displayed work in this unique genre.

Steampunk is sub-genre of fantasy and science fiction, typically set within the 19th century when steam power was prominent and characterized by Victorian-style fashion mixed with fictional inventions like those of writer Jules Verne.  Dirk Hooper said, “The look and attitude of steampunk are very much in line with my fantasy and fetish photography.  When Mike Kennedy contacted me about this show I got very excited by the prospects of working with the genre.”  While new to the world of steampunk, Hooper sees this exhibition as a beginning of a long-term project.  “Creating the photos for the ‘Steampunk’ show has been a blast and ideas are now coming fast and furious.  I’m officially adding this genre to my body of work,” Hooper said.

Dirk Hooper will have four sepia-toned metallic prints on display at the “Steampunk” art exhibition.  Models for the photos include Oklahoma-based professional dominatrix Princess Zoe, Tulsa model Prince, Oklahoma City model Jade and members of steampunk sideshow performance group “Carnival Epsilon,” Marcus, Ivy and Rose.  Photographer Dirk Hooper, Princess Zoe and many of the other models for the photos will be in attendance for the opening night event.

The “Steampunk” art exhibition will feature Oklahoma-based artists:
 
•   Shawn Wilson, a 20 year veteran graphic designer and comic artist
•   Phil Hollecker, a science fiction and fantasy illustrator trained on the west coast
•   Wykkd Lenz (Cyn Burton), journalistic photographer recently featured on the BBC’s “The Week That Was”
•    Alain Viesca, fantasy artist specializing in digital art and illustration
•   Mike Kennedy, published creator of over 20 comics and working artist for over 30 years
•   Lucy Adams, comic artist with a passion for color work
•   and Zack Raw, a Tulsa artist who will display art for the first time in the “Steampunk” art exhibition.


Opening night for the “Steampunk” art exhibition will be June 5th at 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.  The show will be located at the Art-N-Style Gallery, 1334 East 41st Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Refreshments will be provided and there will be live music by “The Annie Perkins Band”.   The exhibition will run through June 30th.  For additional information about the show, please contact Mike Kennedy at 918-935-5387.  

Dirk Hooper’s online portfolio and blog is available at www.DirkHooper.com.  If you’d like to contact Mr. Hooper about an interview or an art opportunity you can reach him directly at dirk@dirkhooper.com.  Print-ready photos are available to the press on request.

Dirk Hooper is a world-renowned fetish and fantasy photographer, fine artist and writer whose work has been described as “forbidden tales to rival the likes of H.P. Lovecraft and the Marquis de Sade.”  Dirk’s publishing credits include such diverse media as comic books, music CDs, art books and fetish magazines like “Von Gutenberg.”  He has also cultivated a reputation as a fine artist in established venues like the prestigious Fred Jones Jr. Art Museum and as an underground visionary in events like “the Dirty Show” in Detroit, “Fetish Project” in Brussels, Belgium, and “Siberia” in Utrecht, the Netherlands.  Dirk has work in the permanent collection of the Kinsey Institute based at Indiana University.  Dirk Hooper is the host and creator of “The Fetish Show” podcast and actively