Gotta Love the Golden Oldies

August 07, 2007

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Let’s face it; we’ve all had erotic dreams involving “The Golden Girls.” Lenora Claire is bringing hers to life as the curator and driving force behind “Golden Gals Gone Wild,” the first-ever art exhibition entirely devoted to erotic depictions of our beloved “Golden Girls.” You read that right. It’s naughty art of the Golden Girls. Go ahead and taste the cheesecake.

I caught up with Lenore Claire a few days before the month-long shows star-studded opening on August 11th to ask her some questions. “Stuff your sock garter with money, because everything is for sale and mama needs a new weave,” advises Claire.

Where did the divine inspiration for this exhibition come from?
LENORA CLAIRE: About a year ago, I was looking for “Golden Girls” DVD's on eBay when I came across a magnificent nude oil painting of Bea Arthur and I just knew it had to have it. After a heavy bidding war, she was all mine for about $110. The funny thing was, as it turns out, the artist Chris Zimmerman was from LA and we actually have mutual friends.

Can you describe a few of your favorite pieces in the show and who did them?
I love all of the pieces. I only asked friends and people I respect to be in the show so each piece is truly special to me. I will say that when I was interviewed by NPR, people went ape scat over Ed Mironiuk's piece, I call Golden Girls Gestapo, that features Betty as a latex-clad dominatrix.

Everyone I talk to about your show goes crazy for the idea. What is it about this sitcom and these ladies that get people -- particularly gays -- so fired up?
I'm a self-loathing heterosexual so I'm just going to come out and say it's because the gays are smarter and have a more developed sense of humor. But really, four fierce bitches … what is there not to love? And who doesn't have a stupid, old, shoulder-pad wearing, or slutty friend?

Do the Golden Gals themselves know about your show? Are you worried they'll be offended by the idea of it?
Bizarre magazine was doing a story on me so I asked a reporter to come to a signing of Rue's new book for what I thought would be an amazing photo op. I asked her publicist if she would pose with the painting and I could see much discussion going back and forth. Finally, it was explained to me that "that is something Blanche would do, not Rue would do," so instead I got a photo of just Rue and I alone. Then, as I was carrying the painting out to the car, someone in the store saw it and screamed "OMG!" and suddenly every queen in LA was staring at me and ignoring Rue. The attention whore in me loved it but I was totally mortified I stole the attention away from one of my heroes. After being profiled on TMZ, doing NPR, the National Enquirer, and the Globe I have a feeling the rest of them are aware of it, too.

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