FAT GIRL Book Events – Saturday July 27th

Carlos Batts, my partner in life, love and art and I have been working on this Photography Book project for the past 12+ years now. We are thrilled that our dream and goal that started in 2000 is now a reality and will be released in July 2013!

Here is a synopsis of the book:

In 2004 I came up with the title FAT GIRL for the book. I explained my intentions with the title in a piece I wrote for XOJane.com:

In 2004, my husband, photographer and director Carlos Batts, and I had been working on a photo book project for about four years. We were planning to start showing it to publishers in the hopes of getting it published, and the time had come for us to think of a title.

Just like with my stage name, the title “Fat Girl” came to me easily and naturally. I knew the power these words hold and how they strike a chord every single person. Men, women, boys and girls each have a reaction to the combination of these two words used together. I knew that I wanted to redefine and change the meaning of the term “fat girl.” To me, fat would no longer be the negative word had been and was to so many others. I wanted to take away the shame, and make those words have a positive, empowering connotation.

From that moment, I truly began to embrace the word fat, identify with it, and make it my own. Embracing the word fat was my way of saying, Yeah I’m fat, so what? I am happy, confident and proud.

In celebration of FAT GIRL, there will be two events – both on Saturday, July 27th –  held in Los Angeles.

From 3 – 6 pm, there will be a Conversation and Book Signing at MOCA Grand Avenue:

Join us for a conversation and book signing with photographer Carlos Batts and muse, April Flores.

Carlos and April will discuss FAT GIRL, photography, modeling, making art together, technology, and body identity in popular culture. Drawing inspiration from French photographer Dahmane, Petter Hegre, and collaborations between Jeff Koons and Ilona Staller (a.k.a. Cicciolina) Batts and Flores have continuously challenged each other to produce great art in a timeless partnership that defies genre, boundary, and expectation.

From 7 – 11 pm there will be an Exhibit Opening and Performance at Coagula Curatorial. We will be showcasing images from the book, as well as never before seen Polaroids and images from our personal archive. There will also be a Nail Bar by Cha Cha Covers, Cupcakes by Little Sweeties and a Spanking Station by The Pleasure Chest!

This will be a day filled with art and love and I hope you can join us for one or both events!

Conversation and Book Signing
MOCA Grand Avenue
Ahmanson Auditorium
Saturday, July 27th
3pm-6pm
250 South Grand Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90012

MOCA Calendar

RSVP at storevent@moca.org

Exhibit Opening and Performance
Coagula Curatorial
Saturday, July 27th
7pm-11pm
977 Chung King Road
Los Angeles, CA 90012