Charles Gatewood Memorial to Be Held on Sunday

SAN FRANCISCO — A memorial for Charles Gatewood, who passed away on Apr. 28 at the age of 73, will be held at the Center for Sex and Culture (CSC) in San Francisco this Sun., Jul. 3.

"Friends, fans, colleagues, admirers, lovers and all those inspired by the famed photographer, videographer and cultural anthropologist are invited to attend," a spokesperson for the memorial said.

"Charles Gatewood was my closest friend, mentor, confidant and companion," said girlfriend Eva Marie. "Nothing made him happier than sharing his work with his admirers, who he referred to as 'true believers.' I am excited for the opportunity to gather in his honor and celebrate the life and legacy of such a remarkable man."

Attendees are invited to gather at the CSC at 4:30 p.m., and the memorial will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. An open-mic event in remembrance of Gatewood will be held at 10 p.m.

"All are invited to bring stories, art, performances, items and photos to show and tell, and to participate in the open-mic to share their experiences and memories of the late cultural icon," a spokesperson for the memorial said. "The event will be filmed, to be added to the Charles Gatewood Archive. Those who choose not to be in any photos or videos will have their requests honored."

Formal attire for the memorial is not required.

"Please come as you are, or dress up if you like," a spokesperson for the memorial said. "Charles was an artist and loved toys, props and accessories. Feel free to don your favorite fetish outfit or best costume. We look forward to celebrating his life with everyone."

CSC is located at 1349 Mission St. between 9th and 10th streets.

Gatewood, according to the British BDSM/fetish website TheFetishistas.com, experimented with BDSM and alternative imagery long before it was mainstream.

"Charles Gatewood, the man known as the anthropologist of the forbidden, has been documenting America's sexual underground and alternative subcultures since the 1960s," TheFetishistas.com said in a newsletter. "And though his name may not be that familiar to some younger pervs whose knowledge of fetish history is not that broad, the chances are that even these people will instantly recognize some of his best known images."

TheFetishistas.com said, "Much of the activity that Gatewood documented on the margins of society in the '70s, '80s and early '90s is now part of contemporary youth culture. Today, tattooing is commonplace, and pop stars regularly appear in SM-influenced attire. As sexual and body modification practices once seen as radical and taboo become increasingly accepted by the mainstream consciousness, Gatewood's photography can be seen as showing the way."

For more information on Gatewood's work, visit CharlesGatewood.com.

For more informaton on the Center for Sex and Culture, visit their official website or follow them on Twitter.