LOS ANGELES — Kelly Shibari has finalized a distribution deal with Monarchy and Exile to release the archives of legendary fetish and fringe photographer Charles Gatewood on DVD.
Gatewood’s “Tales of Submission" will be released in June.
“Charles and I have been friends for years and getting his historical work, previously available in VHS, out in DVD format has been a personal passion project,” said Shibari, the veteran performer, director and producer.
“Charles’ anthropological work is a must-collect item for anyone in BDSM, kink, fetish, body modification and all alternative lifestyles pushing the boundaries of human sexual behavior,” she added.
According to Shibari, “Tales of Submission” is “lighter fare” relative to Gatewood’s more extreme fetish forays. The film presents three BDSM lifestylers, Michelle, Slave Kas and Shannon, “displaying their submission in a variety of ways.”
Gatewood, often referred to as “the anthropologist of the forbidden” has been documenting twisted subcultures and marginalized sexualities since the 1960s. His material published in “Modern Primitives” in the 80s shunted body modification, BDSM and cultic groups into an unaware American consciousness, The Fetishistas newsletter reported.
“Charles Gatewood is a legend,” Monarchy Distribution President Mike Kulich said. “His photography has always been so ahead of its time. We are not only excited to be handling Gatewood’s DVDs, but honored as well.”
Shibari plans to follow up “Tales of Submission” with heavier fare, including sploshing, piercing, erotic tattooing and needle play.
“Some of this may seem tame to today’s audiences but for those who live the fringe, fetish and alt lifestyles, these are collector’s items of historical significance,” she said. “I’m very excited to be able to offer this collection to a new millennium audience.”
"Tales of Submission" is now available for pre-order through Exile Distribution.
