On Feb. 2, Bryan Jr. auditorium was taken over by an endless ocean of students eagerly preparing themselves for a night of passion, humor, and excitement brought by the Sex Workers Art Show. After patiently waiting for the show to begin, the lights dimmed, leaving an orange haze across the room. The crowd erupted with cheers. Kirk Read, the opening comedian of the show, suddenly appeared onstage sporting a vibrant outfit with pink and gold glitter surrounding his eyes. He launched into his routine and told the audience about his experience growing up as a homosexual in Virginia. Through physical comedy, Read tied in concepts of a masculine identity in relation to his love for different types of underwear. His charismatic performance left the audience in tears of laughter.

All of the performers exposed their sexual liberation across a spectrum of artistic mediums, which included burlesque, photography, literature, theater, and music.

According to Annie Oakley, director and founder of the Sex Workers Art Show, the performance is central to demystifying stereotypical conceptions of a sex worker.

“I think that a fundamental lack of knowledge about the sex industry dehumanizes sex workers,” Oakley said. “We need to present these people as autonomous human beings if we want to change that.”

Throughout the performance, each artist linked sexuality, gender, and politics with creative and emotional directness.

Dirty Martini, a nationally renowned burlesque dancer, wowed the audience with a sparkly American flag outfit as she moved effortlessly across the stage hurling one dollar bills in every direction imaginable.

Keva Lee, a dominatrix, linked sexuality to stereotypes portraying Asian women as submissive and exotic. Using a whip and a dildo, she smashed these conventions to pieces with a powerful grip.

Krylon Superstar, a performance artist and vocalist, used his act as a blatant message against the Bush Administration. Through a bone-chilling vocal performance and a pool of glitter and sparklers, Krylon Superstar bounced around the stage, eventually revealing a taped message across his chest that read: F*ck Bush.

Other performers were more subtle, but equally as captivating. Porn performer Lorelei Lee gave a heartfelt reading from her book Drive as abstract photography projected momentary snapshots depicting her words. Similarly, acclaimed author Chris Kraus told an expansive and detailed reading of her experience as a topless dancer.

According to junior Sara Eisenberg, who played a major role alongside PRIDE in bringing the collective to Guilford, translating individual experiences to an audience can have a significant impact for both the performer and the viewer.

“It’s important to link freedom and performance to sexuality,” Eisenberg said. “These are issues that need to be talked about, and I think that by watching someone else come to grip with these issues, they will be influenced to fully express themselves as well.”

According to Oakley, through performance these realities can begin to be unmasked.

“Politics lie at the heart of these issues,” Oakley said. “I hold the sex industry close to my heart, and it’s essential that through diverse performances brought by a diverse set of people, we can come closer to realizing these connections.