VORTEX presents the U.S. Premiere of Love Art Lab's Exposed: Experiments in Love, Sex, Death, Art, a new work by artists Elizabeth Stephens and Annie Sprinkle. The VORTEX has been presenting Annie Sprinkle's innovative performances since 1994 and is proud to continue the tradition set with works like Post Porn Modernist, MetamorphoSex, and Annie Sprinkle's Herstory of Porn. Exposed premiered in Glasgow, Scotland in 2005, and Annie and Elizabeth are now launching the U.S. debut of their new collaborative work in Austin, Texas at The VORTEX for 5 nights only.

When Annie Sprinkle (former porn star and performance artist) and Elizabeth Stephens (professor and experimental artist) fell madly and passionately in love, they decided to make a commitment to explore, generate, and spread their love through art. They named their project the Love Art Laboratory. Exposed: Experiments in Love, Sex, Death, Art is part of their seven-year long project. Each year is based on the theme and color of a different chakra and begins with an experimental wedding. The seven-year chakra structure is incorporated into the piece by invitation of artist Linda Montano and inspired by her piece, Seven Years of Living Art.

Beth and Annie began the seven years on December 18, 2004 with a wedding in New York City, where they vowed to become one another's official art muses and collaborators, as well as domestic partners.

Exposed: Experiments in Love, Sex, Death, Art presents an artistic response to the proposed anti-gay marriage amendment to the U.S. Constitution, as well as to the recent passage of similar discriminatory legislation in Texas. Exposed is a love story that encompasses the couple's adventures with artificial insemination and breast cancer. Annie and Beth invite you to come to The VORTEX and become a part of a genuine celebration of the deepest realms of romantic, sexual, and familial love, in order to bring about positive social change and acceptance.

Tickets: $10 Tuesday, $15 Wednesday, $20 Thursday, $25 Friday and Saturday
Please note the escalating scale. General Admission. Limited Seating. Advanced reservations highly recommended. Reservations: 512-478-LAVA (5282)

Annie M. Sprinkle lives in San Francisco with Elizabeth Stephens. In her former life she was a porn actress, pin-up model, and proud prostitute for twenty years. She then became a performance artist and toured her one woman-shows around the world, including to The VORTEX. Annie is the first porn star to earn a Ph.D. Her new book, Dr. Sprinkle's Spectacular Sex: Make Over Your Love Life was recently published by Penguin Books. Additionally, Annie's ground-breaking and socially-significant DVD, Annie Sprinkle's Herstory of Porn, will be on sale at The VORTEX during the run of the show. For more juicy details visit www.anniesprinkle.org.

Elizabeth M. Stephens is an artist and professor living and working in San Francisco. An Associate Professor of Art and Digital Art/New Media at the University of California Santa Cruz, Stephens is an intermedia artist who works in sculpture, video installation, photography, web-based media, and performance art. Her most recent works include the bronze sculptural installation, The Academic/Porn Star Panty Collection; the road trip performance piece, Wish You Were Here; the video installation, Kiss; and her ongoing collaboration with Annie Sprinkle in the Love Art Laboratory. She has exhibited in museums and galleries throughout the United States, Europe, and Russia. See more of her work at www.elizabethstephens.org.

While in Austin, Elizabeth and Annie will lecture about their work at The University of Texas. Stay tuned for details about other appearances during their Austin visit, including their critically-acclaimed audience-interactive piece, Cuddle, their "Free Sidewalk Sex Clinic", and book and DVD events.

Exposed: Experiments in Love, Sex, Death, Art is directed by Neon Weiss with Technical Design by Sheila Malone. Production Consultant, Bonnie Cullum, VORTEX Producing Artistic Director.

www.loveartlab.org