If all the talk about death this time of year seems a little un-sexy, coupled with the close attention the LA Times is paying to “slutty” costumes (Paging the new Image section: Hasn’t Tom Ford turned it into a year-round phenomenon?) then maybe Rick Castro is on to something.

His Antebellum Gallery will present, Dia de los Muertos ¡Erotica!, the first-ever art exhibit offering erotic interpretations of Dia de los Muertos. Castro reached out to artists of all cultures, religions and nationalities and asked for their amatory interpretations of this primarily Latin tradition, seeking to illuminate connections between different communities and the ways they view life, sex, death and spirituality.

He opened Antebellum (Latin for “before the war”) two years ago as the first, and still the only, gallery dedicated to fetish art. For Castro, it was the act of drawing a line in the sand for looming, full-on, cultural warfare; he thinks everything up to now has just been skirmishes.

You can judge the sharpness of what’s in his quiver this weekend at two adults-only events at Antebellum Gallery, 1643 N. Las Palmas, Hollywood.

Opening reception, Friday, Nov. 2nd 6:00 to 9:00 PM; $5 cover.
Muerto Tea Party, Saturday, Nov. 3rd at 5:00 PM; $10 cover. Both 18 and older.

After the jump, some images from the upcoming show. By clicking on “continue reading” you certify that you are 18 years old or older.

Top, “Untitled” by Toxtle, oil on canvas; upper middle left, “Buddies,” & right, “Red Boots” by Raymond Sandoval; both dry pigments, shellac on barn wood; lower middle, “I’ll Love You Forever” by Guadalupe Posada, acrylic paint on canvas board; bottom, “Siempre, Mi Amor” by Juan Martin Del Campo, Jr., copper foil technique stained glass.

Images courtesy of Antebellum Gallery.