It's taken equal parts planning and machismo for local artist Daniel Gulick to turn his idea for an erotic art show into a highly anticipated annual event.

Gulick, a painter and muralist, was a student at Oklahoma State University who regularly showed work in Oklahoma City's annual "Biting the Apple," an erotic art show and fetish ball. But when the show's organizers stopped accepting his work, Gulick decided to put on his own show.

"Nude" is now in its fifth year and, although it originated in Stillwater but relocated when Gulick did, it's the only show of its kind in Tulsa.

"Nude: 5" hosts work from approximately 35 local artists, and the only stipulation is that it has to be sexual, sensual or erotic in nature. And it's gotta be good, of course.

"I create risqué art myself," said Gulick. "I like to push the boundaries in my own work. For other artists, it's an outlet. Not every artist in the show is an erotic artist. But this allows them to do something different and have fun with it."

All media are represented in "Nude," from painting to sculpture, photography and performance. The show is juried, and a cash prize is awarded to the audience's favorite work.

"Nude" isn't just an art show, though; it's an event, complete with drag queen and burlesque performances as well as a concert by RadioRadio.

"It's turned into a celebration of sexuality," Gulick said.

Each event has a theme (this year it's "Naughty Masquerade Ball"), and attendees dress accordingly. This year's event is at the First Street Music Hall, 230 E. First St., and each of the hall's venues will be utilized and likely brimming with sweating, excited bodies.

The artwork will be shown in Capella's, and the first two hours of the show, from 7-9pm, will be dedicated to the viewing of the art. Everything on display is available for purchase.

At 9pm, Gulick will hand out door prizes (toys donated by Priscilla's, invariably event goers' favorite part of the evening, according to Gulick), and performances begin at 9:15pm. Performers include Kira Von Sutra, Mary Anne Moan, Savonne the Minx and Ilsa the Wolf of Eye Candy Burlesque, Josie Lee and Nikki Le'Chapelle. Pearl (former UTW intern, btw) will present an erotic fashion show, and Z104.5 The Edge DJs Moody and Demko will be on-hand to fill the void between performances. Performances will alternate between Blank Slate and Exit 6C every 15 minutes. RadioRadio will perform in Blank Slate at 11pm.

UTW's own Erin Fore will emcee the event, along with a special guest host Gulick has yet to announce.

Gulick said he's continually shocked every year by how many people come out to "Nude." Last year's event was sold out and he expects, even though he has more space this year than he did last, "Nude: 5" will sell out also.

And the really great thing is that, even though, by the end of the night, it's more of a party than an art exhibition, much of the work there sells. Gulick said, last year, "Nude" artists sold about $1,500 to $1,600 worth of work.

"The success every year overwhelms me," Gulick said. "It brings so many people of different cultures and genres together. It doesn't matter if you're gay, straight, purple, white, whatever."

"Nude: 5" is Saturday, March 28 from 7pm until they kick you out. Tickets are $16 and available at the door.

The event's sponsors include Urban Tulsa Weekly, Catalyst Tattoo, Dirty's Tavern, Tulsa Body Jewelry, Z104.5 The Edge, El Guapo's Cantina, Priscilla's, The Blue Dome, Under the Mooch and CoughSyrupGreen. For more, go to www.nudeartshow.com.

Come out and Play

Living Arts of Tulsa, 308 S. Kenosha, hosts its monthly Art of Play event, this time hosted by the gallery's artistic director Steve Liggett.

Liggett presents an informative presentation on video artist Nam Jun Paik. Paik has created video installations and performances and has been called the "Father of Video Art."

As always, after learning a bit about the artist and his medium, participants will have a little fun utilizing some of Paik's techniques and emulating his work in a social learn/play experiment.

The event begins at 5pm and is free to members. Membership is only $35/year and may be obtained at the event. For more, go to www.livingarts.org.

In it Together

Theatre Tulsa, the longest-running theater company this side of the Mississippi, and Clark Theatre, the city-owned and operated youth theatre, collaborate for the first time in this weekend's Up the Down Staircase.

The play, based on Bel Kaufman's book of the same name, tells the story of a new teacher in an inner-city high school, facing problems her Ivy League education couldn't possibly have prepared for, attempting to teach students who care nothing about education. Or do they?

The cast includes Phil Blackmore, Deborah Bosworth Campbell, Ron Friedberg, Beth Anne Herrmann, Deborah Hunter, Miriam Mills, George Romero, W. Bryan Thompson, and Sherry Zyskowski. Julie Tattershall and Frank Gallagher direct.

According to releases, "The directors' vision is to update the play to have more of an impact in today's modern times. The original (1967 film) was almost a 'Laugh-In' version of stock characters coming in and out of the classroom. The students in the play were played more for comedy.

"It was easy to fit the play into today's classrooms and the problems young teachers still grapple with. Just as in 1967, schools are over run by the educational bureaucracy and mountains of monotonous paper work that interfere with the students' actual learning process."

The play runs this weekend, March 27-28 at 8pm and March 29 at 2pm, and April 2-4 at 8pm in the Liddy Doenges Theatre of the Tulsa Performing Arts Center, 110 E. 2nd St. Tickets are $10-$17 and available at www.tulsapac.com.