from www.quirkynyc.com – Jimmy Hat. Raincoat. Love Glove. Zucchini Beanie. Rubber.
Whatever you call them, there’s no denying that condoms have a colorful and controversial history. The latest exhibition at The Museum of Sex, Rubbers: The Life, History & Struggle of the Condom, takes visitors on an educational journey from the condom’s humble beginnings to today.
“It’s so informative,” says 28-year-old Karmia Davis, as she twirls a penis-shaped glass object like a 5-year-old would play with a toy airplane. “It’s a good place to learn a lot without feeling embarrassed.”
Davis and her friend, Latoya Wilson, stroll through the museum around 7pm, laughing, learning and taking advantage of the extended Saturday hours. Standing in front of a picture that says “Know Your Scum Bags,” alongside the face of Pope [TK], Wilson says she’s enlightened but hardly aroused by the display of ancient condoms. She seems a bit disturbed by the curve on the tip of the Sheath.
“I would rock that,” Wilson says about a dress made of condoms. “It looks like something Lady Ga Ga would wear.”
The Trojan-sponsored exhibition is designed to educate through the use of condom-inspired artwork, startling images of sexually-transmitted diseases and humorous anecdotes on the history of the condom.
Take a virtual tour of the Rubbers exhibit through our photo gallery and then head to the Museum of Sex to see it for yourself – you’ll definitely learn a thing or two about the importance of condoms in society.
As Davis and Wilson grow board of the condom exhibit they head towards the “Spotlight,” section of the museum. “I should get that for my kitchen,” Davis says about a picture of a cheese grader looking condom, en route to Spotlight. “But come on, I gotta go get my porn on.”
They endure a light scolding from security for touching one of the sex machines, take turns posing for pictures, bent over doggystyle in front of a machine and rush to grab the penis of a glass-encased sex doll. “She better not squirt on me,” Davis says, as she sticks a finger inside the female doll.
Downstairs in the Action exhibit, Davis can finally get her porn on. “Look at how long it is,” she says, watching old animated porn. “AHHHHHHH”
“What is something stuck in there,” Wilson asks. “He can’t get it in. Oooh look it’s her crabs.”
They explore the Action exhibit, Davis goes to a corner and engages in a festering argument via iPhone and then they browse around the gift shop.
But that’s just one evening at the Museum of Sex. Check it out for yourself.
The following video is a PSA featured in the Rubbers exhibit. It was produced by successful gay pornography director Chi Chi LaRue [pictured]. He filmed the spot to protest the proliferation of films being produced with performers who do not use condoms.
www.quirkynyc.com/2010/03/the-evolution-of-condoms/
Museum of Sex
233 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10016-8733
(212) 689-6337
Hours:
Sun-Fri: 11am-6:30pm
Sat: 11am-8pm