ABOUT THIS BOOK

“The thing that people don’t understand is that Bob was my invention,” says Sheree Rose, the oft-overlooked partner of the late “supermasochist” performance artist Bob Flanagan. Unpacking this statement is at the heart of this important collection, which seeks to recuperate and showcase Rose’s contributions as performer, photographer, writer, and cultural innovator. While Rose is mostly known for blurring the boundaries between art and lived experience in the context of her full-time, mistress-slave relationship with Flanagan, Rated RX shifts focus from Flanagan to Rose, presenting a feminist project that critically reassesses the artistic legacies of Sheree Rose.

Curated with attention to queer-crip subjectivities and transgressive feminisms, Rated RX includes essays by and interviews with scholars, artists, and Rose’s collaborators that address gender politics, archival practices, minority embodiment, and disability in Rose’s work as well as more than eighty photographs and rare archival materials reflecting Rose’s recent and past performances. Offering a necessary corrective, Rated RX is the first collection to underscore Sheree Rose as a legendary figure in performance art and BDSM subcultural history, reflecting her lifetime of involvement in documenting the underground and the transformative role her work plays in sexual, subcultural, and art exhibitionism.

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

Yetta Howard is Associate Professor at San Diego State University and author of Ugly Differences: Queer Female Sexuality in the Underground.

REVIEWS

“Rated RX is a pervert’s coffee table book. … Forefronting Rose’s artistic vision and documenting her legacy, [it] disrupts the trite heteronormative narrative of male genius/female muse.” —Margot Weiss, Public Books

“Grounded in archival images, with contextualizing essays by academics and artist-collaborators and interviews with Sheree Rose, the project more than succeeds in giving Rose a platform that is much needed, deserved, and welcomed.” —Margot Weiss, author of Techniques of Pleasure: BDSM and the Circuits of Sexuality

“Marks an important milestone in the rediscovery and restitution of Rose’s role in the history of live art.” —Lucy Weir, The Polyphony

“Grounded in archival images, with contextualizing essays by academics and artist-collaborators and interviews with Sheree Rose, the project more than succeeds in giving Rose a platform that is much needed, deserved, and welcomed.” —Margot Weiss, author of Techniques of Pleasure: BDSM and the Circuits of Sexuality

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents Acknowledgments Introduction: Performing the Minority Body Archive across Time and Sheree Rose’s Legacy in Underground Art History Yetta Howard SECTION 1: WORDS Part 1: In Her Own Words Home Sheree Rose Why Not? Sheree Rose “Love Is Still Possible in This Junky World”: A Conversation with Sheree Rose about Her Life with Bob Flanagan Interview by Tina Takemoto with Sheree Rose Why Kirby Dick Is a “Sick” Prick Sheree Rose Part 2: Collaborations and Critical Perspectives Performing Again (after Bob) Tanya Augsburg Recorded Leftovers: Digesting Sheree Rose’s Video Archive Luka Fisher Sheree, Bob, and Me: Performing Painful Histories Martin O’Brien with “A Sermon on Sickness According to Martin” Rose/Flanagan/O’Brien: The Aesthetics of Resurrection Amelia Jones Obliquely Chronophilic: A Dialogue with Sheree Rose and Martin O’Brien on Do with Me as You Will—A 24-Hour Performance Interview by Yetta Howard with Sheree Rose and Martin O’Brien Sheree Rose, the Maternal, and the Erotics of Care Amber Musser “You Always Hurt the One You Love”: Transference, Pain, and Endurance Chelsea Coon Artist’sStatement for An Illegal Operation for Mary Toft Rhiannon Aarons Sheree Rose, Martin O’Brien, and Rhiannon Aarons on Philosophy in the Bedroom and The Viewing Interview by Yetta Howard The Viewing: Supermasochism and Sanctification Rhiannon Aarons Part 3: Performative Writing Oatmeal and Shit: Some Notes on Mundanity Mary Ann Davis Bob Flanagan Sentenced Harold Jaffe The Duchess of LA Jane DeLynn Contributor Biographies SECTION 2: IMAGES Part 1: 1980s–1990s Commitments, Consent, Contracts 1.1 Slave contract signed in blood by Bob Flanagan and Sheree Rose (1984) 1.2 Sheree Rose and Bob Flanagan, wedding photo (1995) 1.3 Letter to Sheree Rose from Bob Flanagan (1 January 1985) 1.4 Letter to Sheree Rose from Bob Flanagan (7 October 1985) 1.5 Bob Flanagan and Sheree Rose’s 10th anniversary invitation (1990) 1.6 Handwritten will by Bob Flanagan (1995) 1.7 An iconic photo shoot of Sheree Rose and Bob Flanagan from 1995 Public/Private Exhibition(ist)s 2.1 Bob Flanagan with toy ambulance (circa 1990s) 2.2 Bob Flanagan’s penis with clothespins (1995) 2.3 Sheree Rose with black dildo (1995) 2.4 Bimbox zine cover (circa 1990s) 2.5 Bob Flanagan and Sheree Rose exhibition postcard, (Re)Visiting Hours (1995) 2.6 Narcissistic Disturbance exhibit postcard (1995) 2.7 TranceSex pamphlet (1993) 2.8 Up with People flier (circa 1990s) 2.9 Sick: The Life and Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist (1997) DVD cover Visiting Hours (1992–1995) 3.1 Visiting Hours exhibit pamphlet (1994) 3.2 Sheree Rose and Bob Flanagan in hospital bed at Visiting Hours (1993) 3.3 Visiting Hours closing party (1993) 3.4 Detail from Wall of Pain collage (1982) by Sheree Rose 3.5 Bob Flanagan and Sheree Rose at (Re)Visiting Hours (1995) Bobballoon (1996) 4.1 Bobballoon front view (1996) 4.2 Bobballoon side view (1996) 4.3 Bobballoon covered and uncovered write-up in Japanese erotic magazine (1996) 4.4 Bobballoon at tribute to Bob Flanagan at Beyond Baroque (2013) Music, Literary, and Sexual Subcultures 5.1 Nine Inch Nails, “Happiness in Slavery” uncensored music video shoot featuring Bob Flanagan (1992) 5.2 Contact sheet from Nine Inch Nails “Happiness in Slavery” uncensored music video shoot featuring Bob Flanagan (1992) 5.3 Video still, Sheree Rose whipping in uncensored Danzig “It’s Coming Down” music video featuring Sheree Rose and Bob Flanagan (1993) 5.4 Video still, Godflesh “Crush My Soul” music video featuring Sheree Rose and Bob Flanagan (1995) 5.5 Genesis P-Orridge and Paula P-Orridge (circa 1987–1988) 5.6 Needles and Pins II flier for event at EZTV, West Hollywood, CA, with reproduction of Genesis P-Orridge and Paula P-Orridge photo by Sheree Rose (circa 1987–1988) 5.7 Letter from Tom Hallewell (Psychic TV promoter) to Sheree Rose (1988) 5.8 Bob Flanagan reading at Beyond Baroque, Venice, CA, (circa 1980s) 5.9 Henry Rollins reading at Beyond Baroque, Venice, CA (circa 1980s) 5.10 Sonic Youth limited edition version of Dirty (1992) compact disc CD tray, featuring Mike Kelley’s photograph of Rose and Flanagan 5.11 Cover of Slave Sonnets (1986) by Bob Flanagan for Sheree Rose 5.12 Ron Athey at Fetish Ball (circa 1990s) 5.13 Two Women at Fetish Ball (circa 1990s) 5.14 Sheree Rose with Kathy Acker (1992) 5.15 Annie Sprinkle at Hookers Convention, Van Nuys, CA (1997) 5.16 Carol Queen and Gayle Rubin at Hookers Convention, Van Nuys, CA (1997) 5.17 Blue Takes Washington (1993) photo by Sheree Rose 5.18 Peter Kalisch / Terminal A and Sheree Rose, Denial / Why Not cover, Records Ad Nauseam, 2016 Breathing Space 6.1 S carved on Flanagan (1991) 6.2 and 6.3 Sheree Rose’s memorial cutting in honor of Bob Flanagan’s 44th (1997) 6.4 Manipulated 1964 photo of Sheree Rose on her wedding day with her mother (1995) by Sheree Rose 6.5 Death portrait of Sheree Rose’s mother (1995) 6.6 Video Coffin (1994) 6.7 In My Room (1995) 6.8 Bob on the day of his death (1996) Part 2: 1999–2018 Nailed, Again! (1999–2000) 7.1 Nailed! (1990), partial contact sheet 7.2 Outside cover of Nailed, Again! (2000) program distributed at performance 7.3 Sheree Rose delivering sermon at Nailed, Again! (2000) 7.4 Sheree Rose nailing phallus piñata at Nailed, Again! (2000) Do with Me as You Will / Make Martin Suffer for Art (2013) 8.1 Sheree Rose with Martin O’Brien in cage at Do with Me as You Will / Make Martin Suffer for Art, Sanctuary Studios LAX, Los Angeles (2013) 8.2 Sheree Rose, Martin O’Brien, and participant Randy Focazio at Do With Me as You Will / Make Martin Suffer for Art (2013) 8.3 Martin O’Brien being intimidated by Durk Dehner at Do With Me as You Will / Make Martin Suffer for Art (2013) 100 Reasons (2014) 9.1 Mommy Dearest #53 from 100 Reasons (1983–1993) 9.2 Sheree Rose in front of Mike Kelley quotation at 100 Reasons, Coagula Curatorial (2014) 9.3 and 9.4 Sheree Rose performing 100 Reasons, exhibit and performance Corpse Pose (2014) 10.1 Daniel Babcock and Michael MP Griffin at start of Corpse Pose performance with Karl Jean-Guerly Petion doing sound 10.2 Sheree Rose carving S on Daniel Babcock’s back at Corpse Pose with Dulcinea Circelli 10.3 Sheree Rose and Michael MP Griffin after the Corpse Pose performance Dust to Dust (2015) 11.1 Dust to Dust postcard 11.2 Martin O’Brien with an effigy of Bob Flanagan rising above in “Invocation” portion of Dust to Dust 11.3 Sheree Rose lighting grave in “Transfiguration” portion of Dust to Dust 11.4 Martin O’Brien and Sheree Rose observing the fire in “Transfiguration” portion of Dust to Dust Philosophy in the Bedroom (2016) 12.1 and 12.2 Photos and collage documentation of Philosophy in the Bedroom (2016) by Luka Fisher The Viewing (2016) 13.1 Video stills from raw footage of The Viewing from all four channels, Liverpool, England (2016) 13.2 Sheree Rose viewing The Viewing footage before An Illegal Operation (2017) 13.3 Viewing The Viewing footage as audience member before An Illegal Operation (2017) An Illegal Operation for Mary Toft (2017) 14.1 Pre-performance table of instruments 14.2 Video still, Sheree Rose cutting through plastic-wrapped Rhiannon Aarons 14.3 Video still, Sheree Rose whipping Rhiannon Aarons 14.4 Video still, Sheree Rose extracting stuffed-animal rabbit from Rhiannon Aarons The Ascension (2017) 15.1 Martin O’Brien being led around gallery (2017) 15.2 Sheree Rose baptizing Martin O’Brien (2017) 15.3 Martin O’Brien reading “A Sermon on Sickness” (2017) 15.4 Martin O’Brien hook suspension (2017) 15.5 Sheree Rose embracing Martin O’Brien after being lowered from hook suspension (2017) 16.1 Yetta Howard and Sheree Rose at 100 Reasons (2014) 16.2 Sheree Rose with Tom of Finland Lifetime Achievement Award (2018) SECTION 3: APPENDICES—Out-of-Print Publications about Sheree Rose by Bob Flanagan Slave Sonnets Fuck Journal