Annie Sprinkle on Ecosexuality, Humping Trees, and Her Performance at Alwun House this Weekend

Tree hugging is so 1969. The new wave of earth lovers, led by former porn star and sex educator Annie Sprinkle, takes loving the earth to the next level."I used to send women out to have sex with something in nature," Sprinkle says. "I'd tell them to smell, hug, lick,...

By Niki D'Andrea

February 11, 2011

Audio By Carbonatix

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Tree hugging is so 1969. The new wave of earth lovers, led by former porn star and sex educator Annie Sprinkle, takes loving the earth to the next level.

"I used to send women out to have sex with something in nature," Sprinkle says. "I'd tell them to smell, hug, lick, kiss that rock ... hump that tree."

Sprinkle, 56, calls herself "a radical sex educator," and her latest "cutting-edge" obsession is called ecosexuality. She'll be the "Goddess of Ceremonies" this weekend at the opening reception for the Alwun House's Exotic Art Show, and on Sunday, she'll give a presentation there titled "Exploring Ecosexuality."

Since 1975, when she made her first adult film, titled Teenage Deviate, Sprinkle's performances have been the subject of shock and awe. She created "Sluts and Goddesses" workshops in 1991, and is also known for her "Public Cervix Announcement" performance, in which the audience was invited to view her cervix with a speculum and flashlight. In 1992, she earned a PhD in human sexuality from the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality in San Francisco. These days, she focuses primarily on educating others, and pioneering ideas like ecosexuality.

"Arizona's very green-conscious," Sprinkle says. "I'm switching up the metaphor from earth mother to earth lover."

During her "Exploring Ecosexuality" presentation, Sprinkle will discuss what she sees as the erotic aspects of nature, and then take people through the garden at Alwun House to experience it for themselves. "If anybody out there doesn't have a date for Valentine's Day, I invite them to come take the Earth as their lover," Sprinkle says. "It's a profound, beautiful, ecstatic experience. Come take the Earth as your lover, and you'll never be alone."

Annie Sprinkle is scheduled to host the "Phantasmagorical Spectacular Opening" for the Exotic Art Show at 7 p.m. Friday, February 11, at Alwun House, 1204 E. Roosevelt Street. Tickets cost $20 to $25. Sprinkle will conduct "Exploring Ecosexuality" at Alwun House from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, February 13. Tickets cost $15. For more information, visit www.alwunhouse.org or www.anniesprinkle.org.

Niki D'Andrea has covered subjects including drug culture, women's basketball, pirate radio stations, Scottsdale staycations, and fine wine. She has worked at both New Times and Phoenix Magazine, and is now a freelancer.

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