With Halloween falling on a Saturday this year, there is no shortage of events for queer yinzers to choose from to celebrate. But if you’re looking for something gritty, artsy, and kinky with a spooky edge, Obsidian’s Halloween parties may be just what you are looking for.
Yes, “parties.”
For baby bats and those who haven’t heard of Obsidian, it is part goth dance party, part visual art installation, part performance art, and part play party. This year, it’s two nights of spooky, kinky, queer, strange, and unusual fun. Obsidian: Femdom Dungeon on Friday, Oct. 30, and Obsidian: Haus of Tits Takeover on Saturday, Oct. 31, promise “psychosexual night(s) of wild performance art and interactive experiences.”
Obsidian is the culmination of 4 years of growth and curation by producer and local artist Aiden Sin Flame.
“Obsidian is a wild animal of its own,” said Flame (she/her). “It’s me as a party, my personality and what I’m into and I enjoy. It’s the kind of event that I wanted to see that wasn’t happening, so I wanted to do it myself.”
Those interests, reflected in the weekend’s events, include kink demonstrations, tattoo artists, piercings, art for sale and display, environmental performance art, and dancing to tracks spun by local queer DJs. Flame’s personal touch and interests also extend to the sober space environment for Friday’s Femdom Dungeon.
“As someone who will be sober for one year in November, it’s my first time throwing a sober event, and I am very excited for that,” said Flame. “I don’t agree with mixing substances and kink or BDSM in any sense, so to do a kink-based night, it was important to do a sober night.”
Attendees to Oct. 30th’s Femdom Dungeon can expect kink demonstrations of impact play, pet play, leather, and boot worship, a piercer providing face piercings (including temporary hyperdermic needle piercings for the night), go-go dancers, and vendors selling leather products and art pieces. The entire night will be set to the soundtrack of 3 different DJs: Krass Advert, Cryptid Yinzer, and DJ Satyrion. Mocktails, sodas, and energy drinks will be available for purchase.
“The entertainers who are open to interacting with the public, whether they are doing tattoos or boot worship, do reserve the right to say no to anyone for any reason. Consent is mandatory,” said Flame. “And while this is a kink night, it is not a swingers’ or a sex party.”
According to Flame, one of the reasons people have been returning to Obsidian for the last 4 years is because of the safe environment to express oneself and try new things in a safe, sane, and consensual environment. “People feel at home at Obsidian, and they say they’ve never felt so free or safe in an environment like that,” she said.
To curate the safe environment, Flame personally hires everyone on the Obsidian staff, from security to the door people to the people serving drinks.
“I choose the people who match the vibe and respect the space and the rules,” said Flame. “And if someone gets kicked out of one of my events, they are not allowed back at any event I am associated with. I want people to have fun and be free. But I will not tolerate any level of consent breach or safety violation. Obsidian has a reputation for not tolerating any bullshit.”
Even though Saturday night isn’t a kink event, the same no-bullshit approach continues. Halloween night’s party will be filled with queer art ranging from the Columbus-based performance troupe the Haus of Tits, to art installations to art vendors. While there isn’t a set show like most drag shows, the Haus of Tits will be performing their signature Club Kid-style drag throughout the night at different times as immersive environmental entertainment.
“You won’t know when something is going to happen,” Flame promises. “Because Club Pittsburgh is not a bar, we are not beholden to burlesque laws, so that allows performers to do whatever they want. They can do an act that is as gross, or as sexual, or as provocative as they want, as long as they are being safe, sane, and consensual.”
In addition to respecting the rules of the party and individual consent, Flame emphasizes that this is a queer and femme-forward event, and always will be.
“Obsidian is inherently gay and feminine. Period. I’ve had a lot of pushback for that,” said Flame. “Everyone is welcome to come, but remember it is a gay house first.”
To get your tickets for either night of Obsidian, Venmo $15 for Friday night and $30 for Saturday night to @obsidianpittsburgh, and include your first and last name in the payment note.
10/30 Entertainers
- Daddy Doyenne
- Malacunt LaFoole
- Bleu Darlin’
- Aiden Sin Flame
Gogo Dancers
- Bleu Darlin’
- Lola May Lye
- Evie Sanguine
- @Divineclowncar on Instagram
- Mary Lay Ultra
- Harly Alucard
10/30 Vendors and Artists
- Raven’s Luck Leather
- @sweetwonder222 on Instagram
- Nylon B Werewolf
- Art by Mr. Jon
- The Coffin Bean & Co.
- Nina Soto from Soul Seal Studio
- Edith Oi!
- Lindsay Lou Tattoos
Saturday Night Performers
DJs
- Faerie Fey
- Krass Advert
- Erica Moulinier
Entertainers
- Gia String
- Saranade Tits
- Glitter Tits
Gogo Dancers
- Bleu Darlin
- Lola May Lye
- Evie Sanguine
- @Divineclowncar on Instagram
- Mary Lay Ultra
- Harly Alucard
Saturday Night Vendors and Artists
- Skull Butter Arts
- Tattoos and Tooth Gems by River
- Soul Seal Studio
