FAKIR MUSAFAR is known worldwide for his more than fifty year's research and personal exploration in primitive body decoration and rituals. Fakir has introduced concepts and practices for the "body-first" approach to explore spirituality in art, body modifications, SM and what he calls "body play."

His practices have been shown and his views expressed in the 1985 film Dances Sacred and Profane, in ReSearch publications 1986 book Modern Primitives (a term Fakir coined in 1979 to describe himself and a few kindred spirits), in numerous filmed and televised documentaries, and in his own sumptuous book of photographs, SPIRIT + FLESH. His interviews and writings have appeared in many anthologies and scholarly works (including Leatherfolk and Different Loving). For nine years he published his own photo magazine, Body Play & Modern Primitives, still available on his website (http://www.bodyplay.com/bodyplay/online/index.htm).

A Shaman, Artist, Master Piercer and Body Modifier, Fakir played a major part in the revival of body piercing, body sculpting, branding and other body-related practices for personal expression, spiritual exploration, rites-of-passage, healing and reclaiming. He is co-developer (through a long association with next month's LDG presenter, Jim Ward) of the modern body piercing techniques in general use today. He is also Director of Fakir Body Piercing & Branding Intensives, the only courses of instruction of their kind in the world, and the only such school registered by the state of California as a Career Training Institution.

The Leather Archives & Museum will host a celebration of Fakir's life and work on June 24th, 2011, at its N. Greenview Avenue location in Chicago, to mark the addition of the Fakir Musafar Collection to the museum. Please join us for an intimate, wide-ranging conversation with the living legend known as Fakir, a giant in erotic and self-exploration.

LDG programs start promptly at 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 7:10 p.m. We advise arriving early as seating is limited.