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ANNAPOLIS ROYAL — It might not be everybody’s cup of tea.

But at least visitors to the ARTsPLACE gallery in Annapolis Royal have fair warning that the exhibition being shown in the main gallery contains — to say the least — adult content.

The work by Toronto sculptor, painter and poet Deb Wiles is called 52 Women for Tea, and it features the bronzed replicas of the contributors’ vulvas. They all volunteered to make a cast of their nether regions with the stuff dentists use to create impressions of teeth.

Each life-size bronze is displayed on a cushion handmade by the contributor. Some of them also provided names, such as Essence, Lady Slipper and even Bashful.

But the artist believes there is nothing to be bashful about. She hopes the exhibit will prompt people to examine what she terms the collective shame imposed by society on sexuality — especially women’s.

"To me, shame is a weight, an external force that is brought down upon a person, or a people, to control their behavior," the Annapolis Royal native wrote in an e-mail.

"To root out the shame that impinges on our sexual autonomy is to free ourselves to shine. Encouraging curiosity, research and sound thinking about female sexuality is a better approach than prohibition. Without shame in sexuality there is more joy, love, respect and tenderness."

Visitors to the gallery can also read comments by some of the participants. One, writing under the name Lotus, says the work "cannot but challenge and shock as it stirs up age-old inhibitions."

Yet, she asserts, "in the face of our inevitable discomfort, we may do well to remember that the vulva is the gateway to all human life as well as a source of ever-renewable pleasure.

"What exactly is offensive in that?"

Gallery spokeswoman Katie Belcher said the artist-run centre chose the exhibition based on merit, adding that it exposes the community to something rare — the work has only been displayed online before now.

"I’ve had people stop me in the grocery store and tell me what they think about the exhibition," she said. "Promoting any kind of discussion is a huge part of this job."

And it’s all good, judging by the opinions a few visitors offered up while perusing the bronzes recently.

"I loved it," said Lisa Proulx of nearby Lake La Rose. "I thought it was very brave, timely and necessary because we need to talk about our bodies so we can accept ourselves and celebrate ourselves instead of being ashamed."

Connie Lowe of Annapolis Royal couldn’t agree more.

"To my mother and her mother, you don’t talk about these things. For years people have been afraid to be open about expression in regards to sexuality. I think the arts are a great vehicle because there are so many different ways to express it in different forms."

The show continues at ARTsPLACE, 396 St. George St., Annapolis Royal, until March 23. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. More information is available at www.arcac.ca or www.debwiles.com.

( ppickrem@herald.ca)