It Seemed Incredibly Normal to Stand Around Unburdened by Clothes

“It’ll be ok, I told myself that morning, I’m sure Esther will reassure us, tell us what to do, she’ll make it all work.

by Brian McKenzie; http://www.bdmckenzie.blogspot.com

Then there was train trouble at King’s Cross and I ended up rushing in after they’d all started. So in the end my preparation was getting undressed and walking into a roomful of people! Bizarrely it felt perfectly normal. Not embarrassing. Not awkward. Not even chilly. It seemed incredibly normal to stand around unburdened by clothes. In dreams when I am naked, I have always been mildly apologetic rather than humiliated – it reminded me of that. Only no need to apologise because nakedness was exactly what was expected. I highly recommend the experience to anybody prepared to try a little thought experiment, know you are alive by doing something a little unnerving or just yearning for two hours without chores, text messages, responsibilities or objectives. Therapeutic, communal yet individual.”

Thank you Catherine!

by Francis Wardale, "I like quick sketching, I've done sessions where I've got a model to do 100 different poses and I'm quite likely at my Life Drawing group if I've got spare time at the end to do drawings of the whole room - model and artists"; www.franciswardale.com

by Charles Patey, "It is very rare that one gets the opportunity to draw multiple models."
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Expectation & Collaboration – of a model & an artist

Feedback answers from Charlie who both modelled and photographed

a) Did it live up to your expectations?
Spirited Bodies 5 certainly did live up to my expectations, and in some ways exceeded them as well. It was lovely being a homogenous part of the group. I was somewhat unsure of my capability to hold a pose for 30 minutes, so I certainly surprised myself by doing so. I think that having so many fellow models with me made the task of holding a pose much easier, feeling that we were all supporting each other in a very bonding way. I love the way that we all bonded from the start and felt totally comfortable with each other. I was pleased to have the opportunity to meet some of the other models in advance.

From an artistic point of view, I was also very pleased. The evening was a form of testing ground for me, so I came with a very open mind and was not expecting too much. However, the results were far better than I anticipated, and as I go through the numerous shots, I am finding more and more details that I would love to work on and refine on future occasions. I did have some expectation shortfalls, but these were almost exclusively related to technical things such as camera settings, backdrops and lighting.

b) Was anything lacking?
I would say that the space was a bit awkward to work in, but this did not seriously impede the artists’ work. I was amazed to see how 30 artists managed to squeeze their way into the space, but still have a good area to work in. More time before and after the artists’ sessions would have been nice; time for us models to meet and chat, get to know each other, time to set up a few well thought out tableaux – the table worked, but I felt that with a bit more time, we could have been really creative with the space and with each other, and possibly planned in advance what scenes we would like to create for our artists.

From a photographic point of view, time was very limited. I would have loved a couple of hours to really think out the set carefully, have around 30 minutes or so before models arrive to experiment with lighting and camera settings, and have the luxury to work with the models over the course of a very chilled and relaxed day.

c) What did you gain from it?

In no particular order: Wonderful people to create art with and collaborate with, new friendships, new artistic ideas, the confidence that I can hold a pose for at least 30 minutes, some lovely photographic works, a better understanding of how to best utilise awkward space for a nude tableau featuring 14 models, the satisfaction that many artists were able to benefit from my contribution, the experience of building trust with first-time models, it was an invaluable experience all around and I learned loads from it.

Here are a couple of Charlie’s nude abstracts:

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A Feeling of Intimacy & Communion

“A feeling of coming together, sharing in intimacy and real connection more pure and truthful than many everyday personal exchanges”, this is a quote from Kim, one of our models at Telegraph Hill, 21/3/12.

                                 
by Francis Wardale, ” For most of the time I tried to draw the whole group – taking advantage in having that number of models.” http://www.franciswardale.com/
by Charles Patey, "The challenge of multiple models is to try to catch the spatial relationship between the models."

“I felt trusted and grateful to be included in the other participant’s personal threshold experiences.”

by Brian McKenzie, http://www.bdmckenzie.blogspot.co.uk/

“I have modelled for life drawing groups before and even once in a group setting but never before has the experience been tinged with such nuances of communion as it was at The Spirited Bodies event. It really was an experience of opening, freeing and honouring ourselves and one another and I feel so grateful to have been trusted and accepted as witness and participant in this event. Thank you!” You are very welcome!

by Brian McKenzie

Whenever I watch the models as they pose together at one of our events, part of me wishes to be with them. I do enjoy the pleasure of watching them, as they find their part in the picture. Sometimes I try to draw. Next time I hope Lucy and I have a chance to join them, at least for part of the time, because I know their experience is one I have not yet had. And it is a beautiful one, of togetherness and bonding. They are quite elated, if challenged by the difficulty too.

by Brian McKenzie
by Francis Wardale
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Sylvie’s Project; Naked Unbreakable!

It was really exciting to be back for another Spirited Bodies event. So many things happened since the last one… I couldn’t believe it…

I felt a bit stressed after a busy day and I arrived a bit late so I didn’t have the time to talk with my fellow models. Once my dressing gown was off I felt at ease and very comfortable. I challenged myself with some tricky poses and I was able to think of what could be interesting to the artists.

I went to a Life Drawing Class with London Drawing which was really interesting as an artist and as a model… I think it helped me to explore my limits!

Back in February, at my first naked event for Spirited Bodies, I was still under the shock of the pain I was going through, emotionally and physically and I nearly didn’t make it and I am so glad I did because it opened a new door for me… meeting like minded people, creating beautiful connections and friendships changed something in me.

For the last month I kept going through it: one weekend I am in so much pain I hurt myself and the next I am standing somewhere naked, meeting beautiful people… and something beautiful came out of it!

On my blog, I came across the “Project Unbreakable”: a young American Woman takes pictures of victims of abuse who are holding a sign on which is written a quote by their abuser. I asked Esther if it was possible for me to have my picture taken during the event so I could then send them to this project. Esther’s been so supportive and as it turned out a photographer was also modelling that evening. He was happy to take the pictures and also found a wonderful way to get the other models involved in supporting me.

I was sexually abuse by my entire family: my Mum, my big brother, my Uncle, my granddad…

Last year I decided to break all contact with them and although I knew it will be emotional I didn’t expect having 3 nervous breakdowns in 9 months… I nearly didn’t survive any of it…

I decided to join Spirited Bodies to give myself and my body a beautiful experience… to remind myself of how beautiful I am…

Well, last Wednesday, I had the most powerful experience ever when I found myself sitting down, holding the sign:”No one will ever love you-My Mum” and surrounded by my fellow models reaching out to me, supporting me. I said: “Maybe I should send this to my Mum!!”

In this moment I knew I’ve won in my heart and in my life, loved and supported by so many wonderful people and so many wonderful friends.

So contrary to what my Mum used to tell me: I am loved and I am loving… everyday.

I’d like to say a big “Thank you” to my lovely Esther for your friendship and for your support, and also to Lucy, Charlie and all my fellow models from the February event and the last.

Big Love and Light,

Sylvie Rouhani- 25th of March 2012

Sylvie has 2 blogs: http://healingtogether.tumblr.com/  which is for and about survivors – male & female – of sexual abuse, &  http://happylittlebuddha.tumblr.com/  her more personal space

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The inside story of a Spirited Body 🙂

Marie's avatarmjb.

Up until earlier this year I had been like most other English people in regards to public nudity – utterly horrified.

Nakedness was something to be ashamed of, and as such when I was younger I would have recurring nightmares (which are really quite common) about my school peers seeing me on the playground naked. In the swimming bath changing rooms I would change in a booth or else desperately clutch my towel awkwardly around myself whilst trying to untangle my not yet quite dry limbs and garments; lest everyone see my wobbly bits. My friends and I would titter at the older ladies walking around starkers in a nonchalant fashion, amazed they weren’t trying to hide their abundance of pubic hair.

Brain washed by magazines and TV, my teenage years were spent obsessing over food, silently competing with peers to see who could eat the least at lunch or…

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