Before I get back to Spirited Bodies I am rebirthing my theatre. On Friday will be the first time my new performance will be watched.
It is a one woman life modelling spectacular. I will be with 4 musicians; a string ensemble as well as a percussionist, and the audience may draw the show if they wish. It is not entirely nude, there are a few flimsy costumes; a skip-raided set, and a soundtrack for the first scene which I created before I had met the musicians. Actually that scene is recycled from previous shows I have put on because I like it so much. The opening suitcase sequence sets the tone for a fucked up inversion of life drawing set-up. The model is immediately on edge, likened to a trafficked slave, and itching to escape. She makes her come-back, reverses roles with the ‘other character’ – a sinister older woman, and starts to take back her power.
When I started writing this show I thought it would be a snapshot of myself, amplified for the timebank. That’s what it says in the blurb which I wrote before I got to the script. While I was sketching out new scenes, stuff was happening with Mum. Each time I visited seemed more pertinent. Dad was struggling, and my last version of ‘Girl in Suitcase’ from Edinburgh ’11 kept creeping back into my awareness, the importance of telling that story. In a new way. With one actor. Mum was holding on to life as powerfully as ever, but sustaining her life was costing Dad on every plane.
The play is not exactly what it says it is, but it is where I am now, and I have no doubt it will evolve over time.
Working with ‘The Next Room’ has been a revelation. Suddenly there are others involved and they are not exactly in my space, though they share it. They bring new enthusiasm, and are the first people to respond to my script. I realise I need to focus on what their role is and be clearer in my direction, but luckily they instinctively understand and I feel most privileged to have them on board.
Here are some rehearsal shots by Chris Hermon.
During rehearsal I am not nude
Roddy Skeaping leads ‘The Next Room’ collective of musicians
Ines
Tobias
Damaged a calf in this rehearsal, hope it’s healed in time!
on this Friday 28th March at 8pm. Tickets are £3 (£1 concession) and can be bought here or on the door most likely.
If you are keen on drawing you are welcome to bring an easel. There are tables and we have some boards at the venue, and drawing materials. I will encourage everyone to draw, but you may simply watch if that’s more your bag. The poses are not very long if you are familiar with life drawing, and some are movement scenes, but if life art is new to you, then 5 minutes of stillness may feel like a long time. On the other hand, when there is no dialogue, there is music.
Our event at ‘Women of the World’ last Sunday has moved me profoundly. Having recordings of interviews with models was very powerful, as some of those women would have been too nervous to say those things live or even turn up. I am copying a message I received from one of the models, Niomi, as it expresses well some of the passion felt by those involved. I am also posting images from the event.
To summarise; ten women with varying levels of experience started the posing. They were aged about 30 – 63 and had a wide range of body types between them, as well as reasons for participating. From being an experienced professional model disillusioned with it all and wanting a different more empowering space in which to model again; embracing a new body post-op transgender; to stop feeling invisible as an older woman with MS and mostly paralysed; or wanting to engage with a wider discussion about body and sexual politics as we consider how best to move forward with Spirited Bodies.
Whilst the models posed I played the recordings of four of them as well as two others by women who did not pose on the day. Each testimony told a different story – from the relatively light-hearted journey of embracing one’s body in a new way through life modelling, to the more intense reality of wishing that one day you might be able to move your limbs again and your degenerative disease go into reverse. Where I could, I asked the model who was talking in the recording to be in the centre of that pose. One bit of feedback I got from one of the women drawing, was that hearing the models’ thoughts whilst drawing them, affected the way she drew. The model instead of relatively silent was expressing her innermost thoughts, fears and ambitions.
About half way through the session I started asking members of the ‘audience’ if they would like to try posing, and some of them did, so that was lovely to have some total newcomers.
When I was interviewing models, the conversation sometimes moved towards the future. When and how will we invite men back again? Could we have a post-event discussion session to allow models to process together as a group their thoughts, to make an event more complete, and beyond the act of modelling itself? How open can we be towards men when we have had a few tricky experiences with male models being involved in the past? Would we just work with the ones we know and trust? After all, the safety of vulnerable women must be our priority.
Here is some of the artwork from Sunday; the poses lasted from about 6 to 17 minutes.
Here is Niomi’s letter;
HI ESTHER.
I was very touched with the experience that I had yesterday – the way you facilitated the event – went I thought very well – with the life models you knew starting off – then the new girls who wanted to have a go – then back to the Spirited Bodies life models – and your Mum was just amazing at the centre piece of it all.
I was very touched by your interview with her – she is a brave amazing person – and I can see that she has had some deep emotional issues to work through in her life – it touched me so much when she was talking about how she would love to get her active and functioning body back.
It was a nice surprise for me when you called me up to do my 17 minutes life model pose – I found listening to my interview with you deeply touching – I was able to hold my pose regardless of being emotional and tears streaming down my face.
I hope that we will be able to carry on this dialogue within an open minded and safe space together – feeling free to explore all sides of the debate from the female side – and being open to listening to and hearing the men’s side of the story too – in connection with exploring and being together in Spirited Bodies Life Modelling.
Thank You again for this amazing opportunity to explore My Life – My Journey – My Body – Within the context of being in a safe and comfortable environment – in the way of working together as a group and team work – to share together in our body form and presence in connection with each other – to embrace – be open – and enjoy the bodies that we have been given and feel comfortable in our own skin.
This of course would not be possible without the artists – and I saw a lot of art work on the floor at the end – so I hope that the photographs will go on the Spirited Bodies website for us all to see.
If you find any of me I would be so grateful if you could send it to me.
I also do not know if it is possible for you to give me a copy of the recording the girl gave to you – I have an elderly couple I am friendly with – I would like to play it to them one day – as I think it is so touching.
With My Best Wishes To You.
NIOMI GABRIELLE
With thanks to all the artists and the models, and as well Jude Kelly and Domino Pateman and all the staff who helped at Southbank Centre
I am so glad we decided to make a workshop at Sh! This is a special environment where women may explore their sexuality in a totally welcoming space. It is much more than a specialist sex shop; it has an ethos to reach women where they have not been touched before! It is an intimate space downstairs where we created Spirited Bodies magic within this new setting. Surrounded by dildos, vibrators, whips, paddles and lubricants we eased into poses on the pink oval couch that had a fetish feel. One of our artists was very comfortable directing poses due to her frequenting of fetish clubs; I took full advantage. Not that I am shy, but when you can see someone flowing with inspiration for ideal use of props and the angle of each limb, it is a gift for all to let that unfold. Thelma and I just tweaked some of these poses according to our knowledge of modelling, and making allowances for the newness of these models who want to try a novel experience more in some cases than have a realistic experience of life modelling.
Here are some pictures from this unusual workshop which hopefully we will try some time again.
I initiated proceedings with a 6 minute pose; the average pose was 5 minutes
I made suggestions to models about levels and relative openness or closedness of the body, as well as direction of limbs, and as well they found their own postures to fit with the other model’s shape.
dynamic and fun
These cartoonesque felt-tip pen line drawings are by Lily Lemaire
Most participants came primarily to try modelling, and a couple preferred drawing, but they too had a go at posing. They said that it helped them understand the models’ point of view.
Collection of underwear models, or a ridiculous all girl band as one of them observed!Colourful finale poseArtist Khadijah likes to use oil pastels I believe, bringing out tone more than line
a pink feather boa connected the models
The costumed model presents different considerations for the artist; clothes draw attention to other features and shapes which the nude does not.
A light touch; it is so warming when participants get into the spirit of friendly posing with each other they have not met before
I thought afterwards, coming into this shop for a class, these women would not be likely to be phased!
Pleasing parallel lines and angles
While life or clothed modelling is not necessarily sexy, it can be. Above all we want to promote women being comfortable and confident in their bodies – sexually and otherwise. Often being at ease with one’s form may enhance sexual confidence, in a truthful way that is not about doing what is expected of us, or what we think we ought to do, but by being ready to sense our own desire and act on it appropriately. Being able to appreciate ourselves allows us to appreciate others more, and be appreciated by others. While the body can be a very sacred place, we easily become disconnected from it in our mentally driven lives. But if we take time to tune into what is going on inside, and learn to move our bodies however we can to enjoy them, we begin to intuit more the language of the body.
As I move from pose to pose, especially but not exclusively the quick (and movement) ones, there is hardly any time in between poses when I am working, to recover the body to its natural equilibrium, to eliminate aches and cramps. My body tells me which limbs to work as I form a new shape; more than the alternation of muscle groups (though that is part of it) its language is subtle and beyond logical. It knows I am performing a sequence, that there is a climax mid-flow of muscular tension when I will pass through a pain barrier and I will surpass artists’ expectations of what I can hold. I push myself because I am like a gymnast aiming for gold, I take my modelling seriously because I love it. It is my gym, my yoga and sometimes my dance. It strengthens my core and warms my very being. It takes me to places of trance, of deep joy and wild amusement I cannot possibly describe to you because it is so in the moment, the way it lights my smile challenging the artists to catch it! Sometimes it is tantra too and it turns me on, and if I were a man I would have to master myself quite heroically not to offend people and risk not being booked and getting a tarnished name. As a woman I can hide it if I want though sometimes my sexuality is discerned – naturally I am being closely observed, and enjoying it. That is even turning me on too; part of a pleasure loop of enjoying myself, being enjoyed by others. But it is not deemed offensive; though it affects me physically this is subtle compared with a man. Instead I am likely to wear a translucent glow and my pheromones reach the artists subliminally (or not). I am sometimes booked because I am sexy, though not in an obvious way, because that is not my style. I mean, it is pleasing to artists consciously or otherwise that I am in tune with my sexuality and I know how to handle it. It makes me confident and that is attractive. It is about my physicality and my nature. I know that life modelling has enhanced this for me. It was always there, a big part of me, being very sexy; but after becoming closeted a few years for social and personal reasons, the liberation afforded by life modelling was strong and so welcome. Now I share that as best I can with others.
Working so closely with my body and my beauty daily, I am acutely in touch with my cycle. I bring different energies at different times to modelling, from the highly charged and emotional, to the light and easy going, to the blatantly desiring, and commanding. Through meditation with energy work (visualising the flow and store of energy within the body) I aim to master better the hormonal drives in me. I have become so aware of my enslavement to a feminine cycle of emotions and desires, that I look to overcome this through deeper analysis, to channel all that powerful energy to put it to best use. Not to move beyond sex, but rather reach a higher source of sexual power, which is ultimately more feminine, unbound by time or undue strain.
I will add that there are many different types of life model and I am just one. Our individuality is the beauty of our game.
One of the women who participated on Thursday evening wrote to us the next morning;
“Thank you for a wonderful evening last night. I thoroughly enjoyed the modelling and the theme was right up my street 🙂 I am absolutely interested in modelling again in the future, I think my preference would be all women groups at least for the first few sessions since I am a newbie! I am not so keen on the drawing side as my skills in drawing are so inadequate!”
Thelma responded, “Thank you 🙂 It was an absolute pleasure and to see you ‘warming up’ to the experience. That is why I like SB – there is an indescribable feeling of fluidity, freedom and togetherness – spirited bodies, like minded embracing ‘the nude’, our nude in a practical, loving, flowing into unconscious way – if that makes sense! I fully understand about the drawing side – when I draw I try and do a ‘small bit’ or part of the pose or just try and get the positions to practice perspective.”
Finally the young woman wrote, “I am exploring and learning so much about myself and the world through my body and its empowering and incredibly freeing. I have always been very comfortable with my body, but unfortunately have been surrounded by a lot of people who aren’t! That can really limit who you are when trying to be sensitive to other people’s hang ups.
I am delighted to have been in the space of women who love and appreciate their bodies as they are :)”
I cannot sleep! The excitement is too much. Now I know these sessions are coming to an end, they excite me So much! Every session should be like the last one ever. Like I usually email the models a few days before the event to brief them, get them in the mood. This time I did not. Too routine. And I know. I know that the ones who want to come will be there. They will contact me if they are unsure. Then there was one I was unsure about, who doesn’t have internet, she might not have realised this was coming to an end, and I thought she probably doesn’t have money, which might stop her. But I wanted her there! She was the reason I set up the session that is tonight in Hoxton which she cannot afford to go to. I had gotten to know her via lengthy phone calls from a while back when she was gathering courage. So I called her and told her to come along, regardless of money, just be there because it will be so much easier and more rewarding than you imagine. All the barriers you build up in your mind, they are unfounded, unreal. You just need a chance to move past them, move into a new space where you reach up and out and let yourself speak through your body, tell your story that you are living today, and feel the joy of self acceptance. This comes first, and then the warm appreciation of others. Oh the liberation! It can make you high and take you far as you open your wings and take off for a while. Then you must keep learning to fly and stay flying.
Quick poses
This pose was a bit like a cat fight; Natansky wanted some drama to kick things off, so she and Louise began in this way to warm everyone up, as they have both posed several times before.
I encourage models to make poses on different levels; these were closed poses, the body folding in rather than opening up
Negative spaces – the shapes where the body is not – are used by artists to create the form of the figure withinFigures overlayed to produce something unfamiliar
‘When I wake up’dynamic poses abounded this eveningMike Flight caught the tension of ‘The Storm’this was an important announcementNatansky’s drawings
A scene is enacted before us
the ‘play within a play’ from another angle
Beautiful postures
Quite randomly I picked from 95 photographs of the artwork sent to me by Santosh; I could not see them all at once, and did not open them all. There will be more, but for one tired night that is enough. Thank you to all who made this last Holborn workshop flow with magic. Now East to Hoxton for feminine fun and womanly wonder.
An exciting week lies ahead; 2 workshops, and the first week of our exhibition up. I spent part of Friday and Saturday collecting the artwork with Thelma, and then fathoming how to hang it. I am pleased with the result and think we have decorated the Sh! shop very nicely. I am going to give you a peek here, as best I could manage, with the glare of lights in their basement where the pictures are.
Whilst sorting out where and how to hang each image, I was in the space where we will hold our women only session on Thursday (7th November). I got a feel for the possibilities there, chatted to the manageress, and thought about how best to encourage women to pose – with clothes on. We have never had this restriction before (while we have had clothing optional modelling, nudity has always been allowed with us!), but also we have never been in such a feminine space. The manageress said they have never had anything like our workshop in the shop. They offer a number of erotic classes and sessions, from ‘how best to perform fellatio’, to erotic poetry evenings; but we are adding a new dimension.
I checked out some of their underwear items which women might consider posing in, if they fancy treating themselves to something new, and tasty, as well as some of the goods on sale which could make fun props!
Edible bra made of candy beads was not very expensiveNot sure how well these items fit different sizes or adjust, seems to be one sizeBare minimum for a burlesque look
Frilly pants for £9 I thinksequin tasslesA bit more expensive, ‘Pants to Poverty’ fairtrade pants are £14 but at least they are ethicalAnd now for some props
When we had our women’s meet and chat evening last month in this space, one of the women who dropped in had a whole lot of questions. In fact she had so much to say that hardly anyone else got a word in, and we realised we would have to manage situations like that better in future. Memorably, in the middle of the woman’s diatribe, Morimda got up and strutted over to the whips. She carefully picked an instrument and struck a dominant pose in the middle of the space, holding the whip with intent. Now she had everyone’s attention and there was quiet. Morimda explained how the model holds the space, and picks poses to engage with her audience of artists.
A lot of the scenarios we create in our workshops, a bit like in a drama class, are centred around notions of status. These props may add an amusing nuance, helping to make status relationships very clear.
Paddles, collars & blindfolds
Now for a virtual tour of the Spirited Bodies exhibition!
Seated figure drawing by Chris Francis‘The Queen of Sheba’ by Kate Hardy – a 20 minute pose at our Women of the World women’s event in March at Southbank CentreA scene from last December’s Mortlake event by Mike FlightA standing nude in water colour by Chris Francis3 of Mike Flight’s paintings are on the top shelfmore Mike above a pink mirrorOne of Jane Barton’s paintings, from Battersea Arts Centre in October 2012Simon Whittle’s watercolour and pencil picture from our event at The Mall Galleries this AugustJane’s other painting of female nudes has been a big favourite, also from BAC October ’12One of Lily Lemaire’s drawings and a couple of Mike’s smaller picturesCharles Patey’s ‘Stanza’ from Mortlake last December, features life model Isobel, in charcoal‘Opposing Pair’ by Chris Francis on the right, and a reclining female nude by Lily Lemaire on the left.
Lily is one of the artists who will be drawing the models on Thursday, and she will give a drawing to each model to keep, a lovely memento we think.
I asked the manageress of Sh! why there have not been any other women’s sex shops opening since this once in the early ’90s. She explained that it is not a commercial venture since this shop is women only for the most part – men must be accompanied by a woman or visit on Tuesday evenings. This excludes by far the largest market for the sex industry, since men are used to spending on sex. Most women never by sex products for themselves as they have less disposable income and are used to spending more of their income on others, and thinking of their own needs less. While this shop addresses this imbalance, it is a political (feminist) choice rather than capitalising on a gap in the market. They are considering starting some classes for men in future which teach them about how to please women. I think there is a growing interest in this area if Orgasmic Meditation is anything to go on.
I am really pleased to have our first show here, and hope you can visit the shop to take a look; it is on for all of November. I will try to schedule a ‘Private View’ type evening, but it will be later in the month, as we have been a bit busy.
Looking forwards to Thursday and finding poses with all our models, however clothed they prefer to be; see here if you are interested in coming along – Women Only Life Modelling at Sh!
For some more clothed modelling inspiration;
when I posed last year for Tadworth Art Groupseated on the floorposing at Citibank where nudity is not alloweddrawing by Khadijah who will be drawing on Thursday at Sh! as well as adding her work to the exhibition!Today I modelled at Toynbee Art Club and although I was nude, a fashion student imagined clothes on meanother outfit I do not possess but would like
Spirited Bodies 