Watch out, it's RANT time.

I wish I could be an art model, traveling around the world, posing for photographers, painters, drawers, sculptors and artists alike as my full-time career. Nothing else gives me as much pleasure than participating in the creative process, collaborating to create art. It seems like it could even be feasible... if there was an active market and demand for figure art. If only more societies were more reverent instead of ashamed of the nude body. It just makes sense to me to consider the body a natural and beautiful thing. I mean, its not like we were born wearing clothes!

Clothes (or animal hides way back in the day) originally were made/used only to protect us from the harsh elements in extreme climates. They were never meant to hide the body or our sex. Knowledge did not create this shame we have for the naked body. There was no apple, there was no garden, there was no adam and eve, and the whole fucking world was not created in 6 days. And anyone that disagrees with me and believes in creationism can kiss my blasphemous, bible-hating, pro-nude ass and leave my blog right now as you are not welcome here anyway. Wait a minute, you'd probably like kissing my ass and... what the hell are you doing at a "objectionable content" blog anyway? You hypocritical heathen!!

Okay, I was unnecessarily nasty there, and if I look at it from the other perspective, I get it. And its not all their fault. Examining my own pre-modeling attitudes about nakedness in hindsight, I know I was ashamed of my nakedness. Most are raised to believe that nakedness is wrong and only meant for our husband/wife. But yet, we accept and sometimes greatly admire paintings and sculptures in museums of the naked figure. People need to realize this hypocrisy and challenge the beliefs that they were raised with. But people clinging on to their ignorance for the sake of their personal comfort have absolutely no sympathy or even an ounce of respect from me. But who cares right? Its not like those people would want my respect anyway.

Like most lewd accusations in this country, you are considered guilty until proven innocent. We'd like to think it's the other way around, and our judicial system is based off of it, but do most authorities truly believe it? Correct me if I'm wrong (Stephen), but if the focus of the picture (and how wide or narrow is that interpretation?) is of the pubic area, and you dont manage a nearly impossible record keeping system of photos taken after March 18th 2009, under the 2257 amendment, you are breaking the law despite what your intent is. Now I know that the purpose or intent of this amendment is to try and cut back on the number of inappropriate photographs taken of minors, and reducing the production of child pornography. And I unequivocally agree that child pornography is horrible, disgusting and absolutely unacceptable. But does anyone honestly believe that this will stop or even deter the production of child pornography? I honestly don't. All it is is just a real pain in the ass for nude photographers and possibly even for nude models.

I know I don't have much to worry about 2257 with my art, but it still bothers me that the following pictures would be considered inappropriate by the vast majority of people only because I'm nude in them.





sigh.

Wow. That was quite a rant, and I'm sorry, only because I know I'm preachin' to the choir.

-----

The trip is still going magnificently.

We (Gaea, 'Tina and I) were pretty cold this morning, okay, we were FREEZING at our shoot, as it was 45 degrees, very windy with no sun. (For evidence, look to Dave's post from today). But we pushed through it, and we got some wonderful photos, including the one up above with the roots of the tree. For some reason, probably because of the wind, I was more cold today than yesterday posing in the rain with that huge ice chunk.

Hopefully tomorrow will be warmer.

And speaking of temperatures, how come when I leave Minnesota it finally decides to get unseasonably warm? I heard yesterday's temperature of 97 shattered the previous record of 87 back from 1977. Now that's hot!

Oh well. I probably would have just stayed inside with the air conditioning on anyways.

-----

As a couple of lovely side notes, Matt Scherfenberg got featured for the first time on Univers d'Artistes! So check it out! It was long overdue in my (highly biased) opinion.

And I got featured a couple days before that in my first interview on UdA, by Unbearable Lightness and was made an Art Editor of Univers d'Artistes! I'm very honored!

___________________

Photos by the near and dear, Dave Levingston.

Across the Universe

That Beatles song makes me feel like change should be comforting. I rarely feel change as such. I know change is inevitable, and that I should be open to it. Sometimes it takes me a while to adapt.



One change I am always open to is creating art and new ways I can incorporate and satisfy my addiction to challenging myself by posing effectively with my surrounding environment. Matthew usually finds ways to satiate my artistic hunger.

I wonder what we'll create next.














I'm getting excited for spring.


I'm getting excited for the north shore. Matt and I have already dedicated ourselves to one week long camping trip, and at least two long weekends during the summer. I love sleeping outside in the tent, waking up to the crisp, clean air, and listening to the unceasing melody of the lake. I'm not a morning person (especially without my coffee) but I'd jump at the chance to be on the shore for a bright beautiful clear morning sunrise (and if I had some prepared coffee with me, I'd be in heaven!). I had the chance once last year, and it was the highlight of my year.

---

I had the wonderful opportunity to be featured in the online art magazine, Univers d'Artistes, written by the lovely Unbearable Lightness, here at this link.

---

I traveled to the Met on Saturday. It was a wonderfully moving experience!

...yeah, of course I didn't actually go to the magnificent Met Opera in NYC (someday!) but I did see it Live in HD! at a movie theater. Stephen Haynes was gracious enough to invite me to a showing of Madama Butterfly by Puccini. Production by the late Anthony Minghella. It was beautiful in every sense, and I was moved to tears. Which, admittedly isn't hard to do sometimes, but still. It was a gorgeous experience. I'm definitely going to see at least one of the live showings of one of next season's productions.

Thank you again, Stephen.


___________

Matthew Scherfenberg.

Dave Swanson.

re: Goals

As expected, I am often to preoccupied with the dramatics of day-to-day life (primarily tedious algebra homework...bah...) to participate in this blog as much as I would like. But trust me, I keep up with all the wonderful writings of my dear friends and collaborators, and enjoy and wish for all the continued success and happiness you create for yourselves.



I mentioned in a few entries back in my Goals to Complete in 5 Years, that I would like to be published in a respected fine art magazine. I'm ecstatic to say that this winter season I'm not only published in one fine art magazine, but two!


Tom Lane's photograph is published in Carrie Leigh's NUDE Winter 09 issue on the very last page in the "Nude Around the World" section.



And traveling companion and good buddy Dave Levingston's Mountain Stream photograph is getting published in the Jan/Feb 09 issue of French PHOTO, which you may have already read about on his blog.



I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with these talented photographers in helping to create beautiful art, and so proud to share these successes with them!

+++

I finally got to see Shakespeare on the real stage last night! For Matt's birthday, we went to see "The Two Gentlemen of Verona" at the Guthrie. It was also my first time at the new Guthrie as well, so that was quite pleasant. The roles of "Valentine" (Sam Bardwell) and "Proteus" (Jonas Goslow) we played superbly. But the most spectacular performance was portrayed by "Julia" (Sun Mee Chomet). I highly recommend it, Minneapolis dwellers!


Alright, off I go again to do the tango with Algebra...