I was offered gallery space at the University this summer. I've already got one of my art pieces there, now I can add photography. I'm pretty excited.

The question is, the whole topic came up when I asked the art professor where he suggested I might be able to display my "nude study". He doesn't think there's a problem with displaying it at the University, and then used as "proof" the fact that he had displayed his sculpture of a nude pregnant woman in the lobby. Well, that sculpture was much different than my photo. His was made of clay, without a lot of detail, painted white. Mine shows "nips and carpet." It's very bold. He hasn't seen it, but says, "It's the human body, for heaven's sake!"

The gallery is *right next to* the theatre, which is often used for freshman orientations, recognition ceremonies, graduation, guest performing artists, etc., and rented out to community groups for storytellings, plays, whatever. People often browse the gallery space before and after shows and during intermissions.

My prof thinks that, since it's IN the gallery space, that people with young children can "choose" whether to go in or not. I'm of the impression that the people will not realize that the gallery might contain such "edgy" art and will take their children in. In fact, I've seen my voice teacher take her 7-yo daughter in there already.

SO, I'm not sure whether to include it or not. I wouldn't want to cause an uproar that would ruin things for my art prof. Besides, we're right in the middle of Deans. Our interim dean is retiring this month and the new dean is stepping in. Past deans have been very supportive of the arts. Not sure about this one. (I've had frequent conversations with the Theatre Director about this, who consistently gets letters written to the Dean concerning the plays he chooses to produce. It seems like it can be a touchy subject depending on the Dean.)

He also suggested a bar downtown that hosts frequent gallery nights. I would definitely include it there. But I'm not sure about the university...

Any thoughts? We're not a big University, and we're in the middle of the conservative white bread rurals.


On a related subject, (I know most of you haven't seen my nude study) but do you think these pieces are strong enough to be included in a series on the human body?

http://gallery.photographyreview.com/data/photography/504/237412foot_n_toes1.jpg

I would also want to include one something like this. Is this strong enough or should I re-do it?

personally I think it looks like a photocopier picture so I would say redo it
but others may like it
I guess its most important what you think of it

I was offered gallery space at the University this summer. I've already got one of my art pieces there, now I can add photography. I'm pretty excited.

The question is, the whole topic came up when I asked the art professor where he suggested I might be able to display my "nude study".

>>> I was offered gallery space (nude discussion)

OK, I'm nude and ready to discuss. I'm not sure why...

Unfortunately, you have to be very careful these days. Anything sexual is seen as destroying youth. Maybe war photos with heads chopped off would be a better choice. Violence is almost always OK, sexuality seldom is.

Just recently on another web site, there was a very long discussion about a photographer who got in trouble during career day. No photos, nothing explicit, he just mentioned that some photographers shoot pictures for Playboy. The s**t hit the fan.

I would get explicit (in writing) permission from an administrator or manager with the authority to make these types of decisions for the gallery. Your professor is highly unlikely to have that clout. Its a shame we've come to this, but that's the atmosphere prevalent in today's American society.

personally I think it looks like a photocopier picture so I would say redo it
but others may like it
I guess its most important what you think of it
Thanks, 9. I think you may be right. I think that's what my gut is telling me too.

Sometimes I think, if I have to ask if it's strong enough, it's probably not.


Although in the case of the first two my gut is saying, "yes, I love them!" My gut doesn't really like the third one. I think it is more in love with the process of getting the shot than the result of it. :)

Michael, thanks for your thoughts. I agree with you, how it's so unfortunate that the "knee-jerk reaction" of some people can so totally take other people down.

I don't understand how stating the "fact" that some photographers shoot photos for playboy could take down the messenger.

Thanks for the advice on getting permission in writing. That's GREAT advice.

Hurray for you!

As far as nips and carpet, I'd agree with getting written permission. Also, whereas just nips might be okay, I think that some people tend to view the the other as...um....smut, for lack of a better word. I think the area that we are in tends to be more conservative, which would be something to take into consideration as well.

Email me the dates, I'll come and see it! Also, what bar? I'm there!

I'm going to have to get a different chair if we are going to do many of these nude discussions, I hate the way my butt sticks to it after a while. :)

The hands shot has been an imortant part of human art for the past 40,000 years or so, I would think inclusion in your show would be good. I haven't seen anything here that I think would be offensive in a college gallery showing.

Congrats on the opportunity to show your work - grab it.

adina, I will! I've forgotten the name of the bar he recommended but I plan to keep in touch with him this summer so I'll ask again. Heck, I could give you a private showing and you could help me decide which of my photos to include. :)

Chunk, The hands shot has been an imortant part of human art for the past 40,000 years or so, I would think inclusion in your show would be good.

I was thinking of redoing it to be more of a "voluptuous hand" type of shot ... the kind people often draw in a hand study. I think it would be neat to capture that kind of shot photographically. And I think a new shot would fit in better with the style of the rest of them.

I'd like to get more "body" shots, but I'm not real sure what else to try for. Any suggestions on specific body parts that might look great? (wish I had a macro lens but I don't.)

I like collar bones.

First of all, congrats on the opportunity to show your work, Kelly...

The space where you'll be showing is obviously a mix-aged venue. My advice would be not to exhibit any controversial images unless you specifically want to be controversial.

IOW, you have the right (and it sounds like your prof's blessing) to show the nude, but be prepared that exhibiting it may very well lead to a flap in the community. That in turn, may lead to bigger issues of whether you should fight to keep the image up, or cave in and remove it (which of course, will most likely lead to a discussion on censorship).

In any event, sounds like it's going to be a can of worms. The other venue sounds like a much better fit.

Y'know what excites me most about nude photography, is to try to find a way to make bodies beautiful that aren't normally considered such. I mean, we have a gazillion photos out there in life of the "perfect" bodies. I think it's neat to celebrate normal bodies. That's more of what we find in art galleries anyway. That's the true challenge.

Kelly,

I agree about the 'normal' bodies. Though we taboo such horrible thing as the human body, we seem to glorify sexual actions. It's so odd, yet no body seems to really come to that realization. In all regards, if you got permission, I'd show it. It's our bodies, something that everybody has, and everybody can relate to.

Jared

I was offered gallery space at the University this summer. I've already got one of my art pieces there, now I can add photography. I'm pretty excited.

The question is, the whole topic came up when I asked the art professor where he suggested I might be able to display my "nude study". He doesn't think there's a problem with displaying it at the University, and then used as "proof" the fact that he had displayed his sculpture of a nude pregnant woman in the lobby. Well, that sculpture was much different than my photo. His was made of clay, without a lot of detail, painted white. Mine shows "nips and carpet." It's very bold. He hasn't seen it, but says, "It's the human body, for heaven's sake!"

The gallery is *right next to* the theatre, which is often used for freshman orientations, recognition ceremonies, graduation, guest performing artists, etc., and rented out to community groups for storytellings, plays, whatever. People often browse the gallery space before and after shows and during intermissions.

My prof thinks that, since it's IN the gallery space, that people with young children can "choose" whether to go in or not. I'm of the impression that the people will not realize that the gallery might contain such "edgy" art and will take their children in. In fact, I've seen my voice teacher take her 7-yo daughter in there already.

SO, I'm not sure whether to include it or not. I wouldn't want to cause an uproar that would ruin things for my art prof. Besides, we're right in the middle of Deans. Our interim dean is retiring this month and the new dean is stepping in. Past deans have been very supportive of the arts. Not sure about this one. (I've had frequent conversations with the Theatre Director about this, who consistently gets letters written to the Dean concerning the plays he chooses to produce. It seems like it can be a touchy subject depending on the Dean.)

He also suggested a bar downtown that hosts frequent gallery nights. I would definitely include it there. But I'm not sure about the university...

Any thoughts? We're not a big University, and we're in the middle of the conservative white bread rurals.


On a related subject, (I know most of you haven't seen my nude study) but do you think these pieces are strong enough to be included in a series on the human body?

My two cents - Go for it!

I believe in being concise. ;-)

I'm going to have to get a different chair if we are going to do many of these nude discussions, I hate the way my butt sticks to it after a while. :)

you think you have it bad, the people in this internet cafe are kind of turning red and trying not to look at the crazy fat glowing white lady at the computer..... at least you're at home!


:D

kidding.

kellybean, i think you're worrying too much. i saw nude sculpture and art as a child and i grew up just fine. (for the most part. i had a little anxiety about watching "the nutcracker," thinking that the men in tights were dancing naked. maybe if ken weren't so - neutralized - i would have understood that they weren't really naked.

okay, then again, i live in NYC, safe to say it's a pretty "blue" area. i would proudly put up your art, though, and not worry about it. many americans are so darn prudish... it's frustrating. if the shots were mapplethorpe type shots of couples performing various acts with interesting latin names, i'd be concerned, but i don't think you've got a thing to worry about.

megan