Kelly Stevens, director and producer of Nude Nite 2017 isn’t making a political statement for the sake of publicizing her personal view. She says that Nude Nite has always been about expression and the human body. However, “when politics mix body image and gender issues, the show will have a voice," Stephen says. “Nude Nite has a responsibility to exhibit art that relates to us as well as challenges us.” This year’s show titled Revolution did just that.
Stevens commissioned artist Derek Gores to create a work titled “Pussy Power," a collage backdrop to The Locker Room exhibit which countered Donald Trump’s idea of “just locker room talk”. During the 2016 election Trump excused his inappropriate statements in a discussion with television host Billy Bush using that phrase.
The Locker Room which centers on the collage work titled “Pussy Power” by Derek Gores, features features 8 team jerseys with contrasting names which women are called behind closed doors. Central in the exhibit is body paint artist Mandi Ilene exhibiting inappropriate things said to women. Credit: Chip Weiner
The display features several lockers with athletic-type jerseys emblazoned with names like Boss Lady, Bitch, Ambitious, and Bad Ass. According to Stevens, these are contrasting names that women are called behind closed doors. Central to the exhibit along with Gore’s creation is body paint artist Mandi Ilene working with model Leahbeth, painting inappropriate phrases that women have heard. She takes suggestions from passersby and also has a few of her own. Most prominently are things like “Grab ‘em by the pussy”, and “My eyes are up here” (painted with an arrow on the models chest). Ilene tells stories not only of her own experience, but also some of the most profound things that she has heard from others including a group of male coworkers telling the only female in the group that she has a bad attitude and just needs to get laid more.
Body paint artist Mandi Ilene takes phrases about inappropriate things said to women from guests at Nude Nite and paints them on model Leahbeth. Many of the expressions are about body image and what women should do. Credit: Chip Weiner
The Transgender Project includes eight images with short expositions by photographer John Burke and was also commissioned by Nude Nite. Norman Rockwell's 1950s American Struggles images were used for inspiration and contrast today's struggles of the LGBTQ community and minorities. Images such as Rosie the Riveter and Distorting Mirror show the struggles experienced by those communities and are hung aside small prints of the original Rockwell work and explanation of the intent behind the new image.
Distorting Mirror. The motivation for this work is that Transgender individuals often feel powerless to combat the distorted and inaccurate view society holds of the community. In this take on Rockwell’s 1921 illustration “Distorting Mirror (inset), Tia, I transgender female, holds a hammer, an allusion to the struggle many encounter in their efforts to overcome these negative stereotypes and be seen for who they are. There are a total of eight Rockwell inspired images at the show. Credit: Chip Weiner
Stevens expressed concerns about anti-transgender bathroom laws making their way through 14 state legislative processes, and that some states could soon require a birth certificates or a bathroom monitor for transgender individuals to be able use the bathroom for the gender they identify with. As an expression of that was the exhibit with four glittered gold toilets. Four gilded toilets sat on an elevated a platform to draw attention to the fact that the right to use the bathroom may seem ordinary and mundane to some, but to others it is precious and valuable right.
Four toilets sit gilded on an elevated a platform to draw attention to the fact that the right to use the bathroom may seem ordinary and mundane to some, but to others it is a precious and valuable right Credit: Chip Weiner
Carolyn Street, Dodie Ortland, Michelle Basch, and Greg Biggerstaff pose on the transgender toilet exhibit Credit: Chip Weiner
Another exhibit was The Confession Booth. Contrasting the idea that in the past confessions were shameful, in today’s social media culture, confessions get shared openly and frequently. A perennial theme of Nude Nite is that guests are encouraged to drop inhibitions and express themselves. In this display participants are asked to enter the confession booth behind a red silk curtain, fill out a confession card and slide it anonymously through the slot in the rear of the booth. The confessions are then exhibited on a board for all to see by a nude female Pope.
The Confession Booth with the a female Pope invites guests to go behind a red silk curtain, fill out a confession card and slide it through the slot in the rear of the booth. The confessions are then gathered by the Pope and displayed for all to see anonymously. Credit: Chip Weiner
Burlesque shows happened three times each evening.
Burlesque Performer Donna Hood entertains Nude Night attendees Credit: Chip Weiner
As director Kelly Stevens suggests, many of the exhibits challenge things that we view as normal including this photograph by Markanthony Little named Gimme Some Truth Credit: Chip Weiner
Austin Paz was one of the models being body painted by artist Kyle Vest Credit: Chip Weiner
