Thanks for repeatedly writing me to come to this event, Fred. I pulled it off, even though I just returned from Zipolite the night before. It was totally worth my investment in travel! I managed to get body painted by the famous star body painter they retained for the evening and loved posing nude in front of various nude art works with a variety of friends from all over Southern California. I enjoyed the musical and theatrical acts of the paid models. The space seemed small, but the nude bodies in close proximity but not touching warmed it up. I loved the nude art work on display, such a great range from painting, photography to mixed media. Yes, shibari is a type of fetish in bondage, but among consenting adults, another expression of nude art in a live performance. I was happy to interact with my friends in a clothes-free environment of acceptance in an urban area surrounded by amazing nude art work. Thanks for reminding me to try and come up from San Diego. It was definitely worth my effort!
I know a friend here who's getting into shibari. As she describes it, if it's done well she gets into a meditative suspended-animation state almost like in those sensory deprivation tanks. (Think Altered States without the shape changes.) But it needs profound trust...
Like i said, it might not feel demeaning to a woman if she has the right mindset.
I just can't look at it without imagining the discomfort. To much weight on a rope in the wrong place, too tight around the chest to breathe, nerves and blood vessels being compressed. legs being stretched a bit too far. I don't see aesthetically pleasing things happening, just awkward and painful things.
I understand the line you’ve drawn between this being a nudist/naturist event and a CO/art event, but as you say the opportunity to simply be naked in an environment that would normally be clothed is too good to miss. [/envy]. Obviously the artists taking part were happy with the attendees being naked - did your conversations with them elicit what they thought of the idea?
They thought it was great. I had fairly long conversations with them and the body paint models.
In my experience, the artistic community has always been supportive of nudity. This goes back to when I first started modeling as a very nervous 18 year old.
Probably fairly typical for a nude-positive textile. They stay dressed while the model is disrobed. My wife rode with me at the WNBR but she stayed dressed. Plus I saw that a lot when I was throwing birthday suit parties.
Plus a professional artist is first and foremost a businessperson. They have an image they need to maintain. Some of their customers may be conservative and they don't want randomly snapped nudes of them floating around.
That takes money. Fixed income here. I got the phone I did several years ago because it was waterproof and extremely rugged. Made a good option for freehikes on rugged terrain, in rocks and on water. Give me that, 5G, and a killer camera and at a price I can afford and I'll take it.
That's what we have and now we rarely carry a camera at all. Most phone providers have plans that allow U to purchase and pay out over time for the latest and greatest. However that said, I still like a nice digital camera with a memory card that can be pulled and plugged into my desktop computer for downloading and editing. Nothing is perfect and always leaves something to be desired.
Ideally, I like a high resolution camera, doesn't need to be a DSLR. I want a large wide to telephoto range and fit on a standard tripod. Brownie points if I can drop it and it doesn't break or splash it and it doesn't die. All the good ones are so expensive.
A lot of my shots are really made in the editing where I'll crop out 3/4 of the image, then play with brightness, contrast, sharpness and saturation to reproduce something close to how I saw it.
Phone cameras, even the best, just aren't the same.
What I find interesting about non-nudist clothing optional opportunities is the non-verbal arrangements that strangely play out as people modify their social code to the situation.
99% of the time the default position seems to be, “I’ll pretend I’m not seeing anything out of the ordinary while you pretend nothing out of the ordinary is taking place.”
Easily. It looks painful. It doesn't look aesthetic. It doesn't look fun. Most people, myself included, consider being subordinate to the point of physical incapacitation for public entertainment to have demeaning vibes.
I also said, "I realize a woman could co-operate in the venture without feeling demeaned." That's what counts. If the performer is enjoying it, good on them. But it is definitely not for me.
I did some reconsideration and added this note to the post: "I didn’t mean that the woman was actually demeaned by the act. I did some deep thinking and concluded that if it were not painful, a much younger and more flexible me could have been the model."
Thanks for repeatedly writing me to come to this event, Fred. I pulled it off, even though I just returned from Zipolite the night before. It was totally worth my investment in travel! I managed to get body painted by the famous star body painter they retained for the evening and loved posing nude in front of various nude art works with a variety of friends from all over Southern California. I enjoyed the musical and theatrical acts of the paid models. The space seemed small, but the nude bodies in close proximity but not touching warmed it up. I loved the nude art work on display, such a great range from painting, photography to mixed media. Yes, shibari is a type of fetish in bondage, but among consenting adults, another expression of nude art in a live performance. I was happy to interact with my friends in a clothes-free environment of acceptance in an urban area surrounded by amazing nude art work. Thanks for reminding me to try and come up from San Diego. It was definitely worth my effort!
Glad you made it!
Sounds like a great time!
I know a friend here who's getting into shibari. As she describes it, if it's done well she gets into a meditative suspended-animation state almost like in those sensory deprivation tanks. (Think Altered States without the shape changes.) But it needs profound trust...
Like i said, it might not feel demeaning to a woman if she has the right mindset.
I just can't look at it without imagining the discomfort. To much weight on a rope in the wrong place, too tight around the chest to breathe, nerves and blood vessels being compressed. legs being stretched a bit too far. I don't see aesthetically pleasing things happening, just awkward and painful things.
I understand the line you’ve drawn between this being a nudist/naturist event and a CO/art event, but as you say the opportunity to simply be naked in an environment that would normally be clothed is too good to miss. [/envy]. Obviously the artists taking part were happy with the attendees being naked - did your conversations with them elicit what they thought of the idea?
They thought it was great. I had fairly long conversations with them and the body paint models.
In my experience, the artistic community has always been supportive of nudity. This goes back to when I first started modeling as a very nervous 18 year old.
So why on earth were the artists clothed?
I suspect they wanted to be. Freely accepting the nudity of others doesn't make one a nudist.
True, but none of the artists felt comfortable being nude while surrounded by nudes? I find that very odd.
Probably fairly typical for a nude-positive textile. They stay dressed while the model is disrobed. My wife rode with me at the WNBR but she stayed dressed. Plus I saw that a lot when I was throwing birthday suit parties.
Plus a professional artist is first and foremost a businessperson. They have an image they need to maintain. Some of their customers may be conservative and they don't want randomly snapped nudes of them floating around.
Oh, I get all that. I guess I'm just surprised that none got nude when all the viewers (i.e. potential cliental) were nude.
I appreciate your report. I wish I could attend such shows, but the region I live in would not allow it. So, I have to enjoy such events second-hand.
Thanks for having posted your adventure.
I'm game come on...
Good writing again Fred. However it is time to get into the 21st century and update your phone, the newer ones take great pics.
That takes money. Fixed income here. I got the phone I did several years ago because it was waterproof and extremely rugged. Made a good option for freehikes on rugged terrain, in rocks and on water. Give me that, 5G, and a killer camera and at a price I can afford and I'll take it.
That's what we have and now we rarely carry a camera at all. Most phone providers have plans that allow U to purchase and pay out over time for the latest and greatest. However that said, I still like a nice digital camera with a memory card that can be pulled and plugged into my desktop computer for downloading and editing. Nothing is perfect and always leaves something to be desired.
Ideally, I like a high resolution camera, doesn't need to be a DSLR. I want a large wide to telephoto range and fit on a standard tripod. Brownie points if I can drop it and it doesn't break or splash it and it doesn't die. All the good ones are so expensive.
A lot of my shots are really made in the editing where I'll crop out 3/4 of the image, then play with brightness, contrast, sharpness and saturation to reproduce something close to how I saw it.
Phone cameras, even the best, just aren't the same.
Now this is a great idea suggestion for the National or Ottawa art galleries!
What I find interesting about non-nudist clothing optional opportunities is the non-verbal arrangements that strangely play out as people modify their social code to the situation.
99% of the time the default position seems to be, “I’ll pretend I’m not seeing anything out of the ordinary while you pretend nothing out of the ordinary is taking place.”
This mostly allows people to mind their business.
Shibari (縛り
"All I could think of was how uncomfortable it must be. It also seemed demeaning to the female."
HOW can you say/assume that IF you are NOT a masochist "specializing" in that form of bondage???
Easily. It looks painful. It doesn't look aesthetic. It doesn't look fun. Most people, myself included, consider being subordinate to the point of physical incapacitation for public entertainment to have demeaning vibes.
I also said, "I realize a woman could co-operate in the venture without feeling demeaned." That's what counts. If the performer is enjoying it, good on them. But it is definitely not for me.
I did some reconsideration and added this note to the post: "I didn’t mean that the woman was actually demeaned by the act. I did some deep thinking and concluded that if it were not painful, a much younger and more flexible me could have been the model."
Thanks for the informative article on this event. Definitely a benefit of living near a more friendly and accepting area of nudity.