Why is it that some people are so freaked out about nudity?
The human form is, after all, an art form. So it’s time to squash our squeamishness, artist Nikki Wheeler said.
“It’s not porn. Everybody is born with a body. We all have the parts,” Wheeler said. “There have been classical nudes for as long as anybody can remember. The Sistine Chapel has nudes.”
Wheeler wants to expose people to the beauty of the nude in “Nude Awakening,” which opens with a free reception Saturday at Lowell Art Works in Everett.
This is the third show for this type of figurative art created by the artists of Lowell Art Works, which include Cheri O’Brien, who was the Arts Council of Snohomish County artist of the year in 1998.
In addition to the professional artists, Wheeler has selected art work from among the students in her three life drawing classes.
The classes are held at Lowell Art Works. Two have nude models and the third class is a “pin-up” style where the models are scantily clad.
The purpose of taking a life drawing class, as any artist will tell you, is if you can draw a person, you can draw anything.
“You can capture the translucency of the skin and be able to capture expressions and things like that,” Wheeler said. “If you can draw the human figure, that’s the ultimate exercise.”
The classes cover the full gamut of student types. There are high school students who need to beef up their portfolios for college because life drawing with nudes isn’t available in high school. Usually these students come with notes from their parents, Wheeler said.
There are also newcomers to art who always wanted to learn and local professional artists who want to keep fresh.
About 40 artists will showcase their work in “Nude Awakening” with the age range running from 18 to 70. Visitors to the show will view charcoal sketches, finished paintings, photographs, plaster cast sculptures, all celebrating the nude human form.
“Hopefully people are coming to the show to buy but I think they are coming for the exposure to our artwork and the experience of coming to Lowell Art Works,” Wheeler said. “It’s fun. It’s not like going to a regular art gallery. There is a buzz in the air and a great energy in the building. We’re not a stuffy, uptight, hoity-toity gallery.”
Before Wheeler joined the Lowell Art Works group almost two years ago, she found it difficult to find anyone “brave enough” to rent a space for a nude art show and got turned down left and right, she said.
But now Lowell Art Works is gaining a reputation for bringing edgy and alternative art forms to the public.
“We’re proud of ourselves that we are including artwork other galleries wouldn’t show and we’re not afraid to show what may or may not sell,” Wheeler said. “The one thing I’ve heard from people is that they love coming to Lowell because we have real art.”
Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424, goffredo@heraldnet.com.
“Nude Awakening”
Opening reception from 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Lowell Art Works, 5205 S. Second Ave., Everett. The free reception is being held in conjunction with the Everett Art Walk. Refreshments will be served. The show runs through March 14.
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