Touch me!
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| body painting models |
Hot pink nails, unacceptably short dresses, low cleavages, glitter, and high-heeled put-me-down shoes (yes, I know the other word for them, but this is a family show, so no go) made us not quite ready for the unknown onslaught of nudity….or so we thought. We were a little nervous and a little giggly when we übered our way to the annual Nude Nite Art Show in Orlando. Of course, we were early because our friend who was working at the show, let’s call him Chase, had asked us to be there on time. The ladies at the door were not even ready yet to let us in, so we dropped off his food and chatted a little while taking sneak peeks into the exhibition space.
We received a text from Chase that the organizers had switched his schedule. Instead of performing the naked yoga he had prepared for, he was asked to do three completely different things. One station was called “Get Laid” where Chase was to lay on a bed and invite people to cuddle with him. He would have a female counterpart and both would be wearing their robes. During the next performance, he was to put on a transparent full-body suit and move to the flow of music. The last station was “Tar and Feathers” where patrons could glue feathers on his body and fill the blank canvas to their own interpretations. We were puzzled, to say the least. Chase did not expect to be interactive with the public, but he took it all in stride and used his yoga zen to just go with the flow.
Since we were early, we had plenty of time and space to look at all the features of the show. Some stations were finishing their elaborate set-ups, others were putting last touches on costumes, make-up, and body paintings. Down the middle of the exhibition space were two zigzag rows of display panels, the kind you may see on an art market or any conference. The art exhibited was anywhere from predictably raunchy, downright rude to delightfully beautiful and strikingly intricate. We discussed many of the paintings and photographs and had fun analyzing three enormous collages full of symbolism, memento mori, and vanitas. We were also respectfully amazed at the courage of an obese model, who had been transformed into a vast landscape with tiny figures skiing down her boobs toward a village bustling with tiny people.
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| the finishing touches |
Past the burlesque stage, we found some more interactive stations. People could assist an artist with body-printing on a long strip of white paper, write grievances on a page of a book and throw it in a coffin, or just relax and take it all in on one of two large swings. It’s amazing how the organizers put their vision* into tangible experiences. After having done just that, we bumped into one of the performers and chatted for a little while. Jacob told us that he did the “Get Laid” station the evening before and we asked him what that was like. This is where he told us that he is a professional snuggler. …. A what? This we needed to know all about, of course. What he told us, sadly, made perfect sense.
Human beings need physical contact to thrive. Abraham Maslow concluded this in his 1943 theory that this is THE most important need for all of us. Loneliness, depression, stress and even aggression can ensue in the absence of platonic intimacy and touch. In our fast-paced lives and with the ever-evolving technological world we live in, many of us lack this very basic but immensely important human need. When touched, oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin get released in the body which reduces blood pressure and stress levels. Touch relieves physical and emotional pain and protects against inflammation. Jacob’s recount of his part-time job hit home and suddenly the whole evening was cast in a different light.
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| hugging friends |
Even though we saw a lot of skin, kinky get-ups, tattoos, burlesque striptease, weirdness, and piercings, eroticism was not part of the evening. This was not just a celebration of nudity but a raising of awareness of being human and of who we are in all our human weirdness. Letting go of taboos, social hang-ups, and letting fantasies run free is part of that celebration. Jacob and Chase are heroes for having no reserves about their bodies and for having the courage to give so much of themselves to remind others that they are loved and appreciated. Next time you feel lonely, depressed or stressed, don't be afraid to say, "Please, touch me!"
* Nude Nite Vision: Inspire transformation through a body empowering event which provides conscious conversation and insight, resulting in a kinder inner and outer world.
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