Bucks
Valentine Nude Modeling
Dear Friends,
Good morning. I was about to write a column about the Metropolitan Opera Company at the Warwick Cinema when I remembered that Valentine’s Day is this Sunday. I’ll wait until next week to share Mighty Betsy’s and my experience. “Carmen” at the movies was a real hoot.
You probably noticed that I’ve been receiving considerable attention concerning my political views. So I thought it best to hide for a while. When I regain my courage, I’ll pass along my observations about “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the failed military policy that President Bill Clinton created in 1993.
Congressman Patrick Murphy is right in the middle of a hornet’s nest because he’s the point man for President Obama on this issue. The President wants to end the prohibition of gays serving in the military. President Clinton created this mess, with the stroke of a pen. Alas, President Obama is not brave enough to put this policy out of its misery in the same manner as it began. Obama is not a disciplinarian. If he were more like LBJ, the congress would have done his bidding.
But Sunday is Valentine’s Day and a
piece in the Inquirer (Feb. 3) gave me an idea. The article provided the
background for nude modeling at five of the
“Art schools are body surfing, looking for models in all shapes, sizes, and colors,” Dawn Fallik’s story began. “Drawing diverse forms makes a better artist.”
She spoke with administrators at
five of
Fallick wrote about Lora McKenna, the University of the Arts model coordinator. “Lora McKenna needs bodies,” Fallick quipped. “McKenna needs big bodies and little bodies and old bodies and Asian and African American bodies. She is fairly shameless about approaching people about their bodies at parties, on the street, and in class.
“The general belief is that models for figure-drawing classes need to have picture-perfect figures,” the reporter added. “But across the region, colleges and art schools say they’re in desperate need of different bodies to pose, usually naked but not always.
“Currently, bigger women are seen in magazines looking spectacular,” Fallick continued. “Attractive bodies come in all sizes, shapes, and colors.”
Later, she mentioned that there were no age or gender restrictions for modeling. That’s when the light bulb turned on in my mind.
Fallick reported that one model is an African American woman who stands 5-foot-11 and is a size 18 to 22. Another is a 64-year-old man with a shaved head and a handlebar mustache. He works six days a week and is booked during the school year. The going rate is $12 to $15 per hour.
I had a nice chat with Emily Romick, the administrative assistant for programming at Fleisher Art Memorial. She told me that prospective models have to be over 18 and fill out their applications in person. “Older people have to be spry,” Romick said. “Models have to be able to hold a pose for up to 20 minutes. But each model gets a break every 20 minutes.”
At the University of the Arts, Lora McKenna says that experience isn’t always necessary, but doing yoga, dance or having some sort of movement experience helps.
Here’s a suggestion. You can reach
the Fleisher Art Memorial at 719 Catherine Street in Philadelphia (19147), or
call Emily Romick at
I was intrigued by the earning power. Models make between $12 and $15 per hour. Some work six days each week during the school year. So I ran this proposal by Mighty Betsy. “If we posed for six hours each day for four days during the 30 week school year, we’d each earn $10,800. That’s $21,600 for the two of us.
We’d start the day on Boathouse
Row; have a big breakfast at Little Pete’s Delicatessen behind the Philadelphia
Museum of Art; and dash off to our modeling assignments. We’d be home by
We’re 74 years old and spry. Let’s give it a try, I suggested. You can imagine what her response was! My only stipulation is that if I’m to model nude, I insist upon wearing a mask like the Lone Ranger and black socks
Sincerely,
Charles Meredith