City Councilman Eric Navickas
"Partner" Amy Godard (sorry, best pic I could find)
Posted on 12/19/2009 6:46:56 PM PST by Uncle Miltie
'The Nude' exhibit at downtown gallery to feature portraits and live, naked people
ASHLAND — City Councilman Eric Navickas and his partner, Amy Godard, will hold a nude show at their downtown gallery in January in response to an attempt to ban nudity in the city.
"The Nude" exhibit will feature traditional nude portraits and conceptual art involving live, naked people.
"We feel that the nude ban is not only an attack on freedom of expression but also an attack on the human body itself," Navickas said. "We wanted to have a show to celebrate the nude body and differentiate the nude body from anything indecent."
The City Council is scheduled to vote on Jan. 5 whether to ban nudity in the city. Council members discussed the issue at a meeting on Tuesday night, but ran out of time before they could come to a consensus.
According to Navickas, the Council is divided between those who would like to ban nudity within 200 feet of school zones and those who would like to ban nudity outright in the city. Navickas, who has participated in naked protests in the past, originally favored legalizing nudity throughout Ashland but now says he is willing to compromise and ban nudity near school zones. "Because of the strong community response to this, I feel a compromise is due," he said.
Nudity is legal in Ashland except in the downtown area and public parks, where people are required to cover their genitals. Earlier this year, some city officials and residents began to call for a ban on nudity after two men were spotted walking naked near schools.
Navickas and Godard said they are hoping to create a dialogue in the community about nudity with their show.
"It's not like we're trying to polarize anything," Godard said. "We're trying to pay homage to the nude, which is a strong tradition in the arts."
In its year of existence, the gallery has already become known for its sometimes controversial and activist exhibits.
In January, the gallery made international news with its opening exhibit, where visitors launched paint-covered shoes at a large portrait of President George W. Bush. The exhibit was a "statement of solidarity" for Muntadhar al-Zaidi, the Iraqi journalist who was arrested after throwing two shoes at the president in December 2008, the gallery owners said.
The exhibit will be held Jan. 29 and Feb. at the MAda Shell Gallery, 271/2 E. Main St. No. 7, on Ashland's plaza. The gallery will feature work by seven to 10 local artists and is still seeking submissions.
Clothing will be optional for visitors to the exhibit, Godard said.
"We'll have heaters going," she said. "I know it's at the end of January, but it will be warm in there."
Contact staff writer Hannah Guzik at 482-3456 ext. 226 or hguzik@dailytidings.com.
Ashland, what?
This thread is worthless without pictures.
I think.
Maybe.
Looks like Oregon.
What’s wrong with those people. No one wants to see their nasty nakedness.
It’a always the ones that shouldn’t be naked !
oar-a-gone
Oregon. Old hippies. Forget the pics. lol
Ashland Oregon has been taken over by Californicator imports.
A gallon of molasses and a large feather pillow could fix them right up
Ashland has been a liberal haven for many years and it won’t change. The City Council should ban public nudity in the city limits and it would at least keep the dirty old men in check.
"Partner" Amy Godard (sorry, best pic I could find)
Nudity is liking singing. Only those for a talent for it should indulge in it.
Nudity is liking singing. Only those with a talent for it should indulge in it.
Displays of dead naked people never go over well....
Probably not Ashland, Kentucky.
“This thread is worthless without pictures.”
Careful what you wish for...
“Partner” Amy Godard (sorry, best pic I could find)”
Sufficient...
They look guilty to me.
Displays of dead naked people never go over well....
____________________________________________________
No, you’re forgetting “The Body” exhibit of half-dissected people that was banned most places, but a hit in Vegas. I didn’t go, but I know some who did...
Of course, I’m for banning live nude displays of old hippies, too!
Looks like some no talent. :)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.