Posing by Jonny Edge - Acrylic on Canvas

Empusa 2 by Christopher Johnson

Nude Nite is as much a happening as it is an art show.  Thousands of people attended the show during its three night run.  And if you came late you’d end up standing in line.  The attraction is for the performances as much as the art.  There are burlesque shows, acrobats performing on stage and on a large hoop suspended from the ceiling.  Roving models, live body painting demonstrations, and performance artists moving through the crowds.

Nude Nite Model

Attendees are encouraged to bring their cameras as long as they are respectful and understand the limits of what can be done with their photographs.  “If you think about the event from a photography standpoint it probably has two dozen of the most incredible visuals that I’d like photograph,” continues Stevens. “It’s a very inspiring event.  Full of color and texture, which is what I think photographers really like.”

Unbridled by Cheri Mittermaier; Perfomance artist in background

Artistic Beauty by Trevor Neigebauer

The tag line, “Take a nude home tonight” is meant to encourage attendees to purchase art.  And when they do, they receive free tickets to Nude Nite for life.

Double Happiness by Shannon Holt

Seis Trace

“Seis Trace” is from Suhler’s (e)Motion collection.  Nude Nite Tampa is the third show this year to feature one of his fine art nude photographs.

"faberge"

“Faberge” is from Suhler’s (e)Motion collection. This is the 5th photograph from that series to receive recognition from the fine art community.  Nude Nite Orlando is the second show this year to feature one of his fine art nude photographs.

Lexington Art League's Loudon House

The Loudon House is an amazing historic building. And then I tried looking for a parking spot only to find everything full and was forced to create a space on the snow covered lawn. I walked into a beautiful gallery full of people listening to live music while enjoying good food and cocktails.

Just one of the Loudon House's exhibit rooms

And the Art? It was very impressive. Fifty pieces ranging from photography to sculpture including paintings, video, 3d mixed media, and drawings. Each unique in style and approach to the nude. I could not wait to ask Becky Alley, LAL’s Exhibitions and Programs Director, why they chose this theme.

Over There? by Don Luper, charcoal 39x59

Taking Off by Ken Landon Buck, acrylic 32x42

“I think the nude or the body is relevant to contemporary artists because we all have one,” explained Alley. “Whenever you’re making art you’re hoping it’s communicating something to an audience. It’s a language. (And with this language) you can start talking about the human experience by using the body as imagery or form.”

Mountain 1 by Christine Wuenschel, charcoal & acrylic on paper 72x96

Felicia 1424 by Mark Webster, oil on canvas 36x36

Nude 2011′s jurors are from the same region yet have different backgrounds. “It was good to have people from the same area so they could get together face to face and talk, which they did a couple of times,” says Alley. “I like the idea of having either jurors or artists in different mediums so they bring kind of different perspectives. Or having a visual artist and a curator.” Karen Gillenwater is Curator at the Carnegie Center for Art & History in New Albany, Indiana where she plans art exhibitions and programs. She was formerly Director of Art Galleries and Curator of Collections at Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky and Curatorial Administrative Coordinator at the Speed Art Museum in Louisville, Kentucky. Mark Priest has a BA in painting from the University of Louisville and an MFA in painting from Yale University. He is currently an associate professor of painting and drawing at the University of Louisville.

Domestic Matter 2 by Hui Chi Lee, graphite and color pencil on paper 22x30

My primary reason for attending Nude 2011 was because my photograph “Neophlyte” was selected as part of the show. While there I met many of the patrons and artists. Experienced some exceptional art and Lexington’s culture. This will not be the last time I attend. I highly recommend that if you are in the Lexington area during the show’s two month run that you head over to the Lexington Art League’s Loudon House and experience it for yourself.

“Neophlyte” is from Suhler’s most recent fine art series shot in Winding Creek, Texas. Created between April and August of this year, the project strives to integrate the dancers with their environment while they interact with each other. 2010 proved to be a unique shooting opportunity. Rare Texas summer rainfall kept the creek flowing throughout the summer while it was warm enough to work in the water at night.

The LAL is central Kentucky’s oldest and largest visual art organization. LAL presents original, creative and accessible programs, with a reputation for thought-provoking content, that illuminate the role of visual art in contemporary life. The jurors for Nude 2011 included Mark Priest and Karen Gillenwater. Karen is Curator at the Carnegie Center for Art & History in New Albany, Indiana. Mark is currently an associate professor of painting and drawing at the University of Louisville with a MFA in painting from Yale University.

The exhibition will be held at LAL’s Loudoun House and runs from January 15 – March 13.

Tom Suhler’s photograph “Neophlyte”

Inspiration comes to me from many directions.  Sculpture, paintings, nature, and dance to name a few. When it comes to dance, I spend a lot of time going to live performances and searching the internet for recorded ones.  One day I came across a performance that not only inspired my fine art photography but also my soul.

The 2007 4^th annual CCTV dance contest held in Beijing included the performance “Hand in Hand” performed by Ma Li and Zhai Xiaowei.  It is a beautiful piece made extraordinary when you consider Ma lost her right arm in a car accident when she was 19 and Zhai lost his left leg when fell from a tractor at the age of 4.  It is better to view the performance than to read about it.

I am very fortunate being able to spend my time pursing my passion for creating fine art nude photographs.  Along the way I come across stories like this one which move me on so many different levels.

China Daily article.

I first came across Carrie Leigh’s Nude magazine while looking through the newsstand at a Barnes & Noble.  This quarterly publication showcases some of the worlds best fine art nude photographers.  The 96 page magazine contains photographs, articles relevant to the industry, news, and no advertising.  The quality of the paper and printing is exquisite.

Publisher Carrie Leigh has extensive experience both in front of the lens as a model and behind the lens as a photographer.  She started the magazine in 2007.  I highly recommend checking it out.

Michael Barnes

The Art Nudes blog constantly reviews great fine art photographers. Michael Barnes started this site back 2003 and has been finding impressive photographers ever since. I stop by and checkout his discoveries on a regular basis. Another nice thing about Art Nudes is that you are not bothered by advertising.

This marks the second time this year that Suhler’s fine-art nudes have been recognized in international competition. “Modern Image – First China International Internet-based Photography Competition” selected three photographs from the same (e)Motion collection for exhibition in the 2010 International Orange Photo Festival in Changsha City in late October.

The selected photograph can be viewed below.