MAJOR COLLECTORS AND SALES, A PACKED RECEPTION, A ROUSING PANEL
TheGreatNude.tv successfully expanded its web-magazine’s agenda with its first Invitational exhibition featuring artists dedicated to the Nude. Held at The Roger Smith Hotel in Manhattan from May 13 to 16, 2010, many of the exhibitors and visitors found the exhibit to be “historical”, “visionary” and “long-awaited”. TheGreatNude Invitational proved to the art world, in its moment of soul-searching, that there is a tremendous interest in the figurative arts, with the Nude leading the way.
Director of the Invitational, Robert Curcio was amply rewarded by daring the unthinkable in the contemporary art world and creating an exhibition exclusively focused on the nude, and likened the Invitational to another momentous exhibit, “The Armory Show” of 1913 that introduced European modern art to America. Jeffrey Wiener, Publisher of TheGreatNude.tv, says “It was an amazing experience to see the figurative community embrace this unique concept, and I am thrilled to see a large number of artists, galleries, collectors and others, now wanting to participate in future projects with TheGreatNude.tv.”
Website traffic surged to 10,000 visitors per day, and inquiries from notable collectors in advance of the opening were encouraging. Sales were brisk for this first-time exhibit, with sculptures, drawings, prints and paintings being sold during and after the Invitational. Subscribers to TheGreatNude.tv can benefit from a 10% post-Invitational discount on artworks. Check the site for details: http://www.thegreatnude.tv/invitational
The Invitational began with a Private Preview and Reception on May 13, 2010. Noteworthy attendees included Stefan Stux of Stux Gallery; Robert Fishko of Forum Gallery, world-class collectors Philip Korsant, Richard McKenzie, and Flashpoint Academy owner Howard Tullman, as well as a host of influential artists, art critics and gallery owners.
While there was tremendous interest in all of the exhibiting artists, stand-outs included Doug Auld’s sensitive and humanizing portraits of extreme burn victims; Galatea by Krzysztof Izdebski-Cruz, who landed an exhibit at Denise Bibro Fine Art in Chelsea in July; Camilla Fallon’s robust figures quoting art history; Chambliss Giobbi’s sexually graphic collages of his mother and others; Mary Larsen’s delicate but bizarre works on paper; and Walter Robinson’s Three Nudes with Sunglasses, the first work to be grabbed by a prominent collector. Within the Invitational, a special exhibition curated by artist/curator Leah Poller, entitled Corpus Hermeticum, featured seminal works by the renowned Odd Nerdrum, Adam Miller, Richard T. Scott and Fedele Spadafora.
Sunday morning’s 2 hour panel captivated an enthusiastic audience intently following the discussion between critic and curator Donald Kuspit, exhibiting artist Sherry Camhy, Richard T. Scott, special guest artist Vincent Desiderio, curator and artist Leah Poller, and moderator Jeffrey Wiener. See the site for video excerpts of the panel.
From the corner of Lexington Avenue and 47th street, crowds were attracted by a window view of the nude models who posed for ad hoc sketch classes for visitors. Sherry Camhy’s drawing classes sponsored by Faber Castell were a favorite from the enthusiast to the experienced artist. Even James Knowles, (the hotel’s owner and an artist) joined his whole staff on a drawing break. The live drawing continued into the evenings with Live Nude Sketch parties, culminating in a Saturday night party with a live DJ, and live musicians creating a mellow vibe for the collectors and sketching artists.
The success of the Invitational and the soaring interest in the website ensures more developments to come. Look for an announcement this summer about a figurative-arts video series, launching in the Fall, 2010 on TheGreatNude.tv. Another Invitational is in the planning stages, as well as a series of events, panels and receptions, and more live nude sketch parties.
For additional information, images and interviews, contact Robert Curcio at [email protected], cell 1.646.220.2557.
For Editorial questions, please email [email protected] or call 212.666.6372
TheGreatNude Invitational would like to give a big “Thank you” to our partners for their part in making this a success.
