Naked me - Sydney with Spencer Tunick
So. It was kind of early to be out and about in Sydney on Monday at 3:30am but definitely different - I caught a taxi from where I was staying at the Y as I didn't think it was a good idea to walk the streets by myself but it turns out that I was really wrong about that - there was a hell of a traffic jam (before 4 am!!!) so I got out and joined the throngs heading towards the Opera House. They said later on the news that over 5200 people turned up for the Spencer Tunick shoot, when I joined the wait the queue went from the Opera House all around Circular Quay, I managed to join in at Wharf 5 and more people were coming all the time.
They processed us all quite smoothly and we were given a plastic bag for our clothes and the choice of a second shoot in either the Concert Hall or the Botanic Gardens - I chose the Hall, and then we headed towards the marshaling area on the seaward side of the forecourt and waited, and waited, and waited. Saw the bats come in to roost. Watched the harbour at night - not much happening out there. One group of people near to me had been warned of the wait by one's mother who'd been part of the Melbourne shoot and had thus come well prepared with Champagne, a thermos of tea and many sandwiches.
Eventually, around 6:20 they decided that the sun had risen enough and we should get naked and assemble where told on the forecourt. My batch of people went up the side stairs to come down and fill in from the top, I'm in the top right section of the forecourt and since the media was allowed bottom left only, I'm only in the odd news shot from one of the supremely annoying and noisy helicopters.
The nakedness was really cool (literally as well), everyone was (regardless of race) various shades of the same basic colour - some had much more flesh than me, some much less; there were people with tans and bright white triangles, all sorts of tattoos and piercings, and every shape of breast and penis imaginable. There were all ages too, hundreds of people in their 60s and 70s which I hadn't expected, I don't know why. Lots of couples of all sorts - there were two pairs of guys near me who were in their 50s at least and both looked alike, one pair looked very like Ben Kingsley only one was shorter and much hugged by the other, the other pair had cropped white hair, short white beards, round tummies and were always holding hands.
We were a good hour in the forecourt doing various poses front, back, arms up, arms down, hugging (random chap next to me), lying on the steps feet to head. After that we rushed to our bags and most people threw on at least a t-shirt as the wind was getting colder and colder, thankfully the rain held off.
Trotted into the Opera House, barefoot, bare-bottomed, and was given another plastic bag to put on the seat before we sat down - to avoid the itch they said :) I was in one of the upper side sections next to a pleasant lass from England. This shoot involved people lying all over the stage and the rest of us as a naked audience, then Spencer asked us to stand on the chairs for several poses. These chairs tilt, they are designed to tilt and will do so at every opportunity, most especially if someone is precariously balanced and trying to turn around - my bottom ended up in that poor girl's face several times and she saved me from disaster at least twice.
Finally finished and gave Spencer (and us) a standing ovation just after 9. It felt very strange to be in a crowd of ordinary, clothed people instead of one of the naked tribe. I'm so glad that I did this, apart from actually liking many of Spencer's pictures, it felt like a special thing to be part of and I was mostly sorry when it ended. Although I was glad to be able to go and get breakfast!