All over campus, people are shedding bulky sweaters and heavy coats as the weather warms. But this spring, some students are taking it all off?in front of a camera. Today marks the opening of the third Corpus Art Exhibit, which features nude photographs of Bowdoin students.
The show originated in 2004 as a small display in a Chamberlain Hall common room, featuring only female models. Britta Bene '07, a first-year at the time, was intrigued by the concept and decided to continue the project the following year.
Bene expanded upon the original idea by incorporating men into the show, along with other art mediums such as body casts and paintings.
"I really tried to make it into a big, cohesive show about body image and perception of body image," Bene said. "I wanted to juxtapose the reality of body image at Bowdoin with what you see in the popular media."
The show received a very positive response overall, with only a few people objecting to the explicit content. Most of the models chose to pose anonymously and Bene was careful to maintain confidentiality.
Last spring there was no show because Bene was abroad, but this year the show has grown even larger and will feature 40 models in more than 100 prints. More models this year decided to show their faces, but the bodies remain the focus of the show.
"What always strikes me is that every body looks alike; there are just minor differences," Bene said. "You cannot judge people's bodies based on what you see in the hallways."
Sylvia Piquet '08 saw the show two years ago and decided to model this year because of the positive message she feels it offers.
"It's about people taking ownership of their bodies. They all vary, but it's basic to everyone and people can find common ground there. At the same time I have a lot of friends who are not comfortable with their bodies, but they were still doing the show," Piquet said. "I wanted to add on to the idea that the body can be something beautiful and basic."
One model commented that there is pressure to maintain a certain type of physique at Bowdoin because of the athletic and competitive atmosphere the school fosters. She wanted to pose in order to expose her flaws and help others to feel more secure about their own.
Almost all of the feedback Bene has received from people who modeled has been affirmative and enthusiastic. Sarah Horn '07, who posed in both 2005 and this year, was relieved by how comfortable and natural her photographer was able to make the experience and is excited to see a new perspective of her body.
When Burgess LePage '07 nervously told her parents she had posed, she was pleasantly surprised by their immediately supportive reaction.
"They felt I was very brave to do the show," LePage said. "Even my grandma wants to come see it!"
Sarah Lewis '08 appreciated how her decision to model sparked conversation among her friends and made it comfortable to talk about insecurities, and ultimately she found posing liberating and fun.
"I definitely laughed a lot," Lewis said. "That was probably my favorite part about it."
Bene hopes that the show will continue after her graduation and plans to meet with interested students later this semester to discuss the future of Corpus. This year, the show's sponsors include WARRIORS, an eating disorder awareness group on campus, the Women's Resource Center (WRC), and the Student Activities Funding Committee (SAFC). There will be an opening event at Lamarche Gallery tonight, which will include refreshments, and the photos will remain on display for the entire month of April.