CLEVELAND, Ohio -- New York artist Spencer Tunick already is hearing from interested models, just a day after announcing his plans to photograph 100 naked women somewhere in Cleveland the week the city hosts the Republican National Convention.
"We've had 50 women sign up," Tunick said in a phone interview Wednesday. "I haven't looked at any of the photographs. But I think that's pretty exciting."
Cleveland.com spoke with Tunick about his plans for the photoshoot, which will take place on unspecified private property at daybreak on Sunday, July 17, the day before the GOP convention begins. The 100 women modeling for his temporary photo installation will hold large mirror disks. Tunick wrote on his website that the disks will represent "reflecting the knowledge and wisdom of progressive women and the concept of 'Mother Nature' into and onto the convention center, cityscape and horizon of Cleveland."
Those who are interested in participating can apply at his website, www.spencertunickcleveland.com. (Warning: the site contains graphic, but artistic, images of naked people.)
Tunick said he's requiring that applicants submit a photo because he's trying to find models with a wide variety of body sizes, ages and skin color. The sign-up form prompts a "brief explanation" of why would-be models want to participate. Tunick said he will be paying "close attention" to this section.
He said he's looking for political diversity, too.
"We're hoping for results that embrace Democratic people and independents to sign up and also Republicans to sign up that are not afraid," Tunick said.
Tunick is best known for assembling and photographing massive groups of naked people. His last Cleveland project was in was in 2004, when he photographed 2,754 people near the lakefront on a 57-degree Saturday. (See the gallery above for some photos of the event from the Plain Dealer archive.)
Here is a lightly edited transcript of our conversation with Tunick:
So, what are you planning?
I have been working on this idea since late 2013. I've been testing mirror disks around the Hudson Valley, New York area to see if it's a viable object to use in my works, and it certainly is. So I've been working on this project for a long time with my wife. We feel that the work is for our daughters, and that we both decided that we could not just stand by and do nothing. Voting is not enough. We just want to spread some good, positive energy around Cleveland while the convention is taking place, and to send a message to the city that there are open-minded, amazing women engaged in art, new ideas and environmental issues.
What are you hoping to convey by doing a private photoshoot, compared to the spectacle of a public event?
The idea is that not only is the act important, but the result is important. What I'm trying to do is not so much work with the idea of a spectacle, but make a sort of a color field of silver that is reflecting a ray of light on the city. Hopefully I can make artwork that has lasting power, conveys freedom and goodwill towards women, equal rights and an honest acknowledgment that humans are causing destruction of the environment.
Where will you be?
I have a location. It's not a spectator event. The evidence of the work will be seen on social media and through my own body of work, no pun intended.
How do you intend to exhibit it?
We'll post it online right afterwards, as well as documentation, through Twitter and my website.
Have you been to Cleveland since 2004?
Two times a year. My wife is from Akron and her family's from Akron. I've been coming to Cleveland for over 20 years. The former director of the Museum of Contemporary Art helped me connect with a location manager of the installation in Cleveland. So there's a very huge effort from people to get this work done in Cleveland.
How long will the shoot take?
They will be nude for approximately 15 minutes. It could be shorter, could be longer, depending on the location. It often goes too quickly, and people often want to be nude longer, but we're really not trying to have a lifestyle event, but make an artwork.
What is it about the Republican National Convention specifically that interests you?
I have a support team there. And I'm certainly against 100 percent of the oppressive rhetoric that's happening today towards women. And I want my daughters to grow up in a world that's not going backwards, but going forwards.
Anything else?
It's not confrontation or trying to get close to the convention center. It's something that will be far away. Well, it will be not FAR away, but far enough away that it shouldn't be a concern to anyone except for the people who are interested in the idea of it.