The art in Downtown Binghamton is alive … sort of. The art will be living and breathing during April’s First Friday, tonight, with The Living Canvases Body Art Show and Masquerade Ball.
“We are all familiar with painted canvases that hang on the wall,” Erika Downey, a masquerade artisan and an artist participating in the event, said. “As an artist, one may often experience that anxiety of staring at a blank canvas wondering what to paint, or if it will be any good. Just imagine for a moment if it could tell you its opinion? Surrealists will probably have no problem with this thread.”
Downey went on to say the basis for the project can be broken down into these questions: “What if your art came to life and danced around the room with you? What if that piece of fabric stretched over wood actually thanked you for making it so much more wondrous to look at, and said it felt like it didn’t have a frame at all, and just floated through the room like magic?”
The dream Downey envisioned begins at 6 p.m. at Jungle Science with painted models, tattoo models and body art photography. The show features art from a number of artists, including Downey, Vann Godfrey, Teknari, Shara Osgood and Shawn Van Oven. And if you’re curious how these living canvases are created, you can watch the artists in action at the “painting zoo.”
“Instead of a petting zoo,” Downey said, “patrons can watch the artful transformations come to life.”
But just who are the models behind the paint? They may be your friends or maybe even one of your professors, but you will probably never know for sure.
“People from various walks of life are often so completely transformed they are unrecognizable to friends,” Downey said.
Heidi Shapiro, who was painted for event promotion and the photography exhibition, said being painted as a living canvas was a totally new experience.
“There was a certain electricity and high to it, a sense of feeling magical, as though I wasn’t myself,” Shapiro said. “While I am usually a rather reclusive person, while painted I found myself wanting to be in a crowd, to share the canvas with others. It felt ethereal, light and exhilarating.”
Stick around Jungle Science to experience a Masquerade Ball beginning at 10 p.m. Drinks, music and dancing throughout the gallery are all planned. Downey encouraged attendees to “dress to impress or come in elegant masquerade costume.” Not sure what to wear? You can become a living canvas too. Purchase a mask or have your face painted at the gallery. Prices for fine face painting and masks will start at $5 and vouchers will be available at the door.