Permission to look - all-nude figure drawing communion for gender minorities*

MUST REGISTER here or at chest.love to secure your spot!!

This gathering is part of the Red Tent Series, hosted by The Chest Collective. This particular session will be held at LDB's 72 Joy Street in Somerville.

Red Tent Series:
Permission to look - an all-nude figure drawing communion for women + other gender minorities*

This isn't primarily about drawing.
This is about stripping down to reclaim love of self and sister through intimate proximity to and creative exploration of difference. Difference as real, as necessary, as vulnerable, as glorious. When we draw close to our differences--in a safe and creative space, together--we actively move into belonging.
This is a radical move.

*We welcome anyone with lived experience as a woman–past, present, or future–and all other gender minorities.

No drawing experience necessary. All materials + snacks provided.

Your co-facilitators-participants this month are Olivia Lopes, MSW (she/her) and Kate Romain, MA (she/her).

This is a nude event. And, this is a nude event about meeting discomfort with kindness. So, take care of yourself. Bring a robe or underthings or a swim suit--whatever you'd like to help you navigate your own experience. You are your keeper.

Accessibility: There is one step up to the threshold of 72 Joy Street and there are 5 shallow steps moving from the entryway to the main space.

Photography: Photography is a part of this event in a few ways. Consent is sought at the start of the event and can be revoked or gifted at any time throughout the evening. 1) Some photos are taken to help share the story of what happens in the tent with future red-tenters. We practice capturing subtle/non-identifying snapshots/moments for posts/flyers. 2) There has typically been group shot interest at the end of the night, where we pose and play with photography as another medium, like drawing, through which to capture the beauty of the group's spirit. These photos are shared with present red-tenters only and are not to be disseminated in any way by participants. They are for personal use--a token of belonging and remembrance. 3) Each individual has a chance to participate in a photo project for The Chest Collective's dressing rooms: a polaroid photo of their chest to be displayed for other bra-wearers to bathe in the diversity of bare chests without bras on so that we can normalize every unique iteration of this part of the body.

Red Tent Series includes a number of different creative gatherings that seek to bond and to free women and other gender minorities. Follow @thechestcollective on Instagram for the most updated info or email olivia@chest.love for more info.