The first year Tasha Diamant appeared in the Human Body Project at the Victoria Fringe Festival, I had just completed the photo shoot for the Babes (and Blokes) Go Bare for Cancer fundraising calendar, so the idea of a middle-aged woman onstage, naked and unscripted, struck me, not as odd, but as intriguing.
The Human Body Project is an ongoing performance art and non-violent action project. As creator, I make an intention to show up in vulnerability–naked and unscripted–to share a deep experience of vulnerability with other human beings. Many join me.
Tasha returned to even larger audiences at the 2011 Victoria Fringe, and having recently moved to Victoria, decided to begin a series of outdoor Vulnerability Vigils in 2012 (one a month).
Until humans viscerally understand vulnerability, we will not stop doing what we are doing to ourselves, other beings, and the planet.
The first vigil of 2012 took place at Gyro Park in Cadboro Bay on January 1st to welcome the New Year. A number of people, some nude too, joined Tasha, as they used the letters of the word VULNERABLE to spell BRAVE and REAL.
Photo: Tina Griffith Photography, image provided
February’s vigil was more public, in Centennial Square. You can read about it in the Times Colonist and Monday Magazine articles.
Photo: Tina Griffith Photography, image provided
The Vulnerability Vigil for March takes place Tuesday, March 13,4:30 PM 1219 Hillside Ave (in front of Studio 1219).
How it will look:
In keeping with the Human Body Project ethos of solidarity with and in human vulnerability, I will be without clothing
Anyone is welcome to join me
Those who join me can choose to be dressed or undressed
We will hold a poster board sign in front of our bodies in a gesture of gentleness to those who may be affronted by nakedness
The signs will each have a letter so we can spell the word VULNERABLE
Plus whatever else emerges
Event takes place rain or shine.
Acknowledging resonance and solidarity with other actions and complicated conversations including: Occupy, International Women’s Day, The Vagina Monologues, teachers of the humans who are most vulnerable (i.e. children) wishing to negotiate with their employers, etc.
It’s also the HBP’s 6th anniversary!
I’ve shaved my head, posed nude, and recently decided to go makeup free in my ongoing efforts at being vulnerable. I applaud Tasha Diamant for her willingness to rest in that uncomfortable spot of “not knowing” and for wanting to be REAL (as defined in the passage from “The Velveteen Rabbit”.)
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