Gunther von Hagens’ Body Worlds 2 Exhibition in Maryland
Covered in paint for Body Worlds 2 in Maryland
The Maryland Science Center held an exhibition of Gunther Von Hagens’ Body Worlds 2 and asked me to paint a Mr. Anatomy (a skinless man with the muscles showing) LIVE during one of their openings. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the exhibit, Gunther von Hagens’ BODY WORLDS: presents the story of the human body in the 21st century. A scientific marvel and an artistic wonder, the body human is an epic of form and function, power and potential, vulnerability and resilience. Body Worlds illuminates the miracle of the human body that we take for granted, that takes us everywhere, by showing the actual human body plastinations in different action poses showing how the muscles and body work.
I needed to find the perfect model for this and I chose Steve Golob who ironically turned out to be a science teacher in one of the local schools as well as an active rock climber. Needless to say he was in superb physical shape and I knew he would make the perfect model for my painted Mr. Anatomy!
A press release went out that week and Steve and I arrived at The Maryland Science Center very early in the morning as we were greeted by the local news capturing an interview as we were first starting to paint. I completed the full Mr. Anatomy painting inside the Science Center set up right next to the Camel plastinates that they were exhibiting. We ended with quite a crowd surrounding us as the rest of the local news stations showed up for interviews and to capture the end result!
Steve, now as Mr. Anatomy being COVERED from head to toe in red ,orange and white paint resembling one of the plastinates made his way around the entire sunny and beautiful Baltimore Inner Harbor promoting the Body Worlds 2 Exhibit taking pictures with the hundreds of people who were approaching him. Click the link for the full Mr.Anatomy body painted gallery. Again looking back, as I stood there from a distance in amazement watching the positive yet shocking reactions of every single person we visited with or passed by put a permanent smile on my face to last me a lifetime.
After the science center excitement I was asked again to paint my 2nd Mr. Anatomy but this time was for Artscape which was even more exciting for me. Using my art for science and then to art! I painted a 6’ male model to stroll through the crowded streets! Artscape is America’s largest free arts festival, attracting 350,000+ attendees over three days. Artscape features 150+ fine artists, fashion designers and craftspeople; visual art exhibits on and off-site, including exhibitions, outdoor sculpture, art cars, photography and the Janet & Walter Sondheim Prize; incredible live concerts on outdoor stages; a full schedule of performing arts including dance, opera, theater, film, experimental music and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra; family events such as hands-on projects, demonstrations, competitions, children’s entertainers and street theater; and a delicious, international menu of food and beverages that is available throughout the festival site. Artscape’s total economic impact on Baltimore City is $25.97 million.