Last Sunday, instead of curling up to watch an episode of Orange is the New Black and calling it a night, I headed to Venice Beach where art collectors Mike and Diane Silver had opened their gorgeous canal-front home for “Nude Survey Two,” where the established Plein Air painter Alex Schaefer would be exhibiting a new series of works as well as painting from two female models on the spot. Celebrating Eric Minh Swenson’s second curatorial effort, the event consisted of what may perhaps be a first in art history: Live nude painting in an actual nude room.  

View from the Silver manse.

The classic all-white beach house—like many redone shack houses in small Venice lots—is at least four stories high, with narrow hallways that, at this particular time, were filled with smartly dressed individuals and booming with party chatter.  When I first entered, I had no idea where the actual performance was, though the lively energy of the place was invigorating.  It wasn’t until I reached what I believe to be the third floor that I noticed a crowd spilling out of a room just one more stairway above.  Alex Schaefer sat at an aisle in the center of this tiny room that faced a white couch upon which lay a pretty blonde wearing nothing but a garter belt and stockings.  Poking my head through the tightly knit crowd of observers, I could see the beginnings of an impressionistic painting of the woman’s figure on sheet paper, which Schaefer was expanding upon rapidly.  The walls of the room were covered from ceiling to floor in the Silvers’ impressive and diverse collection of female nude paintings (giving the area its name “the nude room.”)  A pile of Schaefer’s figure drawings—ranging from highly representational portraits to quick impressions of male and female bodies—were set out in the corner of the room for guests to flip through, all of which were for sale.  

Schaefer and guests in nude room.

Schaefer taking to on-break model while guests observe.

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the entire exchange was completely nonchalant: Schaefer casually sipped beer, joked around with the observers and models, and even told the group he needed to take a break to check a text.  Despite the fact that this room was filled to the brim with art-world figures, no one was taking it—or the artwork—too seriously; it was entirely convivial.  After watching the artist paint his models for a few minutes, I noticed that this laidback manner matched his artistic style as well.  He told the group that when he begins a painting, he simply piles a few colors onto the paper (or canvas, presumably) in mounds.  “The more wrong I am, the better,” he tells the group, “you learn from fixing.”  When he switches models, he simply turns the sheet of paper on its head and starts painting above his previous work.  When individuals inquired about the prices of his sketches, he has them hold up the one they want and states a number—nothing I heard was over $200.  

Model, Schaefer, and guests in nude room.

Of all the openings and gallery events I have attended so far, this unique art-related affair was a great change of pace. All too often I find the atmosphere of these events plainly business oriented, and sometimes quite stern.  Thus, it was refreshing to attend something so light-humored, accepting, and above all else, fun.

All photos by Eric Minh Swenson.