Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Karasch and Chris Eri.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I [Chris] was a photographer and artist with a focus on nude art. However, when I’d try to enter art shows, I often found that I couldn’t get in because my work contained nudity. So, I decided to create my own show which focused solely on the artistic expression of the nude human form, and thus Nude Art LA was born.
I (Megan) met Chris when he was planning the first Nude Art LA show. Always having loved art, artists, and event planning, I was excited by his idea and immediately wanted to jump on board.
Starting with a near zero budget, a space that was loaned to us in exchange for some manual labor, and a little know-how with marketing, Nude Art LA’s first show was a surprise success. Expecting only 100 guests, and considering that the measure of success for the first show, it shot well past that, drawing several hundred guests throughout the evening.
Riding high on that first success, and now working with a more substantial budget, Nude Art LA’s second show promises to be much bigger and more entertaining. While the first show had only about 20 artists, the second one will have over 65, plus more than a dozen performers, models, and other attractions. While the first show took place in a small area of a house, the second show is in a large gallery with an added theater and classroom areas. We’re excited to see it all come together and where we can take it from here!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
This is only the second installment of Nude Art LA, so the obstacles we’ve faced so far are probably what you’d expect when starting something like this: finding the right space, navigating vendors, finding people to help on a limited budget and trying to get our voice heard through the noise. LA has hundreds of events going on every day, so it’s been tough trying to get ours seen.
Another challenge has been overcoming the initial reaction to a nude art event. People immediately think it’s a porn or sex show. That’s not what we do. While most of us can admit that nude art is just plain fun to look at, the goal of Nude Art LA is to display the beauty of the human form in all of its shapes, sizes and colors. Nude art is an effective vehicle for spreading messages about body positivity, inclusiveness, empowerment and tolerance.
Surprisingly, the thing we’ve had the least trouble with has been finding talented artists. For both shows (though much more on this second go) we’ve had a wonderfully overwhelming response to the call for artists. Even after we closed submissions, we continued to get emails from people who wanted to participate. There’s no shortage of enthusiastic and talented artists out there eager for a platform and we love that we can provide it for them.
Please tell us about Nude Art LA.
Nude Art LA is an event planning company for art shows that focus nude art. That’s our entire purpose. We’re proud to provide this opportunity to artists who are looking to get eyes on their work. We’re thrilled that we can provide a forum to perhaps underrepresented artists or artists who can’t find a home for their work because of the edgy subject matter. We’re also excited to provide an opportunity to guests who are looking for a unique and eye-opening experience.
As far as we know, we are the only company in Los Angeles providing an art show that showcases performers and artists, all focused on nude art. We once went to what someone called a “nude art show” in LA, but it was actually just a bar that displayed several nude paintings and photographs clearly used as a ploy to get butts on stools. Art means more to us than that. At an art show, the art is why you’re there, it’s not a tool to sell beer. At Nude Art LA, art is King. Almost 400 static pieces will be on display in well-lit galleries. We also have performance art in the form of belly and burlesque dancing, yoga and theater. And it’s all meant as a centerpiece to stimulate conversation, challenge ideas and foster debate.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
We wish we would have believed in the idea enough to have gone bigger with the first show. We should have put more money into it, found more artists and spent more time marketing and promoting it. Because we didn’t, we feel like we are doing it again for the first time. The upcoming show is radically different from the first one, so it feels like the only useful lesson we walked away with was: do it better. And we are. Aside from some exceptional repeat artists, the September show will look very little like the first one and we know it will be better as a result.
Pricing:
- Tickets range $15-30 online or at the door
Contact Info:
- Address: Event Address:
Art Share LA
801 E 4th Place
Los Angeles, CA 90013 - Website: nudeartla.com
- Phone: 888-211-3134
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @nudeartla
- Twitter: @nudeartla
Image Credit:
Art created by: North Smucker, Janet Wise, Master Artist, Broni Likomanov, Ted Meyer and Rick Head, LaJon Miller and Paula Craioveanu
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