The enterprising art bloggers at Art F City have a burning question on their minds: “What do naked artists wearing panda hats look like?” The response? Well, you’ll have to wait until tomorrow, November 18, when the site releases its quirky and colorful 2015 calendar and print series Artists as Pandas in the Nude. But here is a preview.
Photographed by Rachel Stern, the hilariously steamy, pin-up-style images feature many notable artists, dealers, and writers, including Sargent’s Daughter co-founder Allegra LaViola, artist duo Jennifer Catron and Paul Outlaw (see “In Zwirner Parody, Artists Offer Toy Robot Stripper“), artist Xaviera Simmons, and Norte Maar co-founder Jason Andrew. And of course, there is also a page featuring the ever awesomely game staff of Art F City.
(June) Rachel Stern, models Paul Outlaw and Jennifer Catron, 2014, c-print, 16 x 20 inches.
Courtesy Art F City
With one (or so) nude artist, writer, or dealer, in a panda hat, per month, the nifty calendar is the last in a series of events staged by Art F City in response to the shutting down, roughly one year ago during the federal government shutdown, of the National Zoo’s beloved Giant Panda Cam, which went dark just days after giant panda Mei Xiang delivered her cub Bao Bao.
The team at Art F City picked up where the panda cam left off by livestreaming themselves around the clock throughout the shutdown hosting all kinds of panda-related activities like “bamboo drawing sessions,” “live panda animation,” and “panda aerobics,” per their website. The new calendar is the final iteration of the series, and it will end the whole shebang in cheeky, fun-loving style.
A donation of $50 will get you a calendar, while for $250, a limited edition print can be yours. Proceeds will go to support Art F City’s arts coverage.
So, to summarize: artists, tasteful (sort of) nudity, and pandas, all for a worthy cause. We can’t think of a better holiday gift for anyone (and everyone) you know.