New York, NY – January 30, 2007 – Site traffic grows exponentially as website, barebrush.com, dedicated to the art of the nude, announces the online publication of N*des-of-the-Month February 2007, its sixth virtual calendar cum art show. The exhibition was curated by New York artist and teacher, Jeffrey L. Berman. The calendar is in previews to members only and viewable by the public beginning February 1, 2007.
“In December we had record volume (106,000 hits) and I was thrilled. In January, those records were shattered (250,000+ hits). I’m also delighted with the excellence of the art and the variety of styles and viewpoints that the site is receiving—all of the art strictly focused on the nude,” says CEO Ilene Skeen. “The site is being hit by artist links, naturist links and sex sites as well. Interest in the art of the nude is strong. We’ve have passed 500,000 hits since site inception in late July. I want people to know that it’s OKAY to enjoy the art of the nude.”
barebrush.com is a start-up website dedicated exclusively to the art of the nude. Membership on the site is free, and listing art on the site for 30 days is also free. The N*des-of-the-Month is a virtual juried exhibition of the art selected from the entries in the “Art Log” by a different guest art professional each month. The exhibition is presented on the web in a unique calendar format. Also on the site is an “Events & News” blog which presents opportunities, events and news in the world of the nude in art.
The N*des-of-the-Month virtual show is based on the calendar, so there can never be more than 31 works of art selected. World-class artists are starting to understand the value. This is a real promotional incentive for many artists to get their work out there. There are some optional extras available for nominal cost, but the business model depends on sophisticated integration of the visual art experience and site-specific ad growth from click counters like Google.
The N*des-of-the-Month exhibition series began in September 2006 with an exhibition curated by Brigitte Saint-Ouen, founder and director of Gramercy 32 Fine Arts. The October exhibition was curated by master pastellist, teacher and president of the Salmagundi Club, Richard Pionk. The November exhibition was curated by Chelsea art dealer, Christopher Henry of Christopher Henry Gallery. The December exhibition was curated by Bob Muller, artist, collector and former museum president. The January show was curated by Miyako Yoshinaga, founder and director of M.Y. Art Prospects Gallery. All of these calendars are still live in the archives of barebrush.com.
About Jeffrey L. Berman:
Jeff Berman retired from teaching art in the New York City school system, but took retirement as a beginning and has never been busier. His art and photography represents issues about the citizens of New York City and International Theatre. Jeff Berman's newest work is innovative combining digital art, pastel, watercolor pastel and photography. The result of this mixture is Jeff’s own impressionistic style.
He did a series after 9/11 called the Healing Image. These healing images were exhibited in various wellness facilities in New York City and Long Island. Coney Island Hospital and New York City have purchased 127 of these images for their new pavilion. At the opening of the hospital which aired on channel 4 news, Jeff presented a portrait to Mayor Bloomberg. Jeff has just finished a second commission of 50 pieces for Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx, for their new children’s wing and is working on a calendar with 14 pieces of his art to be sold in stores and at the gift shop at the hospital.
Jeff Berman studied and received both merit and work scholarships with Raphael Soyer, Vincent Malta, Edward Laning and Jack Henderson. Among Jeff's other accomplishments, he is a signature member of the Pastel Society of America, on the executive board of Audubon artists.
In the February call for entries, Jeff Berman wrote:
My work is all about movement, capturing movement, since I have been doing a lot of work with dance festivals and choreographers….I am looking for work that goes beyond a study of a nude. I am looking for the use of the nude that has movement or used in a creative or personal way….I will consider all possibilities and all styles of art. Let your creative juices take over.
The call was highly successful and many new artists posted work on the site. When asked what he thought of the selection process for the calendar, Jeff said:
It was fun. There is some very interesting artwork, all kinds of wild pieces, a great variety of styles on the site. I laughed out loud. This good work is going to help the site.
About the Artists:
February N*des-of-the-Month artists (with day of the month): Corrie Ancone (20), Oudi Arroni (8), Margaret Cherubin (22), Frank Cordelle (9), Denise deGournois (21), Rune Froseth (23), Sylvia Hennequin (12), Michael Hennessy (26), Alex Knowlton (6), Nina Kuriloff (14), Jean Marcellino (10, 11), Lael Marshall (18), Scott Michael (24), Lenny Moskowitz (25), Ephraim Natkins (19), Frank Olesen (5), Jon Rettich (15), B. B. Richardson (2, 27), Jennie Rosenbaum (7), Chanit Roston (28), Charles Schindler (1), Ilene Skeen (13), Emily Stedman (17), Marina Zobova (16). For the jury of selection, Jeff Berman included two of his mixed-media dance pieces (3, 4)
Contact information:
Ilene Skeen
372 Fifth Avenue, Suite 7D
New York, NY 10018
Phone: 917-806-7992
Email:
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www.barebrush.com
dedicated to the art of the nude
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