Life Class

I have joined a choir. Even though, because of my day job, I get the chance to sing a lot especially on Sundays I’ve always wanted to sing in a choir but never really had chance. At the tender age of 11 I auditioned for the choir at Grammar School – but I failed the audition, it was my face rather than my voice that didn’t fit. As one of the ‘bad’ girls at school I think the choir master felt he just didn’t want what he thought would be trouble. Ironically I think had I been allowed to sing in the choir it could have turned my school experience around and I would no longer have had the need to play the ‘bad’ girl.

That rejection from the choir has stayed with me over many decades and there is still tender scar tissue over that wound. But now I have joined a choir, the Wolverhampton University Choir. We are not a huge choir and would not yet make it on to Gareth Malone’s stage but every Wednesday at 1.10pm you will see us gathered around the grand piano in the entrance hall to the Art School. I always thought it was a little incongruous having a grand piano in the place where students congregate to eat lunch or just chat but for occasions like a choir practice it’s perfectly located.

We are also singing at the University Carol Service at St. Peter’s Church Wolverhampton in December.

So last Wednesday with the descant of ‘O little town of Bethlehem’ still running through my mind, I hurried somewhat breathlessly to the seventh floor for a Life Class. Yes, the Fine Art department is on the seventh floor, Lord knows what I will do should the lift ever break down.

I peered down the corridor in the direction of the room where I thought the Life Class was being held, a little concerned at not seeing any other students, I saw a woman – she called out to me:

“Are you Heather?”

Now I couldn’t quite hear her because I was not wearing my glasses (I hear better when I have them on) I replied:

“Is the Life Class happening in there?”

“Oh yes” she said “I thought you might be Heather, the life model, I’m waiting for her”.

It took a moment for me to realise that she thought I might be the model.

The students were already situated at their easels and I joined them in waiting for the model.

“How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given” were the words still playing through my mind – thankful that I was not the wondrous gift we were all waiting for!

Now you don’t have to be young and beautiful to be a life model but it sure helps if you are flexible. When Heather did arrive she was all three and chose to use the opportunity to practice her yoga. Her poses were exquisite, an artist’s dream, though to be honest a couple of them did defy the laws of gravity.

Heather in six minutes – we were encouraged to draw freely with pencil or charcoal – not worrying about form – it was a warm up exercise.

Life Class.

When I was telling someone close to home that I was doing a life class it took a while for them to realise I was talking about drawing someone who was naked, and slightly shocked they said:

“Oh – I thought you were going to a class on life – you know kind of life coaching.”

Now I should point out it was not my husband saying this – I think over the years he has become used to my doing unexpected things.

I must say I enjoy the Life Class though I don’t claim my drawing ever does justice to the model posing in front of us. There is something meditative about the practice it is a very silent collective experience that requires great concentration not least by the model. I always think it is hugely brave of an individual to adopt a pose and hold it for several minutes whilst also being naked.

Heather in six minutes – just focussing on shape.

In the development of art history – the Life Class is a staple of art practice and education – for a long time women artists were not allowed to participate in such a class as it was thought their sensibilities would be offended. Gazing at the naked body would be too much for them to cope with, they had to be protected. Ironic really when in most of the Old Masters it is women who are posing as models.

Heather in 20 minutes – change of pose.

But why the naked body, why is this important?

There is something unique about capturing a likeness of a living breathing human being. There is genuinely something beautiful about a human body and being given permission to gaze on the human form for minutes at a time is a privilege. Preferring our private protected spaces we rarely look at each other for anything more than momentary glances. To see and be seen by another can feel very scary – though it can also be the most profound moment of connection.

We all start life naked don’t we? Clothes become necessary because of climate and modesty but they are just the covering of our embodiment.

It puts me in mind of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden when they were naked and only covered up when because of their disobedience shame came upon them and they tried to hide themselves from God.

“…then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves”

Perhaps that’s why the Life Class is important and for some of us so enjoyable it takes us back to a time before shame and beyond the need to hide ourselves.

For a while like shepherds at the manger we are given permission to gaze and wonder.