A few weeks back I was invited to the Naked Muse photography exhibition - a night of naked men (all poets), wine and cake. Clearly, they knew all my weaknesses. In a fit of giddiness I bid at auction for one of the pictures ... so now I've got my very own Naked Muse up on my living room wall!
He's gorgeous! Also, he suits my house perfectly. I could not be happier. And I'm sure visitors will cope fine ... won't you, Mum?
Personally I'm very strongly reminded of my hero Ash in my nature-magic novel Wildwood. That hair, that shamanic vibe...
It was taken by photographer Tamara Peel and the poet who agreed to bare all is Dreadlockalien, a.k.a. Richard Grant.
The poem that goes with it is called Love, the Blackmailer, by Penelope Shuttle:
All Love's demands are final
All Love's threats are carried out,
Love The Blackmailer with his ledger of secrets,
his I know where you live...
What he knows will wreck a career
or a marriage, start a war.
You can still buy the Naked Muse calendar (price £12.99) at Wild Women Press, with pics and poems. Dreadlockalien is Mr February, though it's not the same pic as the one I got :-) All proceeds go to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Thank you to the lovely Vik and Adam (and the very sweet Django) for my beautiful Muse!
Mr Ashbless is still working abroad, hmm?
ReplyDeleteWhat a great photograph.
ReplyDeleteBoth of them.
Mr Ashbless hung the pic, in a very manly fashion, I'll have you know Jo! With power tools and everything!
ReplyDelete:-D
Ahahahaha, bless him.
ReplyDeleteIt's a lovely photo, btw.
Why, thank you Kat!
ReplyDeleteAnd Jo!
;-)