CONFESSIONS OF AN ART SCHOOL MODEL
nytheatre.com review by Michael Criscuolo
August 15, 2002
Confessions of an Art School
Model is equal parts art history lesson, figure drawing class, and
reminiscence. Writer/performer Talia Pura sounds off about her almost
thirty years as an art school model while posing for artist Derek
Brueckner. This informal, one-person show has many things to say—perhaps
too many—but is never less than interesting and engaging throughout. By performing the show stark naked, Pura makes two points. The first is
that studying a naked person in such a clinical fashion takes the
titillation out of doing so. Secondly, being physically naked doesn't
mean as much as being emotional naked. Since models usually remain
silent during a sitting, being nude around strangers means nothing to
them because they never reveal anything about themselves. Pura is
obviously very comfortable with her body and who she is, and she makes
the audience feel equally comfortable about spending an hour with her in
her birthday suit. By the time she gets to the more confessional second
half—which spotlights a recollection of the great, lost love of her
life—she has made both of her points very well. It's to her credit that
she's able to get so much out of her words while moving so little.Confessions is also interactive. Pura interacts with Brueckner, and freely converses with the audience, throughout. Afterwards, you may go on stage to see Brueckner's sketches up close, and you may even buy one if you like. But watch out for sitting in the front row: you may catch the glare of his easel lamp.
