Paulk + Co. had everything needed for a First Friday party: wine, live music, poetry and busts of women’s torsos.
The Paulk gang rounded up a crowd in celebration of “Torsos + Tatas,” which served as a benefit party for Knoxville BreastStrokes and as an opportunity to celebrate local artists giving back to the community.
BreastStrokes is a nonprofit dedicated to raising money for women who have had or currently have any form of cancer. Through a series of events and fundraisers, Breast Strokes is able to give two women money to do whatever they like.
John McRae, local artist and professor of architecture at UT, was the featured artist at this First Friday event. Women’s torsos glittered the entire building, drawing attention to the beauty of the female body.
The rough and unrefined style of the torsos is achieved by using the rococo style of pottery. The entire process was shown on a screen during the party, helping explain just how the torsos are made. After being placed in an insulated drum to heat up to a couple thousand degrees, the pieces are put in a trashcan with shredded paper and sawdust. When the process is done, the imperfections of the torsos create a beauty parallel to the asymmetry of the human body.
McRae has been a supporter of BreastStrokes for more than five years, finding satisfaction in helping the charity by displaying his art. Some of the pieces are created for specific people, giving each piece a personal theme. Many of the pieces were for sale during the Friday event.
“I find value and enjoyment in this,” McRae said, admiring the display of his art.
Although his art was the center of attention, McRae wanted to keep his eye on the real task of raising money for a good cause.
“It’s a very humbling experience,” McRae said, “and I don’t want to convey that I’m the big cheese.”
Adrienne Webster, treasurer of BreastStrokes, made it clear just how important McRae is to the charity. Webster shared that McRae is donating three pieces for BreastStrokes’ silent auction and raffle and has agreed to give a portion of all his proceeds to BreastStrokes.
“John is an amazing artist, and we are trying to market ourselves as artists,” Webster said, referring to women painting their chests to raise money for the cause. “We are trying to sell our torsos as art.”
Webster is thrilled at the overwhelming response of the Knoxville community in donating time and money to the BreastStrokes cause, claiming she has never told someone the organization’s story and received a negative response.
“It’s out of control,” Webster said. “Everyone we have asked to help has said yes.”
Virginia Adams, part of Paulk + Co. and a member of BreastStrokes’ “Titty Committee,” was thrilled to orchestrate a night featuring different forms of art to benefit a cause she holds dear.
Along with McRae’s featured torsos, Adams brought together Cindi Alpert and The Corduroy Jazz Trio to provide live music, special guest Royal Peasantry to create corsets to be modeled throughout the night and Sundress Academy for the Arts’ “pop-up poetry” to share women’s empowering words.
“It was really obvious to make [McRae] a featured artist,” Adams shared. “I try to put the best art program together to raise money for our charity.”
Artist, art lovers and BreastStrokes supporters partied well into the night, celebrating women and the ability to unite as a community through art and culture.
“This is about raising money for women with cancer,” Webster said, “and it’s absolutely beautiful.”
