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Letter to the editor

A workshop on body painting? Skin-sational!

By SUSAN THURSTON, Times Staff Writer
Published November 9, 2007

TAMPA - It seemed like a cool thing to do at the time - tattoo a huge dragon on your shoulder for all to see and admire.

It turns out tastes change. Tattoos don't.

For that reason, many people are turning to body painting. It's beautiful, creative and temporary.

Body painting is the focus of Art in Motion, a workshop and runway show today and Saturdayin Tampa. It coincides with Arte 2007, Tampa Bay's Festival of the Americas.

Visual Edge Studio, a new video production and events company, commissioned Argentinian makeup artist and body painter Marisa del Dago to lead the workshop.

She'll offer body-painting techniques and give demonstrations. In the end, participants will create their own human masterpieces.

"We want to educate the public that it's not just about nudes," said Claudia Jaramillo, president of Visual Edge and Art in Motion's organizer. "It's a celebration of the body."

While fairly new to the Tampa Bay area, body painting is considered one of the oldest art forms. Indigenous tribes have been decorating their bodies with natural pigments for centuries.

Today, body painting appears at various venues, from theater productions to children's parties. Even some companies use painted models to advertise their products.

Jaramillo hopes exposing people to the art will change misconceptions.

"It's a harmless way to express yourself and have fun at the same time," she said. "For me, it's just enchanting."

If you go

Art in Motion

The runway show, body painting awards, music, dancing and cash bar starts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center, 5500 Memorial Highway, Tampa. Tickets are $5 at the door. For more information, call (813) 454-2636 or go to www.bpves.bodyprinting.net.

[Last modified November 8, 2007, 07:34:13]