AMP: Artists' Meeting Place and Resource Collective

http://www.thenippleproject.com

The Nipple Project is an art/craft collaborative project that needs your nipple creation! The Nipple Project will be in a group show in June 2008 at the Orange County Center for Contemporary Art. Handcrafted Nipples are needed by May 1st.

Find out more at http://www.thenippleproject.com

From the website:

"Submit a hand-made artistic interpretation of your nipple or of someone’s nipple you love. Send us a nipple(s) made out any material that can be sewn or attached to another surface. Our goal is to create a large, community based art installation consisting of 3-dimensional media such as knitting, crocheting, beading, sewing, gourd, metal, leather, ceramic, felting and any other media you can imagine. The final piece will include all of the submissions sewn and/or stitched together in a large wall installation. Deadline is May 1st, 2008. So hurry and send us your nips!

Why are we doing this, you ask? Initially, we were inspired by the release of the IPEX bra by Victoria Secret. Advertisements for this bra espoused quite blatantly that it provides “maximum nipple coverage!" This bra epitomizes the eradication and androgenization of the nipple. We find this ironic in an era where breast augmentation is done in order to gain a "more feminine look." So we wanted to reclaim our natural femininity and counter this strange phenomenon. But as our project came to life, we realized we had touched something deeper. Women responded to our call for reasons we had not intended. We began receiving submissions breast cancer survivors. Their beautiful creations are an both an artistic and cathartic. Also, women who have lost a family member or friend to breast cancer have taken this opportunity to express their grief and respect to their loved ones. We have also received submissions from women who have recently become mothers and are inspired by the joys and rigors of nursing! So whether you choose to submit in order to reclaim the expression of your natural femininity or for one of the reasons mentioned above or if you just love nipples - men's and women's!!!...join us and send us your submission."