Full Exposure at Oak Grove Photo Shoot

About 50 nudists and supporters of the tree-sitters gathered at the oak grove near Memorial Stadium Saturday for a nude photo shoot in response to the campus’s construction of fences around the grove and plans to construct an athletic center on the site.

Photographer Jack Gescheidt, who led the nude photo shoot, said he hoped to show the relationship between the people and the grove.

“We wanted to respond by showing the value of the trees, the connection between humans and trees and the community support,” Gescheidt said.

With protesters living in the oaks, the campus constructed a fence around the grove in August and a second fence on Thursday as the first step to removing protesters.

Gescheidt staged a similar photo shoot at the grove in March in support of the tree-sitters’ protest against the campus plan to remove the trees.

Both shoots make up Gescheidt’s Tree Spirit Project, a collection of photographs of naked humans with trees.

After a clothed rehearsal, participants peeled off clothing and sprawled over each other along the fence. Some climbed the fence to reach toward participating tree-sitters.

Some said that, while the photo shoot brought attention to the tree-sit, the photographs may not be the most effective form of protest.

“I appreciate the exposure of the grove, but where are the nudists when it comes time for extraction?” said protest leader Zachary RunningWolf.

Gescheidt said he was relieved that the photo shoot went smoothly.

“I’m thrilled the police were cool and professional and so many people showed up,” Gescheidt said.

Tags: