Naked People to Speak for the Trees

Those poor UC Regents. All they wanted to do was knock down a few trees to build a new training facilityand for all this, they've been sued, had a bunch of people live in the trees , and saw Native Americans declare it a sacred site. Now they might be facing their most diabolical protest yet-- a work of community art. Oh, no, not community art. What's next, will the Dance Brigade stage an interpretive dance?

This Saturday, between 10 in the morning and noon, Fine art photographer Jack Gescheidt will take pictures of naked people in the trees. But done artistically, of course so don't expect glossy photos of Julia Butterfly Hill all greased up and in baby T’s. This is all part of his "TreeSpirit" photography series and the thing is being billed not just as a protest but "a celebration of trees!" Or, ast the site says, to "celebrate the connection between human beings and trees through graceful portraits of unclothed people among trees." Hell, add some free beer and we're totally there.

Well how does this help the cause? First of all, nothing draws attention to anything like naked people. Even if they are of the tree hugging hippie variety. Then there's the symbolism, that being to photograph "naked humans in communion with trees-- depicting our interdependence with trees in general." Nothing says making a statement like symbolism.

Anyways, you can learn more about the issue here