Stripping for history
By DANA DUGAN
Express Staff Writer
In a resort area such as the Wood River
Valley, hard bodies are the norm. But, hey, aging is a process no one can avoid.
Meantime, it’s all about maintenance and preservation. And with that thought in
mind, Millie Wiggins, owner of the Ketchum store Avventura, decided to encourage
the old and young to strip for preservation by posing for a calendar called Sun
Valley Exposed.
Proceeds from the project will go to the
Ketchum-Sun Valley Historical Society, a philanthropic organization formed in
1985 to identify and preserve history and cultural heritage in the valley.
So, are valley-ites really going to bare
it all?
Just consider that in tiny Rylstone,
England, the Women’s Institute made a 2000 calendar of tactful nude photographs
in which the ladies posed in various wifely activities. Remarkably, even to
them, they raised more than $750,000 for leukemia research. And so the trend
began.
In Vermont, the 2002 Men of Maple Corner
raised more than $500,000, and in New Hampshire the 2002 Women of Tamworth
calendar raised more than $75,000 for local organizations. The 2003 sequel,
Tamworth Men in Hats, features men fishing, playing the banjo, hunting and in
other activities wearing nothing but hats. In Aiken, S.C., the Still Magnolias
calendar raised nearly $180,000 for the Aiken Area Council on Aging. The
calendar features photos of women of a certain age golfing, knitting, playing
the piano.
Granted, these new calendars often show
more wrinkles than curves but that’s part of the appeal. The Sun Valley Exposed
calendar will do just a little of both, Wiggins said.
"We want to show a broad spectrum of
people of all ages, except under 18, who live and work in the Wood River
Valley."
Though the calendar will not come out
until 2005, most of the photos are already planned. Months will feature group
shots rather than singles. For instance, the calendar committee—Audrie Cudahy,
Anita McCann, Betty Murphy, Peter Ripson and Wiggins—say though "it’s not set in
stone," photos may feature, firefighters, mountain bikers, female realtors, hot
young skiers, women chefs, snowboarders, yoga postures and an "icon shot at the
Pioneer Saloon," Wiggins said.
Photographers are donating their time and
services. They include Edie Baskin, Tim Brown, Tina Barney, Thia Konig, Andy
Kent, Jan Cox and Lynn Campion Waddell, among others.
There are sponsorships available for
$1,200 each. Sponsors will benefit from nationwide exposure—that word again—in
addition to helping preserve the atmosphere of old Ketchum. Sponsors already
include Esta’s restaurant, McCann, Deach, Fenton Realtors, ReMax of Sun Valley
and Iconoclast Books.
Since there are only so many months to go
around, model wannabes might offer their physiques to the Big Nude photo, which
will comprise at least 100 people, if not more. Wiggins said there will be an
open casting notice later this year. Or call 726-6612 to add you name to the
list.
Wiggins, always a trend setter in the
area, calls the whole concept "stripping for preservation. It seemed like a good
name for the project."