Professor Gene Wright and his Figure Drawing and Anatomy class recently traveled to Canopy Studios, an aerial arts acrobatic studio, to hone their drawing skills in a new and exciting setting. Students in Figure Drawing and Anatomy drew a live model who hung from silks suspended from the ceiling. The group was an eclectic mix, ranging from scientific illustration, painting and drawing, to a Biology major and a Ph.D. Candidate.  

Wright’s class is an advanced course in drawing the human figure, with a strong emphasis on the anatomical and bio-mechanical aspects of life drawing. Students work through a sequence of drawing projects from the live model, ranging from quick gestural studies to extended poses. This allows students to gain a greater understanding of the structure and function of the human body. The course also enhances their skill in representing the figure and using it as an expressive vehicle. Students are expected to gain an understanding of the history and function of anatomically-informed figurative art, and to be able to connect it in a personal way to their class drawings as well as to consider how this understanding relates to their work in other media like painting, sculpture, or video. 

In taking the class to Canopy Studio, Wright provided a dynamic and challenging environment for students. The suspended model created aerial poses that students would not normally have been exposed to in a traditional classroom setting. The ephemerality of the model’s movement lent itself to lose, whimsical gesture drawings, which were completed with two to three minute poses. The class concluded with a 30-minute stationary pose that challenged the students to address the delicate hanging silks and the studio’s lighting in conjunction with the model.

Canopy Studio is a dedicated aerial arts center, where community members of all ages and abilities can learn the art of aerial dance and performance. In 2002, nine months after breaking ground, Canopy’s doors opened and small, enthusiastic classes began. Canopy is dedicated to enriching the culture of the Athens’ community and the lives of individuals through flying dance trapeze, movement education, and performance arts. Canopy is a resource for local artists and all individuals, regardless of background, age, or physical ability, providing instruction in movement arts.