Artist Sam Pooley has appealed for 1,000 women volunteers to help her create the work of art over the next four months and has achieved almost a third of that number in less than three weeks.
The 38-year-old said she had been overwhelmed by the response and the inspiring personal stories of many of the volunteers.
“The women that are coming forward are from all walks of life. Signed up are women from the age of 19 right up to an 82-year-old grandmother,” she said.
“I have had ladies who have had mastectomies, breast reductions and enlargements, lifts and tucks, even a professional wet nurse who has breast fed over 50 children.
“I’ve received some truly inspirational emails from women who’ve had breast cancer and want to be part of this campaign. I’m amazed at the stories coming out.”
The majority of volunteers so far are from the Shropshire area but word has spread and women from London, York, Tring, Northampton, Totnes and Norwich have also signed up.
“Women are volunteering for many reasons – it’s a bit naughty, a bit of fun, but they also see it as confidence boosting and liberating,” said Miss Pooley, of Castlefields, Shrewsbury, who is also looking for sponsors for the project.
The final artwork will be tasteful with 1,000 small photographs of women’s breasts subtly woven into an overarching design.
It will be unveiled at Miss Pooley’s fine art degree show at Birmingham City University School of Art next year, alongside a soundtrack of some women talking about their breasts. It will be reproduced and sold as a limited edition artist wallpaper with proceeds from the sale going towards breast cancer research.
Miss Pooley will book appointments for volunteers to be photographed at her private Shrewsbury town centre studio from next month. From mid January she plans to hit the road with a pop-up studio to photograph groups of women around the UK. No faces will be used in the final artwork.
Miss Pooley recently took part in her own topless photo-shoot in The Quarry, Shrewsbury, early one morning, describing it as “an invigorating experience”. She has posted one of the photographs on her website.
Women who wish to take part in the project can contact Miss Pooley on 07531 824561 or email her at sam@ilovecompost.com.
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