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CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - More than 1,500 people
gathered around a statue of 19th century liberation
hero Simon Bolivar on Sunday and posed nude for a U.S.
artist famous for his photos of naked crowds in public
spaces.

Spencer Tunick organized the Caracas photo shoot along
downtown Avenida Bolivar, a frequent spot for
political rallies by supporters of President Hugo
Chavez.

Surrounded by dozens of reporters and onlookers, the
participants cracked jokes, shouted cheers for Tunick
and struck poses for the press.

"I worked very, very hard and the people were
extremely, extremely, extremely exuberant," Tunick
said after the shoot.

"It's a new experience. And beyond the disinhibition
of taking off clothes, this also involves art," said
Jerry Lino, 30, who took part in the event. "One never
feels naked."

More than 7,800 people had signed up, but only between
1,500 and 2,000 showed up.

Bolivar looms large in the rhetoric of Chavez. The
populist president says he is leading a leftist
"Bolivarian Revolution" to end poverty in the South
American nation.

Tunick has photographed nude people in New York City
as well as other urban centers around the world
including London, Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Vienna, Austria.

__________________

The practice of putting women on pedestals began to die out when it was discovered that they could give orders better from there.~ Betty Grable

If I wanted your opinion, I'd remove the duct tape and ask you for it.~ Me
<~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>
One man's dream is another man's nightmare~~~~> §¤ Lilith ¤§
~>My Scribbles<~
==>Gone Shopping<== ~Just a Quickie~ *~A Celebration Vacation~* ~Surprises~ Sleeping With the Window Open
What Did You Do Today? Self Defense Class ~Short Sweet Snippets~ § Summer Spin § Story Challenge Submission Pajamas

Bolivar was quoted as saying "I've turned to stone...if you know what I mean."

__________________
Though I am different from you,
We were born involved in one another.

For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul.

Complete surrender should not just come at moments in which one faces overwhelming odds, but in the calm when it seems one is personally in complete control of one's life.