Nudes get preview of exhibition

More than 1,000 people stripped off for Mr Tunick

People who stripped off to cross the River Tyne for an arts project have been given a preview of the exhibition.

New York artist Spencer Tunick convinced 1,700 people to bare all in Newcastle and Gateshead in July.

He was commissioned to create a series of images which merged their naked forms into the Tyneside landscape.

Those who took part in the "installations" got the chance to see the results at the Baltic contemporary art centre in Gateshead.

The exhibition opens to the public on Saturday.

They will see a huge mural piece depicting a sea of intertwined naked volunteers.

The final works are beautiful - the exhibition flows and simply feels good - I love the way it is hung Spencer Tunick

Mr Tunick, who has organised similar events in the United States and Europe, said: "I am very proud of what I have done."

Describing the exhibits, he added: "A stranger lies with their head on another stranger's hip naked, and may never see that person again.

"But it was without sexuality - it was a sensual moment, but the sexuality was taken away by the fact it was cold and people were uncomfortable."

The exhibition features six other, smaller images, at quayside locations, plus video footage of how the images were made.

Mr Tunick added: "The final works are beautiful. The exhibition flows and simply feels good. I love the way it is hung."

'Fantastic atmosphere'

The Rev Jim Craig, a chaplain for the arts in Gateshead, who took part with his wife Amabel, recalled his dread before he stripped off.

He said: "Everyone feels absolute fear waiting for the call to take their clothes off.

"But there was a fantastic atmosphere.

"Spencer has described it as painting with bodies, and he has turned this grey landscape into a sea of colour."

The exhibition opens to the public on Saturday and runs until 26 March.