Raw in Montreal interviews Tanya Wood
Raw Beauty 2011- 13 real people gone raw- a calendar that is not only beautiful to look at but it is also good for your health, and is full of delicious and delectable raw food recipes.
Recently I had a chance to interview Tanya Wood, one of the creators of Raw Beatuy 2011. I was contacted by Tanya last winter when she was looking for volunteers to become models for her project since she was aware that I organize monthly potluck gatherings for raw foodists here in Montreal. Good news is, that the calendar is finished and I am very proud to recognize (even though I have not seen the finished product yet) many of our fascinating and good looking members of our raw food community who have been featured in this beautiful calendar.
Below is the interview, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, getting to know Tanya a bit more in depth and of course finding out about the things she is currently working on.
Raw in Montreal: Give us a quick background, where you are coming from and any interesting facts that people might not know about you!
Tanya Wood: I’m a Saskatchewan girl, and I love to drive in the flat flat treeless prairies. I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Alberta. I waitressed for many years, and now I always tip wait staff really well. My dad taught me to weld when I was 15 or 16 years old and I started creating sculpture in our garage. . I miss swimming and wish everything wasn’t polluted or chlorinated. I designed and created “the Dysfunctional Clothing Collection” in 2005, inspired by a solo backpacking trip to central Europe for 5 months. I secretly wish I could master Eckhart Tolle's practices or that I would suddenly wake up able to live in the moment. I am a lonely loner most of the time working in my studio. I have an installation of two 10 foot sculptures at State University of New York Plattsburgh outside the library. I haven’t watched TV since before the debut of CSI Miami.
RIM: Are you a raw foodist and if yes, how was the transition for you? What made you turn to raw food?
TW: I am. I changed literally overnight and I saw the positive results very soon after. Though I’d always considered myself healthy, I had small health concerns that began to be troubling and I was too young to write them off as normal, and too old to ignore them. I was committing to welding as a medium at that time also, and I am keenly aware of the health consequences it entails. Upon going raw, I rediscovered real food, real flavours, and real peace of mind. If it hadn’t been life changing I wouldn’t be doing this project today. I am currently moving towards a low fat raw vegan diet of mostly fruit and greens.
RIM: What was the idea for the Raw Beauty Calendar inspired by?
TW: I wanted to share this amazing thing, this raw transformation with others…my family, friends, strangers…everyone and anyone really. As an artist I communicate best in visual terms. It was inspired by the changes I experienced when I opened the door of my life to raw foods, and I knew I was passionate about it. So I started this project to show that everyone can benefit from a little more raw.
RIM: What were the biggest obstacles in seeing this project through?
The most difficult part has been trying to put unorthodox yet simple ideals out into the mainstream market, and dealing with the sometimes negative reactions. I would love to see Raw Beauty 2011 on health food store shelves and in bookstores across the continent, because I feel that the images my friend and peer, artist Nick Rudnicki, captured are so breathtakingly beautiful that they speak volumes about this way of life.
The amazing models that participated are so real and honest and true, and they volunteered (!) their images because they too have been transformed for the better by this simple lifestyle change. I don’t understand the controversy but I guess people are not very comfortable with the bare beauty of the human form, and some seem to be misinterpreting my message with this calendar. For the record, I am not glorifying the typical media driven artificial beauty standards… I am simply celebrating these REAL un-airbrushed people who have chosen to treat their bodies and spirits as the gorgeous and divine beings they truly are. My objective was simply to inspire health and wellbeing. I guess I’m the Larry Flint of the health community at the moment, haha! but I don’t believe there is anything even remotely “racy” or pornographic about this calendar.
RIM: In times of stress and unexpected detours what is your number one method of grounding and refocusing?
TW: I practice short daily meditations and try to get enough sleep to stay on top of things. Nick likes to remind me to “keep dancing”, which makes me laugh.
RIM: How would you finish this phrase? -Raw beauty for me is:
TW: an abundance of fresh ripe organic fruit and greens…after that everything else will fall into place perfectly with time.
RIM: What were you looking for in your models and in the set up you created for each page?
TW: I didn’t choose the models as much as they came to us as volunteers. All of them are fascinating and beautiful people. Nick and I collaborated on all of the shoots, choosing the produce for each person and the ideas for the set up. The models brought their unique personalities and each session evolved with the three of us communicating. It was a blast to work with everyone!
RIM: Any future projects in the making?
The series of sculpture I am working on currently are small scale table top pieces: The equivalent of futuristic sculptural potted plants. They are glossy white plant-like totems with brightly coloured grated openings and might make you think of alien architectural forms or enchanted Alice in Wonderland plants. I hope to make large scale versions of these and install them in garden settings. My website is www.steelchick.com.
RIM: When you are not working hard, people would most likely find you .........??
TW: In my garden.
RIM: Your favourite raw food recipe/drink/dessert?
TW: Heavenly Papaya Banana Pudding (April in the calendar), cold melon scooped out of the shell, Saskatoon berries, banana ice cream.
RIM: Can we look forward to Raw Beauty Calendar 2012?
TW: As you can imagine, the verdict on 2011 is not yet in, and Nick and I are keeping our fingers crossed. We also have artistic careers that have been put on hold for the time being, and so we will see how things go before committing to 2012.
RIM: How can people purchase the calendar?
On our website is the easiest way: www.rawbeautycalendar.com (available starting 16 Sept 2010).
At the launch party (everyone is invited!): 16 September 2010, 5143 boul. St Laurent, Montreal, 6-9pm, food by Crudessence, music, kombucha, organic wine.
It is also available at Crudessence restaurants (105 rue Rachel Ouest & 2157 rue Mackay, Montreal), and a growing list of retailers across the country which will be posted on our website.
Plus, in the new Green Consciousness Guide/ Guide Conscience Verte (October issue) there is a rebate of 3$ off the calendar if purchased at Crudessence restos and other participating retailers.
