ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Photographer Harvey Drouillard, who has been shooting "guerilla" nudes on the streets of St. Petersburg this year, will be one of 12 local up-and-coming artists featured at the "Dali Dozen" event on Wednesday.

“I haven’t slept in two months since I found out about this,” said Harvey, 54. “I am extremely honored and humbled.”

We first introduced you to Harvey back in April, when we went for a ride-a-long to document the artist in action capturing public nudes at St. Petersburg landmarks. Harvey has been shooting public nudes across the country for the past 25 years.

The Dali Museum describes Harvey as a photographer who has turned shooting nudes in public into a science, complete with training, choreography, getaway cars and knowledge of local nudity laws.

Harvey said a Dali Ambassador, known as a member of The Zodiacs, bought some of his art that he was selling on the streets of St. Pete and that’s how he got on the museum’s radar.

“A woman came up to me and bought a couple of pieces of art,” said Harvey. “And she said, ‘have you ever done anything with the Dali?’”

Harvey replied, “No” and she said, “Well, you’re about to.”

Dali Museum marketing director Beth Bell said all twelve members of the Zodiac Committee are charged with finding someone in the local community they can invite and bring to this event.

 

 

"Guerilla" nude photographer Harvey Drouillard will be one of this year's "Dali Dozen," and will take part in an exclusive, one-night-only event at the Salvador Dali Museum Wednesday night showcasing his art along with 11 other area artists. (Josh Rojas/Spectrum Bay News 9)

“It’s really an eclectic group,” she said. “A real unique way to showcase what we have here in the area.”

Bell said this year’s event is for mature audiences only.

“We always try to be provocative here at The Dali,” she said. “So we do recommend it for adults, of course, but if you’re willing and have some mature children you can bring them as well.”

Harvey said he plans to "push the envelope."

“I’m opening it wide open, baby. I’m going to show my best work. I’ve got some brand new stuff that really nobody has seen yet,” he said. “I’m here to push the envelope. I don’t want to offend anybody but hey, it’s the human body and everything that I do in my opinion is in good taste.”

According to the Dali Museum, the other featured artists are landscape photographer Jesse Adair, oil painter Dana Peska, ink-on-object Jeffrey Romano, nautical artist Lawrence Packard, burlesque performer Mary Strawberry, mosaic artist Michael Baker, tandem live painters Daniel DeWindt and Dacota Maphis, mixed media artist Rob Webster, three-dimensional painter Nelson Perez Jr., and seashell artist Hilary Adorno.  

The exclusive one-night only holiday event is scheduled for Wednesday at the Dali Museum from 6-9 p.m., tickets cost $18.