"Her work reminds me of the access Diane Arbus had to her subject matter."
—Richard Prince. Naomi Harris, America Swings.
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Who among us wouldn't like the kind of confidence that allows you to walk into a roomful of strangers, drop your clothes, and know that you're going to score? This is the reality of swinging in America, and as realities go, it ain't half bad.
Artist Richard Prince discovered Naomi's work in TASCHEN's The New Erotic Photography and asked to interview her for this book. Following is Harris on her fascination with swingers, getting naked on Miami Beach and the difficulty of organizing a 26-person gangbang.
—Dian Hanson
Richard Prince: First... let's get some of the background out of the way....Where were you born? Where did you grow up?
Naomi Harris: I was born in Toronto, Canada, on May 26, 1973.We lived in a suburb of Toronto called Downsview, where my parents still live today, nearly 40 years later. It was an extremely Orthodox Jewish neighborhood, and though we were observant of the Sabbath and other Jewish traditions, we certainly were not in the same league as many of our neighbors. In fact many of the children in the area called me a goy [non-Jew] because I wore pants and they wouldn't play with me.
RP: High school, college, graduate school?
NH: I went to a Jewish day school for nine years, where we were taught English studies half a day and Hebrew studies the other. I was accepted to York University, which is a school in Toronto, and lived at home for the four years I studied for my bachelor of fine arts. On a trip to Europe in my third year of school I took photos and decided that this was what turned me on. I applied to New York's International Center of Photography for their documentary program and, lo and behold, I was accepted. It wasn't until I moved to New York City at age 24 that I left home for the first time.
RP: When did sex first enter the picture?
NH: I kissed my first boy, gave my first blowjob, had a boy go down on me, and lost my virginity all in the span of one month. All with the same guy,mind you. I was just barely 16 and it was the summer of grade 10. I had just left the awkward stage of adolescence, meaning I lost about 20 pounds and sprouted up about six inches. I had a newfound sense of confidence, one I have never quite seemed to capture again, and once I began to experiment, didn't see the point to stop. It wasn't that I was "fast" or anything; I just didn't put the same kind of weight on "waiting for marriage" or the right guy. I was curious, he was around, and that was it.We lasted all of about a month and then he broke up with me. I was "one of the guys" in high school; I suppose I still am. I didn't date much, just occasionally hooked up with people, and even then didn't do that so often either. Funny, you would think most guys would be all over the liberal idea of having a good time without dating, but when it really comes down to it, guys are prudes.
RP: Are you married, single, boyfriend, girlfriend, divorced, kids?
NH: I am single. Hard to date when people find out what you photograph. Intimidates the good ones and attracts the wrong ones. I would like to find the person who checks in on me when I'm on the road, whether or not that is the result of marriage. And I would like to have children—but not by myself, as so many of my married friends suggest I do, because I think the whole appeal to having children is to watch them learn and take on both your traits.
Page [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
Page [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
Who among us wouldn't like the kind of confidence that allows you to walk into a roomful of strangers, drop your clothes, and know that you're going to score? This is the reality of swinging in America, and as realities go, it ain't half bad.
Artist Richard Prince discovered Naomi's work in TASCHEN's The New Erotic Photography and asked to interview her for this book. Following is Harris on her fascination with swingers, getting naked on Miami Beach and the difficulty of organizing a 26-person gangbang.
—Dian Hanson
Richard Prince: First... let's get some of the background out of the way....Where were you born? Where did you grow up?
Naomi Harris: I was born in Toronto, Canada, on May 26, 1973.We lived in a suburb of Toronto called Downsview, where my parents still live today, nearly 40 years later. It was an extremely Orthodox Jewish neighborhood, and though we were observant of the Sabbath and other Jewish traditions, we certainly were not in the same league as many of our neighbors. In fact many of the children in the area called me a goy [non-Jew] because I wore pants and they wouldn't play with me.
RP: High school, college, graduate school?
NH: I went to a Jewish day school for nine years, where we were taught English studies half a day and Hebrew studies the other. I was accepted to York University, which is a school in Toronto, and lived at home for the four years I studied for my bachelor of fine arts. On a trip to Europe in my third year of school I took photos and decided that this was what turned me on. I applied to New York's International Center of Photography for their documentary program and, lo and behold, I was accepted. It wasn't until I moved to New York City at age 24 that I left home for the first time.
RP: When did sex first enter the picture?
NH: I kissed my first boy, gave my first blowjob, had a boy go down on me, and lost my virginity all in the span of one month. All with the same guy,mind you. I was just barely 16 and it was the summer of grade 10. I had just left the awkward stage of adolescence, meaning I lost about 20 pounds and sprouted up about six inches. I had a newfound sense of confidence, one I have never quite seemed to capture again, and once I began to experiment, didn't see the point to stop. It wasn't that I was "fast" or anything; I just didn't put the same kind of weight on "waiting for marriage" or the right guy. I was curious, he was around, and that was it.We lasted all of about a month and then he broke up with me. I was "one of the guys" in high school; I suppose I still am. I didn't date much, just occasionally hooked up with people, and even then didn't do that so often either. Funny, you would think most guys would be all over the liberal idea of having a good time without dating, but when it really comes down to it, guys are prudes.
RP: Are you married, single, boyfriend, girlfriend, divorced, kids?
NH: I am single. Hard to date when people find out what you photograph. Intimidates the good ones and attracts the wrong ones. I would like to find the person who checks in on me when I'm on the road, whether or not that is the result of marriage. And I would like to have children—but not by myself, as so many of my married friends suggest I do, because I think the whole appeal to having children is to watch them learn and take on both your traits.
Page [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
Naomi Harris, America Swings
Hardcover, slipcase, 37 x 29 cm (14.6 x 11.4 in.), 256 pages
$ 500.00
$ 500.00
The secret life of America's Bible Belt. Swinging sex lives of everyday Americans. This edition is limited to 1,000 numbered copies, signed by both Naomi Harris and Richard Prince.
King and Queen of Swingstock / Swingstock / Duxbury, MN / July 2007. Photo: Naomi Harris
Thanksgiving Dinner / Big Lake, MN / November 2004. Photo: Naomi Harris