In short, Hacknakey is a life drawing class in which not only are the models nude, but so are the live musicians, too.
And thankfully, they’re not just being paid in exposure.
As you might have guessed, it takes place in Hackney (or Dalston, if we’re going to split hairs) at the back of a bar & microbrewery on Kingsland Road called Kraft. They happen every couple of weeks or so, mostly on a Monday or Tuesday night, and they’ve gone down extremely well. Possibly because they’re literally in a brewery, who knows.
In any case, if you snap up a ticket and rock up to the venue, here’s how your evening will proceed: The first half of the night is basically a warm up, in which you get a series of short, tutored poses. The instructor’s whole aim at this point is to loosen up your creative juices, and get you “thinking and seeing differently”. After that, there’s a brief intermission in which you’ll be recommended to partake of the bars/brewery’s own creative looseners.
Then, the second half begins, and the naked local musician comes out and does their thing. Suitably armed with a sense of creative freedom & aptitude you’ll then do a more detailed study of the model while listening to the music.
Aside from music, models, and mentors, they’ll also give you all the art supplies you’ll need (including plenty of charcoal). And the price? At just £20-£25…
…is ironically quite modest.
NOTE: Hacknakey events take place regularly at Kraft Dalston throughout the year, and cost £25. You can find out more, and get tickets at the website right here.
Kraft Dalston | Inside Kingsland Locke, 130a Kingsland High St, E8 2LQ
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