Photographer Frank Cordelle has taken issues surrounding women's health and wellness and stripped them down to their naked truth, literally.

The Century Project, an exhibit of photography by Cordelle, features a series of 60 nude portraits of females, from birth through 100 years. The images, which will be on display Feb. 24 through 28 in the Student Center, Ballroom A, serve as a biological chronicle of women in their most natural human form. Admission to the exhibit is free.

The Century Project comes to Montclair State in recognition of National Eating Disorder Week, celebrated at Montclair State as Body Acceptance Week. "Eating disorders are a silent epidemic," said Susan Skalsky, director of Wellness Services who was instrumental in bringing the exhibit to campus. "The exhibit is an attempt to have women reach out for help. This problem does exist."

In addition to raising issues about eating disorders, the photographs, Skalsky said, also provoke thought about sexuality, aging and self-esteem. "Self-esteem is really the issue and the source of most of our problems as humans beings," she said.

In his photographs, Cordelle sought to capture real women with real bodies, not the perfect-bodied women portrayed in the media. Skalsky said she hopes women viewing the photographs feel a sense of pride in their own bodies, no matter their shape or size. "The inner spirit is what is important," she said. "The spirit is the real motivator."

All the women in the exhibit selected the pose in which they were photographed. Some pictures are in color, others in black and white. The photographs are accompanied by personal statements by the women.

For example, Jacqueline, a 39-year-old survivor of breast cancer, wrote, "Today I am wearing long and flowing purple without my false front, and feeling stunning. What do I mean by false front? My prosthesis that mimics that diseased part of my body that was cut away years ago to save my life."

Among the women photographed are a recovering anorexic, a pregnant woman and a 97-year-old woman. Cordelle, who began the Century Project in the early 1980s, says the women are role models for their bravery. His exhibit has toured the nation at galleries, schools and churches. He plans to publish the photographs in a book that can be used by both educators and therapists.

"I hope everyone can take the time to see this incredibly moving exhibit," Skalsky said. "I guarantee it will have an impact on anyone who sees it."

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