Le Corps: Palisadian Helps Artists Stay Afloat During Hard Times

By JENNA SITEMAN | Intern

After noticing how difficult it was for her to keep dancing as stay at home orders went into place, Palisadian Emmeline Wolf created a project that would not only motivate herself, but would help other artists who are facing hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wolf, a rising junior at Swarthmore College, is studying studio art and mathematics with honors, and she expressed a deep interest in raising money for artists whose exhibits and shows were canceled by selling accessories and clothes she has designed through her company Le Corps/The Body.

Last summer while working in New York City, Wolf visited many art galleries and became familiar with an organization called Foundation for Contemporary Arts.

“I wanted to do something that used my art and helped artists, so I decided to donate to the Foundation for Contemporary Arts because as soon as the pandemic started, they created an emergency grants COVID fund, which goes to experimental artists,” Wolf explained. “Most contemporary experimental artists don’t have an endowment or a large sum of money they can rely on, so if their art show or theater performance or anything is canceled, that’s probably their source of income for a long time.”

Her first goal through Le Corps was to raise enough money for one emergency COVID-19 grant, which totaled $1,500.

Wolf’s education in the arts began at Mission Renaissance Fine Art Classes, Westside Ballet and Los Angeles Ballet School. She is now a member of Swarthmore Dance Ensemble and her final performance, as well as her summer painting residency in Ireland, were both canceled due to COVID-19.

After absorbing the initial shock in the change of plans, Wolf noticed the ways other artists were using their talents to brighten the lives of those around them—and she set off to do the same.

“When that all got canceled, I was really devastated,” Wolf said. “But, [by looking] through Instagram and [other sites], I saw some really enlightening things come online with artists trying to come together.”

Via Le Corps/The Body, shoppers can find many products that are hand painted by Wolf, all of which 25% of proceeds go toward the cause.

Wolf shared her fascination with the human body—which is the subject of many of the works available on the site—and the love that she holds for figure drawing, which she incorporates into most of her pieces.

Items being sold after being painted range from masks to tote bags, pants and more. She is able to print specific drawings and paintings she has created directly onto products in order to speed up her work.

“When I was home for spring break, before everything was canceled, my mom took me to the Getty because they had a Michelangelo exhibit and that was a big influence for me in starting Le Corps and being able to see his drawings of the body,” Wolf recalled. “During this time, you couldn’t really move your body in the ways you were used to and the virus was something that was physically impacting the body, but you couldn’t see it. I had been drawing and studying the body and using it as a dancer, and even my artwork is very kinetic.”

Wolf’s models are all family and friends she has been able to photograph while staying appropriately spaced outside. She shared that she has realized creativity is what allows communities to thrive during hard times.

“All of my models are friends, family and local people that have bought things and have sent in photos to me,” Wolf said. “It’s really helped me build Le Corps and keep the community [at the center of the project], and it makes it feel more powerful.”

Wolf hopes to enact a collaboration between Le Corps and Palisades-based programs. She aims to give 50% of the profit from a “Unique Collection” piece to support whatever the entity is.

“It’s similar to collaboration I’ve done with a few other organizations,” Wolf said. “I’m offering them to pick one of the Uniques—the collection that’s all the upcycled, hand-painted clothes—and 50% of that item’s sale will go straight to their [program].”

Now that Wolf has returned to Philadelphia, she plans on continuing Le Corps because of the success she has found with it. The focus on community has turned out to be a very connecting factor for her and other artists, and she is very determined to fund a grant.

“This is definitely going to continue at least through the fall,” she shared. “It’s a project that not only means a lot to me, but I’ve gotten to connect with so many interesting, creative people through this. I felt so awkward being home [not being able to dance and move], but I’ve made really great friendships over the past few months just through this venture.”

For more information, visit lecorpsthebody.com.