Bodypainting Day - NYC

Body Painting Day

NYC Body Art

What is Bodypainting Day?

BODYPAINTING DAY is a public art event produced by Human Connection Arts in which a select group of talented artists paint on the bodies of nude models over a 4 hour period in full public view.

WHY? Creating impactful public art events that enable free artistic expression, body acceptance and human connection through art. The ARTISTS share their voice with the public. So often, the artists skills are in full view, but their voices are hidden, promoting a product or focusing on sales.

Bodypainting Day is a non-commercial event that focuses on the artists voice. This year’s theme “Humanity” challenges artists to seek what is on the inside of their model to inspire a painting on the outside.

Bodypainting Day gives MODELS the opportunity to embrace themselves and to use their bodies to become living art. Unlike what people might expect from a body painting event, the models are ordinary people, ranging in age, size and gender. Models take great pride standing in public as they are. By holding the event as a full nude event, we remove the shame often associated with our bodies and show the distinction between nudity and sexuality.

And the PUBLIC gets to see all types of bodies, which is rare in itself, but is especially important since the perception of the human form is twisted by advertising and the media, which is the source of anxiety for so many of us. It is also an opportunity to see in person, the artistic process of many artists all at once, each with their own unique approach. And most importantly, it’s an opportunity to connect with each other through art.

Bodypainting Day is founded by artist Andy Golub, who has been painting bodies in the public streets of NYC since 2007.

Bodypainting Day started in 2014 in New York City.

• In 2015, Bodypainting Day added the city of Amsterdam.
• In 2016 we added the city of San Francisco.
• And in 2017 we added the city of Berlin. 

http://bodypaintingday.org/about-us/

2017
 NYC Bodypainting Day Teaser

The Backstory

Behind

Bodypainting Day

Bodypainting Day is a natural progression of Andy Golub‘s art. Before Andy ever painted on a nude body, he painted many objects including rocks, hats, tables, cars and mannequins.

The various shapes inspired art that he never would have created on a flat canvas. These paintings were collaborations with the object itself.

Andy began painting bodies in 2007 and it took his work to a new level. Now that the objects were actually alive, Andy could connect with the model’s personality as well as their form to help inspire the art. After a series of studio shoots, it seemed only natural to Andy to share this unique process with the public.

In 2009, Andy was kicked out of Times Square while painting a male and female model, wearing G-strings. Andy didn’t know what his legal rights were, so he contacted civil rights attorney, Ron Kuby. Kuby explained that not only was his work legal, but it would still be legal even if the models were completely nude.

Kuby advised Andy that there remains the possibility of arrest, albeit a false one. After a week of serious contemplation, Andy was resolved that he would no longer back down to police for his body painting, even if it meant the risk of arrest.

The first time that Andy painted fully nude models was in 2011. After several hours of painting, police arrested him along with his two female models. They spent over 25 hours in jail. Coincidentally, Andy had an interview with the New York Post the following day. Andy’s art and arrest became a big NYC news story.

One month later, the NYC legal department informed Kuby that despite the earlier arrest, that it was in fact legal for Golub to paint fully nude models in public. Kuby informed the city of Andy’s next scheduled body painting. Although police were instructed not to arrest, model Zoe West was taken away in handcuffs anyway! West, later received $15,000 in a settlement with the city.

In 2011, as charges against Andy were dismissed, the District Attorney warned him that full nude body painting would only be tolerated at night. There was no legal basis for this restriction. In the summer of 2013, with the help of the New York Civil Liberties Union, the nighttime-only restriction was rescinded. The city acknowledged that Andy could paint fully nude men or women, day or night, on any public street of New York City.

In 2013, Andy was busy. He painted models in Times Square outside of the Apple Store, the Guggenheim Museum, a group of 10 models on Broadway, which landed him as the subject of David Letterman’s Top Ten List.

Other body painters began approaching Andy about painting together, so he decided to make a NYC Bodypainting Day. Young Naturists America helped organize the event along with body painter Craig Tracy. The event celebrated the unique art form of body painting, freedom of artistic expression and freedom of artistic nudity in New York City.

In 2014, 30 artists from around the country painted 40 fully nude models in the public streets at Columbus Circle. In 2015, the event doubled in size and was expanded to the city of Amsterdam. 2016 promises to be even bigger with some new cities on the horizon.

http://bodypaintingday.org/backstory/