Body Painting

[eyesup]

Not sure this is the right place. There is nudity and then there is naturism.

I saw a blurb about "The New York City Body Painting Day".
We see naturism as nudity out in nature I thought that since the painting was being done outside it barely squeaked over the line as naturism.

It's actually more about the art and the canvas, so I figured it fit in the "Naturism & Art" section.

Enjoy watching people having a lot of fun.

Duane

[atourist]

Thanks for posting. These videos would/should brighten anybody's day.

And it's so refreshing that body painting truly means body painting in this case. Nothing misses the point more than painting on bodies that are not naked, but rather are wearing underwear.

[eyesup]

From the NYC Bodypainting Day website:
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.

(bold emphasis & italics are mine)

It does make you wonder why someone would not take the chance to experience that given the opportunity, but like some CO venues that allow newbies to "take their time undressing", maybe that is what is going on there.

This is really no different than wondering through a museum where nudity is depicted. At this event the art is animated. In tha way it does further the action of presenting nudity in a everyday, for an art lover, setting.

Duane

[jbeegoode]

It was a very positive experience for that lady to overcome her body image issues on Ted talk that I posted a month or so ago (nudes in the news thread). They rode around on top of a double-decker bus parading and stopping a couple of places. I'd do it, but NYC is too long of a trip. I'd call that free range.

My old girlfriend had painted clothing on to be able to tryout walking the streets naked. It was done at night in residential areas, but I'd call that free range, too...but certainly not artistic expression.

DF and I participated in a body paint contest at De Anza. It was fun.

In NYC this has been evolving after a positive legal clarification.
Jbee

[John P]

Here's the way it worked out in New York City, although the person who posted it said "I would say less than half of the models."



One of the participants put this on a Facebook page, and I asked if it could be made public, and got the reply "I don't have an issue with you reposting it, nor would the others", so I think the ethical question is settled. (Having made an issue earlier about stolen images.)

[eyesup]

I was browsing the "Bodypainting Day" website for the event and discovered that to be "painted" you had to audition as a model. At one point they "closed" the auditions.

I guess I understand why, but for me it cast a bit of a scripted sheen over the activity. Between the logistics of having it open to any volunteer, to wondering whether you are getting some whacko, it would be a real headache. You never CAN know who you are getting with a genuine random choice from someone wandering the streets of NYC.

Were these working models? Not clear. Were they enthusiastic? Sure seemed that way. Were they a random selection of Americans offering up an opinion of what and how "normal" nudity can be dealt with in a city in America? After reading that, not sure. Maybe they were randomly selected, but the "auditions closed" notice was what caught my attention. Likely that was done in advance, not the day of.

But, the event went as planned and overall seemed to be a good response. Maybe at some point they could do a concurrent smaller staging of truly random people selected right off the street. Sufficiently skilled screeners with the right questions could weed out the weirdos. Or maybe the weirdos would be tolerable. Who knows?

At any rate seeing how someone, that would never in their wildest dream stroll around the City starkers, would react to the prospect of being in downtown* NYC completely naked, would be a wonderful contrast to watching models simply doing their job.

It would add an element of surprise to the day.

Duane

* Not being a NYC resident or native I've never mastered the differences between "downtown", "uptown" and "midtown", or any other "*town" used in the Big Apple. They sound intuitive, but I've always suspected I haven't quite "gotten it".

[Alf]

I like that this is in the media. Perhaps, with more bike days, body painting, and accepted events where nudity is accepted or encouraged, we may take a turn in North America regarding body acceptance instead of body shame.

../Alf

[eyesup]

I agree. Even though it was designed and apparently choreographed, it at least put out on the street, naked people in a non-sexual or other provocative stance.

Being naked at an art fair, Ok!
Being naked on a bike ride, Ok!
Reading books in Central Park topless, Ok!
Breastfeeding in public, Ok!

More everyday activities with nude or partially nude people are the incremental steps I like to see. 

Duane

[eyesup]

Interesting photos. I guess they are painted then photographed.
If so, it's a good job. If not, it's not really body painting. It's photo touch.

They also appear to be inside in a studio. More body art painting than body life painting.
Unlike the NYC event.

Duane

[jbeegoode]

I agree. Even though it was designed and apparently choreographed, it at least put out on the street, naked people in a non-sexual or other provocative stance.

Being naked at an art fair, Ok!
Being naked on a bike ride, Ok!
Reading books in Central Park topless, Ok!
Breastfeeding in public, Ok!

More everyday activities with nude or partially nude people are the incremental steps I like to see. 

Duane

There is a loosely connected group in Seattle that been doing publicly naked events like these with just that strategic intent. Mark Storey is a part of that. It has had a positive effect in that area, even some national attention. Social change while having fun and making people smile! But, Bob tells us that the state is divided in two. This may have contributed to that, where one is more progressive than the other.
Jbee

[eyesup]

We'll, some progress is good.

It is a steady but persistent effort to separate the sexual intent from engaging in everyday naked or partially naked activities, that is needed.

Duane

[eyesup]

For those living in the area.

It appears that the next annual NYC Bodypainting Day takes place on Saturday, July 22nd at Washington Square Park in the heart of Greenwich Village.

Maybe a onsite report is in order.    Or even a participant.

Duane

[eyesup]

Body Painting Day!
Painting day is this Saturday!
Live from, action reporter on site, take it off . . . errr . . . away!

Duane

[jbeegoode]

We are going to get into some blacklight paint with a couple of friends and dance to make some fun pics...one of these days.
Jbee

[eyesup]

I was at a resort in Mexico once back in the ‘80’s. It wasn’t a CO resort but it was right on the beach. The position of management was officially against nudity which is illegal in Mexico. But if those wacky, fun loving tourists (most of whom were American and European) surreptitiously went swimming naturally, they sort of looked the other way.

One night the staff put on a stage show. One of the groups had painted the performers with fluorescent paint and they did their dance with only blacklights for lighting. Could make an interesting movie, Jbee.

We await the premier.

Duane