Model Luisa Ladeveze, painted by Jose Art. (Photo by Bob Krasner)
Adorned, not porn: Body painting brings nudity back to Times Square
July 29, 2020
BY BOB KRASNER | There was a time when nudity was a major currency in Times Square, hidden behind the long-gone doors of porn theaters, strip clubs and peep shows.
Having Andy Golub and his crew from Human Connection Arts out in the street painting on naked, living canvases turned that paradigm inside out. Saturday’s Body Painting Day was celebrated by a smaller crew (due to COVID concerns) and seen by far less people (due to the lack of tourists) but was no less uplifting.
In the foreground, model Liz Munde being finished up by Andy Golub’s assistant, Liedewei Verbelelen. Andy Golub, far left, did most of the work on the model. “It was my first time being painted in public — I love it,” Munde said. (Photo by Bob Krasner)Eve Kat did the work on model Susan Leaderman, who was not nervous about being on display in public for the first time. “This is me at 55,” she said. (Photo by Bob Krasner)Using a full palette on a model. (Photo by Bob Krasner)
This year’s theme was “Freedom” and the huge American flag billboard at 43rd St. and Broadway was the perfect backdrop for such a celebration.
First-time models shed their nerves almost immediately after shedding their clothes. Model Gabbie Breton was one of those.
“I was super-nervous at first,” Breton said. “But it was a bucket-list thing. Now I feel really good about being part of an art installation in the middle of Times Square.”
Body painting veteran Amy. (Photo by Bob Krasner)Special effects makeup artist Beatrice Sniper used an airbrush on first timer Kai Mann-Robertson. “It’s cool!” he said. “After a few minutes you forget that you’re naked.”
After four hours of painting, artists, models, crew and a lot of photographers walked across 42nd St. and down Fifth Ave., stopping at the New York Public Library Main Branch and the Empire State Building for photo ops.
As a tune-up to the Times Square event, Golub recently also did some body painting on a smaller scale at Astor Place and Fourth Ave.
Way down below the ocean… . (Photo by Bob Krasner)From left, Liz Munde, Andy Golub and Gabbie Breton fly their colors in Times Square. Golub, the founder of Human Connection Arts, painted both models. “I was super-nervous at first,” Breton said. “But it was a bucket-list thing. Now I feel really good about being part of an art installation in the middle of Times Square.”Artist Uta Brauser working on Gustavo Matthew. (Photo by Bob Krasner)Tasha Douge, painted by Ruben Torres. (Photo by Bob Krasner)A trio of body-painting models, in living color. (Photo by Bob Krasner)Luna Pandora, painted by Humo Maya. (Photo by Bob Krasner)Luisa Ladeveze, modeling the work of Jose Art for the crowd. (Photo by Bob Krasner)Creativity ran wild. (Photo by Bob Krasner)Luna Pandora, painted by Humo Maya, at the NY Public LibraryStriking a pose for “Freedom” — this year’s Body Painting Day theme — in Times Square. (Photo by Bob Krasner)
How wonderful!
BEAUTIFUL!!