NYC Body Painting Day 2017: A New Experience!

It was thrilling to be a participating artist in NYC BODY PAINTING DAY, July 22 at Washington Square Park!

This public art event, produced by Human Connection Arts, had a select group of talented artists painting on the bodies of nude models over a 4 hour period in full public view.

WHY? “To create impactful public art events that enable free artistic expression, body acceptance and human connection through art.”

The artists are able to 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. Body Painting Day is a non-commercial event that focuses on the artists voice and this year’s theme was “Humanity.”

Body Painting 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.

The public gets to see all types of bodies which is especially important since the perception of the human form is twisted by advertising and the media, and 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.

Artist Barbara Rachko and model Kevin

Body Painting Day began in 2014 in New York City and was founded by artist Andy Golub. In 2015, Body Painting Day added the city of Amsterdam, in 2016 the city of San Francisco was added , and in 2017 city of Berlin was added.

For more of Barbara’s art (which inspired her painting on Kevin) please see www.BarbaraRachko.ART.