Marcus Chen
In 2011, artist Andy Golub painted model Marla Mera in New York City's Times Square. Mera wore only a G-string and her body was painted head to toe in neon pink and green. Since then, Golub has hosted several NYC Body Painting Day events, including one in Times Square in 2020, and another in Union Square in July 2021. During the 2017 event in Times Square, two hundred nude models participated in Golub's exhibit, 'Body Notes', which featured statements meant to inspire 'positivity and acceptance'.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 25 July 2021 |
| Location | Times Square, New York City |
| Artist | Andy |
| First Name | Golub |
| Number of Artists | 30 |
| Number of Models | 50 |
| Theme | Resilience |
| Time | 12 noon to 4 pm |
| Year of First Event | 2014 |
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What You'll Learn
- Artist Andy Golub celebrates July 25 as 'NYC Body Painting Day'
- In 2017, 200 nude models participated in Andy Golub's 'Body Notes' exhibit
- Body painting events are held to promote body positivity
- In 2011, Andy Golub painted model Marla Mera in Times Square
- Body painting is legal in NYC, as it is considered art
Artist Andy Golub celebrates July 25 as 'NYC Body Painting Day'
Artist Andy Golub has celebrated July 25 as NYC Body Painting Day in New York City for several years. The celebration includes Golub and other body painting enthusiasts gathering in the city, stripping off their clothes, and using the nude body as a canvas. The event is a bold celebration of the body as art.
In 2021, the event took place in Union Square Park, with over 30 artists and 50 nude models participating in the inclusive, body-positive event. The theme of that year was "resilience," inspired by the difficulties of the previous year and the idea of New York as a city of people coming together.
In previous years, the event has taken place in Times Square. In 2017, two hundred nude models participated in Golub's exhibit, 'Body Notes,' where their naked bodies were turned into colorful canvases featuring statements aimed at creating 'a powerful expression of positivity and acceptance.'
Golub's body painting events have also taken place in other cities around the world, including Berlin, Amsterdam, Zurich, and Brussels.
For Golub, NYC Body Painting Day is about more than just the shock value of public nudity. He explains that "body painting seems to be very light and silly, and it is. But on the other hand, there is something very deep about it." He believes that the day is about people being comfortable with their bodies and sharing that in some of the most public spaces in the world, ultimately accepting and celebrating themselves and their bodies.
NYC Body Painting Day also highlights a little-known law in New York City that permits public nudity if it is for artistic purposes.
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In 2017, 200 nude models participated in Andy Golub's 'Body Notes' exhibit
In June 2017, 200 nude models participated in Andy Golub's Body Notes exhibit in New York's Times Square. This was the artist's fourth annual body painting event in the city. The exhibit was free to attend and featured models of all shapes and sizes.
Golub, 44, told the NY Daily News:
> Everyone feels that being naked is such a big thing but in reality, that's just who we are. When you experience this, it quickly becomes no big deal.
The artist added that his body painting exhibits help to destigmatize nudity. Body Notes was inspired by artist Matthew 'Levee' Chavez's Subway Therapy wall in the Union Square subway station. Chavez, 28, from Gilroy, California, is also known for his sticky notes project in the 14th Street subway tunnel.
During the exhibit, models were painted with a base colour and then their torsos were emblazoned with statements of their choosing. Phrases included "Art is free", "Friends make the world go round", "My body, my art", and "Ask me why I love my body". The models were painted for three hours, and then spent an hour on the red bleachers in Times Square for a photography session.
Golub has since staged body painting events across the world, including in Berlin, Amsterdam, Zurich, and Brussels.
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Body painting events are held to promote body positivity
One of the "Painted Ladies," Saira Nicole, described her experience as "a very freeing feeling." She and her team aimed to exercise their rights and celebrate their freedom by interacting and taking pictures with people from across the world. Saira also challenged societal norms by encouraging parents to allow their children to see and understand the female body, promoting the idea that it should be respected rather than objectified.
In June 2017, artist Andy Golub hosted a similar event in Times Square, titled "Body Notes." Around 200 nude models participated, with their bodies acting as canvases for statements aimed at creating "a powerful expression of positivity and acceptance." This event also helped to destigmatize nudity and promote the idea that the human body is a form of art.
Golub has continued to organize body painting events in New York City, celebrating July 25 as "Body Painting Day." These events have evolved to include themes such as "resilience" in 2021, reflecting on the challenges faced by the city and its people. The events are inclusive and body-positive, with participants marching from Union Square to Washington Square Park, followed by live music and entertainment.
Through these body painting events, particularly in the iconic setting of Times Square, the human body is transformed into a powerful medium for self-expression and the promotion of body positivity. It provides an opportunity for individuals to embrace their bodies and feel comfortable in their own skin, fostering a sense of acceptance and empowerment.
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In 2011, Andy Golub painted model Marla Mera in Times Square
On August 19, 2011, artist Andy Golub painted model Marla Mera in Times Square, New York City. Mera was painted nude, wearing only a G-string to avoid charges of public lewdness. The body paint covered her from head to toe in neon pink and green paint, swirling on either half of her body.
Golub and Mera arrived just before noon on Broadway near West 43rd Street, in the centre of the city's theatre district. A large crowd of photographers, reporters, and onlookers gathered to watch the spectacle. The police stepped in and asked Golub to address the crowd, and Mera put on a sports bra, which caused most of the onlookers to disperse.
Golub stated that what he does in public is an extension of his studio work and that sharing it with the public is a great experience. He has previously been charged with public lewdness for similar performances, but this time, by having his model wear a G-string, he avoided any legal trouble.
Golub is known for his nude body painting exhibits, which aim to destigmatize nudity and create a powerful expression of positivity and acceptance. His Body Notes exhibit in 2017 featured two hundred nude models whose bodies were turned into colourful canvases featuring inspiring messages.
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Body painting is legal in NYC, as it is considered art
Golub's work highlights a little-known law in New York City that permits public nudity if it is for artistic purposes. In 2011, he organised a body painting event in Times Square, during which model Marla Mera wore only body paint in public. While Golub was previously charged with public lewdness for a similar event, he avoided charges this time as Mera wore a G-string.
The body-positive activism that Golub promotes has grown in popularity, with similar events taking place in Berlin, Amsterdam, Zurich, and Brussels. In New York, the NYC Body Painting Day in 2021 took place in Union Square, with participants marching to Washington Square Park and then enjoying live music at a Brooklyn venue.
The day is about more than just the shock value of public nudity. As Golub explains, "Body painting seems to be very light and silly... But on the other hand, there is something very deep about it. Because it deals with people being comfortable enough with their own bodies to share it in some of the most public spaces in the world. I think that, ultimately, accepting your own body is very much connected to accepting yourself."
New York's position on toplessness dates back to 1992 when the state's highest court ruled that it was discriminatory to bar women from going bare-chested when men are allowed to do so. This ruling has been upheld, and in recent years, "desnudas" or body-painted topless performers have turned Times Square into a battlefield for gender equality. While some see these women as reclaiming their bodies and their city, others view it as degrading and disrespectful.
Overall, body painting is legal in NYC as it is considered a form of artistic expression, and events like "NYC Body Painting Day" aim to promote body positivity and self-acceptance.
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Frequently asked questions
The Times Square nude body paint event took place on July 26, 2014.
The event involves nude models being painted with colourful canvases and statements to create 'a powerful expression of positivity and acceptance'.
Artist Andy Golub has organised the event, along with other body painting enthusiasts.
The event is a celebration of the body as art and aims to destigmatise nudity.
