Dozens of artists and models on Saturday braved the sweltering sun and heat, stripping down for the annual NYC Body Painting Day at Maria Hernandez Park in Bushwick.
From 11:00am until 4:00pm, naked bodies splashed with color and patterns became the ultimate canvases for artists, painting in the theme "The Purpose of Our Existence." It was the first time the event held by non-profit Human Connection Arts has taken place in Brooklyn since its inception five years ago.
Human Connections Art executive director Andy Golub said the neighborhood was a great fit for the event in the way it embraces art, positivity and creativity. The purpose of the event is to bring art into a public space, let artists and models express themselves and show acceptance for nudity and all body types, he said.
"I feel strongly that art has been relegated to the sidelines, I made a name for myself doing a lot of live body painting in Times Square because that is the most public place you could be," he said.
"I don't like the idea of art being on the sidelines and the advertisers being in the center, I think art and expression and people connecting with each other and using the public square as a form of human connection should come first."
Visit the Human Connection Arts website for more information on the NYC Body Painting Day and the other work they do.
