Bodypainting Day in the key of Humanity

McKensi was inspired by attending last year’s Bodypainting Day as a spectator and participated for the first time this year. “I feel great. I thought I would have been nervous but I’m really embracing this entire atmosphere and everyone has made me feel comfortable.” McKensi was paired with artist Caren Charles who discussed her thought process and interpretation of this year’s theme ‘humanity.’ “I’m a go with the flow kind of processor so I’m embracing the natural curves of the human form and amplifying her features. I think that she is going to embody the human experience through it.” Charles usually paints on canvas but prefers the human body, “It’s definitely my favorite form of art just because of the one on one human interactive-ness and the transformation process that happens throughout it. There are healing aspects to it as well and I really don’t think you can beat that. It’s also re-igniting the primal flames of the first art form that ever existed.”

“It’s my first time in life that I’m basically naked in the city." Dina Raketa began, "The most difficult thing in emigration is the search for a circle of communication and learning the language. This event had helped me feel connected in ways I couldn't imagine." (Artist Jim Houba)

“The human face is the most important connection that we have to our own identity and we can’t see our own face until we look at it through photos.” GSN’s Skin Wars host Craig Tracy said. “We become what the artist makes us, we become a vessel for the artist, and I’m being transformed as we speak into something beautiful and sacred and in some ways frightening, dealing with death but through the colors of nature and the flowers, you know?” Artist Robin Slonina, co-host host of GSN’s Skin Wars, shared, “There’s really nothing like the feeling of watching your art get up and walk around and move and breathe and dance. It becomes very addicting, very quickly to see your art literally come to life.”