What else did we do over the Memorial Day weekend? (Other than enjoying a street fair on Broadway.) Well, we went to a lovely park — not saying where — and found a lovely secluded boulder — not saying which — and lay out under the sun in a state of undress suitable to the elevated temperature and intense sunniness.
How naked is naked? And how naked is legal? We’re fortunate to live in New York City, where any woman can go topless anywhere and anytime a man can. What about going further? Well, we know that full nudity is permitted in the context of a play or other artistic performance or exhibition, like our recent production of The Tempest in Central Park. The exemption for artistic activities has also enabled photographers like Spencer Tunick to shoot photos of fully nude individuals in public places. We were taking photos as well (as you can see), and we think they’re no less artistic than Tunick’s. So why shouldn’t the same exemption cover us?
In any event, some of us took the opportunity to lose that last shred of fabric.
Did it make a difference? Well, it felt awfully nice. And bothered no one (since no one who wasn’t in our group saw). And made it possible for us to create some photographic art, which we are delighted to exhibit for you here.
Could New York City someday be forward-thinking enough to choose some area in some local park and officially designate it for nude sunbathing? We’d like to think so; we’d like to see that happen. But in the meantime we’re glad that opportunities like this one sometimes exist. It’s lovely to lie topless in the sun. Even more so if you can be topless all over.
ETA: Several of you asked for (to quote one correspondent) “more, please,” including a few who wanted proof that the male member who joined us was in fact as brave as the women and wasn’t secretly wearing a C-string or something like that.
Happy to oblige. We got lots of great photos this time.
Woo-hoo, your rock art rocks! 🙂
It would be nice if New York (and other states) would set aside some space for naturists, like the Englischer Garten in Germany.
Exactly! There’s a petition online for something along those lines, but last time we checked it only had a few hundred signatures, and that’s not enough to make a difference to the city.
Do you feel like even if all of NY signed it they’d allow it? Seems like the puritanical vibe would still be kicking in. I keep meaning to go to the Woods campground (which is a great LGBT campground in PA) but my work schedule has me missing all of the fun weekends.
Tell all of us where the petition is and I bet we can get a lot more signatures!!
Congratulations on your skyclad adventure!! I’ve sunbathed on top of a hotel there in NYC, but never in a park. Cool!
You all seem so relaxed. Really, really love it.
That’s awesome that you were able to push the limits and enjoy the day/sun as it should be. Yes we (USA) are way behind many european countries when it comes to designated nude areas. As you alluded to, it takes numbers and organization to accomplish. Kudos on your awesome day.
Think that it is awesome that you are pushing the limits. Nobody had been hurt and you are finding a bit more freedom.
Reblogged this on clothes free life and commented:
Rockin out a bit more than topless
Reblogged this on Naturalian's Blog and commented:
Just ordinary natural normal women!
more please
Lovely pics and I agree with you 100%.
I think you guys are fantastic. Wonderfully natural and unselfconscious.
Wonderful post. You had hinted before that some of you might have stripped off completely atop that rock, or one like it, but were then understandably coy about it. Since it’s obvious that you could be seen from the street, I hope this doesn’t endanger your hitherto good relationship with the NYPD. Not sure that the mere action of taking a picture of a nude woman ipso facto makes it art, but you may have some lawyers smart enough to make a case in court among your members.
Wonderful also to see a full luxuriant bush on display. I thought that those days had gone for good. More of that young lady, please. Maybe this concealment of her vagina would help the defence?
In all the excitement, you didn’t say what you were reading, and eating. I hope the answer isn’t the same as what you were wearing!
We were eating fruit, mostly: cherries, strawberries, donut peaches. And some donut donuts, too.
We were reading a bit less than we normally do, though we had some new Hard Case Crime books on hand to dip into, and A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES, and we discussed Milan Kundera, though none of us had any of his work with us.
It’s easy to call it Art when the subjects are as spectacularly beautiful as these!
You may have to change your name to the Outdoor Co-ed Guerrilla Naturist Pulp Fiction Appreciation Society!
Lucky, you found that place to be nude (in a US. city) Better for us Europeans, we can be nude anywhere at beaches, rivers and lakes.
That’s that have been traditionally done in Germany, and recently officially established in parks in München, I know you will accomplish in NYC for a beginning. That’s what I think it should be legal for any public land and park in our western world. Keep it Up girls!
I think the human body (male or female) is not only a work of art but a marvel of bio-engineering. So, it was nice to see the male half of the pop represented. Also, I think after age 35 everyone is bi. They just may not realize it (just stated for the record.)
Not just after age 35, necessarily.
And not necessarily bi; just realizing that most aspects of the traditional “gender roles” that aren’t directly connected to reproduction are hogwash.