Naked Model Kathleen Neill Arrested During Zach Hyman's Naked Photo Shoot at the Met

Kathleen Neill, model and subject of another Zach Hyman photo shoot, knew that when she took her clothes off and got naked in the middle of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met, as it is commonly referred to) that she could be arrested, regardless if what she was doing could be considered art or not. Public nakedness or nudity is against the law in New York City and Kathleen Neill consciously broke the law -- for art's sake. And for propriety's sake, Kathleen Neill, volunteer model, was arrested for public nudity. Did it matter that the model was posing for Zach Hyman for free? Did it matter that she was modeling in a building that housed some of the finest naked (referred to in the art world as "nude") portraits ever produced?

It seems that Zach Hyman is getting a lot of publicity lately. His showing at the Chair and Maiden Gallery in Manhattan last Thursday was preceded by national coverage of his naked subway pictures of actress Jocelyn Saldana. Naked models in the middle of normal everyday life in New York City is Zach Hyman's thing, his claim to fame, as it were. Zach Hyman has photographed naked young women running around and posing not only on subways but in Chinatown, Times Square, and other New York City landmarks. The chances that his models will be arrested are known. Zach Hyman keeps a lookout handy (apparently the Met arrest was either a publicity stunt -- more than likely -- or his lookout was distracted -- probably by the nude paintings), a pocketful of cash for bail money, and his attorney is on his cell phone's speed dial. And he has but one rule outside the fact that his models have to be volunteers, naked, and in New York City -- each photo shoot must be completed within 30 seconds.

Zach Hyman calls it art. Many would agree. Some call it pornography. Again, many would agree. But the NYPD simply calls it illegal. So Kathleen Neill, naked art, was taken in and put on display (with her clothes on) at the nearest precinct. There were probably more than a few there who wouldn't mind a little Kathleen Neill art on their cell walls...

Some mockingly refer to Zach Hyman's nude photos as Nude York City. And such things going on in the naked city are illegal, which is one of the reasons Hyman keeps his photo shoots at 30 seconds. That is long enough for him to snap off at least 10 pictures of his naked models.

His latest endeavor with 26-year-old model Kathleen Neill, according to the Associated Press, resulted in her arrest for public lewdness Wednesday in the arms and armor section of the Met. Kathleen Neill was naked in front of patrons and museum employees alike. Hyman's attorney, Donald Schechter, appropriately points out that the Metropolitan Museum of Art is full of nude paintings, and for the City to refer to what the model and photographer were doing an obscenity "is ridiculous."

But arguing that the location of the photo shoot houses nude artwork does not obviate the fact that a live person knowingly disrobed and presented themselves naked in the middle of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, an act which is currently illegal throughout the city, no matter what kind of logic or spin one puts on the situation.

Zach Hyman reportedly says that he was originally inspired to take pictures of naked women by the nude paintings at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

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One might look at this as going back to his source, but it might be looked at as a publicity stunt. See this article where this writer mentions that Zach Hyman might want to do a nude photo shoot during his showing last Thursday night.

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Sources:

Associated Press
New York Daily News