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Only In New York! Nude Portrait Turns Heads, Stirs Controversy In SoHo

NEW YORK(CBSNewYork) -- A controversial picture has popped up in SoHo.

As CBS 2's Cindy Hsu reported, a frontal nude photo of a man that went up in front of a SoHo business gave passersby a full view, and has gotten quite a reaction.

"I was just like, you know, 'Whoa,'" Diane Fusco said.

"My first thought was, 'What is this naked picture doing here?'" Lisa Forni recalled.

The picture is part of an art exhibition by photographer Bek Anderson. She said that there is nothing indecent about the series of nude portraits of men.

"We're in New York. If this is offensive then move somewhere else," she said.

But father of two Wing Chung said that the image doesn't belong in a public place.

"It's not really good for the neighborhood, especially with two small kids. When they walk by they will question me what that is," he said.

Brion Isaacs owns Rivington Design House, the marketing and design company where the exhibit is displayed, and said that New Yorkers shouldn't find the exhibit shocking.

"I grew up in the city going to museums every Sunday with my dad, and I hope that they take their kids to the museum. This shouldn't be that shocking," he explained.

Ali Cole and her 7-year-old daughter agreed.

"You see so many interesting things on the street as it is. It's just one of many," Ali said.

"I don't really care," Ali's daughter Adira added.

But mother Angela McCabe was not too happy about it.

"I wish it wasn't there, and I wish I wasn't here with my 65-year-old mother and my two children," she said.

Ryan Claeson, 15, also voiced his disapproval.

"It's pretty strange. It probably shouldn't be there," he said.

Matthew Claeson, celebrating his 12th birthday, said the picture was quite a shocker.

"It's very colorful. Ughhh...Oh Lord!" he exclaimed before admitting that it would be a birthday that he would never forget.

The exhibit is set to run through Aug. 15. CBS 2 checked with the NYPD, which said that the picture does not violate any laws.

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