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Police seizes picture in art gallery

Mark | 25.09.2007 13:37

The thought police seizes a picture belonging to the personal collection of Elton John under suspicious that it constitures child porn, when we all thought the police speciality it is to catch "criminals", apparently now it looks as if they are good as art critics too.

The picture is now being examined by lawyers at the Crown Prosecution Service.

Officials at the gallery confirmed that the police were involved but refused to say who had decided the picture should be removed.

Peter Doroschenko, the director of the gallery, said: "I'm afraid I can't comment on this."

Claire Byers, the communications director, said: "The police are involved in this incident and we are fully cooperating with their inquiries. That is all I can say on this at the moment."

The image is being examined by police and lawyers from the Crown Prosecution Service for consideration under the 1978 Protection of Children Act.

A Northumbria police spokesman said yesterday: "The circumstances around who may have been involved in the production of the image and who may have owned it or owns it forms part of the investigation.

"We attended the Baltic Centre last Thursday at the invitation of the management who were seeking advice about an item for an exhibition prior to it going on public display.

"This item is being assessed and Northumbria Police, in consultation with the CPS, is investigating the circumstances surrounding it. The incident is ongoing and investigations are now being carried out."

Goldin, 54, is well known for her shots of young, semi-clothed girls.

Thanksgiving is described by the Baltic as an installation of photographs which documents Goldin's life from 1973 to 1999 - "a micro-retrospective of her career."

In 2001, one of her photos featuring a very young naked girl looking up between the open legs of a semi-clothed older child had been criticised for making money from exploiting children. It was published in a book alongside similar works to accompany an exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery in north London.

Goldin was born in Washington DC, ran away from home and was fostered by several families during her childhood. She moved to New York after graduating from art school where she took became known for pictures of alcoholics, drug addicts and Aids sufferers.

She was admitted to rehab in the 1990s and much of her work since has reflected her own experiences.

Sir Elton John has long been an admirer of her work and is also a close friend. He was not available for comment and a spokesman referred inquiries to the Baltic.

This is not the first time an artist's pictures of children has been stripped from a public gallery over fears that it was obscene.

Mark
- Homepage: http://www.inquisition21.com

Comments

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BOLLOCKS!

28.09.2007 13:01

As a person who has been the victim of a paedophile, I fell I have a right to comment on this subject with clarity and conviction.

This was not art, this picture was and is child pornography.

Ask yourselves... would a paedophile look at this picture and the completely exposes genitalia of a very young female not get sexually aroused?

Who protects the child?

Why did a long-time offending nonse down the other end of this country get no custodial sentence as the judge quoted him to be a man of God and "believed" he would not re-offend as seen in the newspapers and on telly?

Why did a local nonse who molested a 6 month old child receive only 6 months sentence?

When my own child was molested, why did the police apologise and state that they would not be investigating as" We have too many child rape cases today to investigate, let alone, last week, last year... I'm sorry we won't be investigating."

Why do the schools in Nova Scotia, Canada, where I hail from, have paedophile insurance in the schools? Is the problem that prolific? Why are all settlements paid out without any questions and a gag order always slapped on the victim and family with the paycheque? Why are the offenders merely moved onto the next school and not criminally prosecuted?

Who writes the laws and who bangs the gavel?

If you think I am writing shite... you need to think twice... I am a 41 year old mom of three who is well travelled and well educated. Right is right and wrong is wrong.

Dangerous offenders are defined by two factors - the severity of their crimes and the likelihood to re-offend.

Paedophiles - is the crime severe? Are they likely to re-offend? Give me a f*cking break. Why are all paedophiles not all classed as dangerous offenders when that is what the majority of adults know to be the only way to protect our children? Most people of any nationality, race, creed or belief would meet out a far more sever punishment.DEATH. I only seek their permanent incarceration and segregation. No more going to nonse school in jail at the tax-payers expense... developing further rings.

Are there are any answers to these questions that could possibly justify paedophilia being accepted and tolerated within a democratic society and if so, I assume it would be deemed reasonable not to place child pornography on the walls of a gallery as art.

I am an artist and I am not a prude by a long shot and kiddie porn is kiddie porn no matter how clever the disguise.

Honestly and sincerely,

Charity

Charity
mail e-mail: charitysweet@hotmail.co.uk