This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/tyne/7593386.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Action over 'indecent' Jesus art | Action over 'indecent' Jesus art |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A Christian group is taking an art centre to court, claiming it displayed an indecent statue of Jesus Christ. | A Christian group is taking an art centre to court, claiming it displayed an indecent statue of Jesus Christ. |
| The artwork was part of an exhibition at Gateshead's Baltic Centre featuring several plaster figures with erections, including ET, Mickey Mouse and Jesus. | The artwork was part of an exhibition at Gateshead's Baltic Centre featuring several plaster figures with erections, including ET, Mickey Mouse and Jesus. |
| Lawyers for Christian Emily Mapfuwa, 40, of Essex, are bringing a civil case for outraging public decency. | Lawyers for Christian Emily Mapfuwa, 40, of Essex, are bringing a civil case for outraging public decency. |
| Northumbria Police investigated following Mrs Mapfuwa's complaint, but ruled there was no case to answer. | Northumbria Police investigated following Mrs Mapfuwa's complaint, but ruled there was no case to answer. |
| The statue was part of Baltic's September 2007 to January 2008 exhibition by controversial Japanese artist Terence Koh, "Gone, Yet Still". This statue served no other purpose than to offend Christians and to denigrate Christ Christian Legal Centre spokesman | The statue was part of Baltic's September 2007 to January 2008 exhibition by controversial Japanese artist Terence Koh, "Gone, Yet Still". This statue served no other purpose than to offend Christians and to denigrate Christ Christian Legal Centre spokesman |
| Signs warning of the exhibition's content were posted at the entrance to the gallery. | Signs warning of the exhibition's content were posted at the entrance to the gallery. |
| Mrs Mapfuwa, of Brentwood, said Baltic would not have dared depict Mohammed in such a way. | Mrs Mapfuwa, of Brentwood, said Baltic would not have dared depict Mohammed in such a way. |
| She is being represented by the Christian Legal Centre. A spokesman said: "This statue served no other purpose than to offend Christians and to denigrate Christ." | She is being represented by the Christian Legal Centre. A spokesman said: "This statue served no other purpose than to offend Christians and to denigrate Christ." |
| Godfrey Worsdale, who is due to take over as the gallery's director in November, said he could not comment on the legal action. | Godfrey Worsdale, who is due to take over as the gallery's director in November, said he could not comment on the legal action. |
| 'Good art' | 'Good art' |
| But he told Radio Newcastle: "Controversy has always been associated with modern art - the gallery has to make a judgement. | But he told Radio Newcastle: "Controversy has always been associated with modern art - the gallery has to make a judgement. |
| "If it is good art we have a responsibility to show it." | "If it is good art we have a responsibility to show it." |
| The action, which will be heard at Gateshead Magistrates' Court, is being brought under Section 5 of the Public Order Act. | The action, which will be heard at Gateshead Magistrates' Court, is being brought under Section 5 of the Public Order Act. |
| Last year Northumbria Police began a child pornography investigation after a photograph owned by Sir Elton John was seized from an exhibition at the centre. | Last year Northumbria Police began a child pornography investigation after a photograph owned by Sir Elton John was seized from an exhibition at the centre. |
| The photo, Klara and Edda Belly Dancing by American Nan Goldin, was withdrawn the day before it was due to go on display. | The photo, Klara and Edda Belly Dancing by American Nan Goldin, was withdrawn the day before it was due to go on display. |
| The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decided it was not indecent. | The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decided it was not indecent. |