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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Action over 'indecent' Jesus art | Action over 'indecent' Jesus art |
| (39 minutes 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 Chinese-born 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 Chinese-born 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 BBC 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, brought under Section 5 of the Public Order Act, was adjourned at Gateshead Magistrates' Court following a legal hitch. | |
| It is due to be heard again on 23 September. | |
| 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. |