Thanks to Nicci Talbot (rudemagazine.com) for posting the response she has received from the Mall Galleries on Facebook.
It opens up a number of questions:
1. Why did the Mall Galleries not simply have the painting moved to a less prominent spot in the gallery?
2. Why is it ok to replace "Portrait of Ms Ruby May, standing" with a nude by another artist?
3. What is it about the painting that is seen as a threat to children/vulnerable adults?
4. Would the Society for Women Artists like to respond to this press release?
Please join the debate on Facebook and Twitter #eroticcensorship @mallgalleries @SWAInfo @msmccall
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MALL GALLERIES STATEMENT
RE: PAINTING BY LEENA MCCALL
· The painting by Leena McCall was hung in an exhibition organised, selected and funded by the Society of Women Artists, who havehired the Mall Galleries (run by the Federation of British Artists) for their annual exhibition.
· The Mall Galleries played no part in its selection or hanging.
· As an educational arts charity, the Federation has a responsibility to its Trustees and to the children and vulnerable adults who use its Galleries and Learning Centre. After a number of complaints regarding the depiction of the subject and taking account of its location en route for children to our Learning Centre, we requested the painting was removed. The Society of Women Artists made no objection and replaced it with another painting, also depicting a female nude.
Mall Galleries / Federation of British Artists