Etching taken down

Press, 4 February 1984, Page 13

Etching taken down

PA Hamilton An etching has been removed from public exhibition at Waikato Art Museum because it was considered obscene by a Hamilton City councillor, Cr Ted Armstrong. He said it degraded women and there had been two complaints about it. As chairman of the council’s recreation and welfare committee he said he was instructing art museum staff to replace the picture with a notice saying it would be available to view on request. The picture is part of an exhibition called “Ewe and Eye” by the New Zealand etcher, Barry Cleavin. It was arranged by the Auckland City Art Gallery and is being toured by the New Zealand Art Gallery

Directors’ Council. Many pictures featured the “naked anatomy, particularly the lower portions,” said Cr Armstrong. “He is a talented artist. Some pictures are terrific, but why he should include this one I can’t understand. It is a scene depicting a woman on her back and a hare having intercourse.” The exhibition proved controversial when displayed in Nelson. “I am not an art critic but I have stuck my head on the block with this,” said Cr Armstrong. “The emphasis on that museum is that it is a family museum. I don’t know how anybody could confront children or adults with such a picture. I feel I have taken the right action.” The art museum’s acting director, Mr Campbell Smith, said he was aware the exhibition could be controversial, but he had complete faith in Cleavin as an artist. “He is not an obscene person,” he said.