Posted on 03/20/2006 5:50:57 PM PST by Hannah Senesh
London - British detectives said on Monday they had launched an inquiry into claims that police staff had been selling close-up pictures of a huge group of naked people who took part in a photo shoot for a United States artist.
Around 1 700 volunteers stripped off last July in Newcastle, north-eastern England, for an installation by New York-based contemporary artist Spencer Tunick, known worldwide for his photographs of massed groups of naked people.
"We've spoken to a number of officers and police staff and as a result two (civilian) members of police staff have been suspended," the force's Deputy Chief Constable David Warcup said in a statement.
"If there is found to be any substance in these allegations we will take prompt and robust action. This is not the standard of behaviour expected from anyone employed by Northumbria Police."
Tunick has photographed thousands of naked people at many locations around the world, including London, Montreal, Jerusalem and New York's Time Square.
People from as far afield as Mexico and Australia joined Britons for last July's dawn photo shoot on and around the Millennium Bridge which links Newcastle and the neighbouring town of Gateshead.
"My heart goes out to the people who participated and braved the early morning and the cold weather today," Tunick said at the time.
"I hope they feel like they've accomplished something this morning because I want them, and everyone, to know that I made some wonderful work here in Newcastle/Gateshead and I'm very excited to share the results with the public."
The official pictures are on display at Gateshead's Baltic art gallery.
Northumbria police said they were investigating reports that pictures taken on the day from closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras were now being offered for sale in the area.
What's that smell in here?
So it's legal to BE naked in a public space
But it's illegal to take PICTURES of people being naked in a public space?
Like it might violate their privacy?
Huh!
I have a directory full of group nude scenes that I've collected over the years -- some from this guy, more from other sources. The name of the directory is "LIBERALS."
I hope the inquiry uncovers something.
These things need to be exposed to the light of day.
Some of those photos make me think we shouldn't take this lying down.
When he takes pics of naked people in a public place, it's "art". When anyone else takes a pic, it's obscene/pornography/an invasion of privacy.
that was uncalled for... ugh... I'm not feeling so good.
Is there a reason why you are disgusted or sickened by what God created? If so, why?
I was reacting to Bird Jenkins comment about the collective body odors of several thousand people in a confined space.
Wish we could all walk around in our birthday suits, but Adam & Eve sort of botched that one up for us.
Well said, that's basically the long and short of it.
Soon as I saw the title of this thread, I knew it had to be SPencer Tunick.
Spencer is "The Last Puritan" among photographers, in the same way that the back to nature "Nudist Movement" of the postwar years were at heart Puritans, and far from the liberated souls they fancied themselves to be.
His apparent guiding aesthetic philosophy is just obvious enough to be red meat for art/photography critics who still need "something to talk about", but don't have to go very far or tax their intellects to get it. Interestingly a few of
his group nude shots have aroused some really negative, bad-taste-in-the-mouth reactions from some critics, because they were too reminiscent of the ghastly Nazi photos from WW2 of stacked up bodies of concentration camp victims. I think he (wisely) pulled them, having realized his mistake, being Jewish himself was sensitive enough to the dangerous ground he was on.
But the important thing is that for anyone doing any kind of art, or pseudo-art in out current period, every practitioner has to find a distinct niche for himself,and keep deepening that niche, and Tunick has done that.
Watch your head, mam. I feel a little bubble coming on.
Two words come to mind... Crack spackle.
Sorry, I couldn't resist.
These pictures are racist!
Or is it just that only white people can be this stupid?
I see Boobies
Pretentious tripe.
What is the naked truth about these allegations?
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