Hay-on-Wye is renowned for its love of the arts – but anger over a gallery displaying a naked woman in the window shows that not all locals are fans – and MailOnline can reveal that the row might be about to escalate.
Young artist Poppy Baynham’s painting featured a lady in cowboy boots with her legs spread, with one complainer bizarrely calling her a ‘paedophile’. It was part of a wider display by Poppy and her sister Ollie.
Val Harris, the owner of The Chair gallery, refused to remove the controversial artwork from her window in the historic Powys town – even after a visit from the local constabulary ‘two days running’ – and now she plans to do it all over again, on an even bigger scale.
The police were called last week and Ms Harris was told she might be committing a public order offence.
She refused to remove them and today MailOnline can reveal that she will now be holding a new life art exhibition next month despite the chastening experience that saw her accused of having pornography in the window.
Next month, The Chair will host its ‘Slay Hay Life’ competition, exhibiting the best life paintings, life drawing and life sculptures that Val can get her hands on.
The Chair Gallery in Hay-on-Wye caused a kerfuffle over this display in its window last week and its owners are planning a new exhibition to show its ‘integrity’ after locals wanted the life drawings removed, claiming it was like displaying porn
The gallery put this notice in the window to encourage debate but refused to remove the art despite police visiting
Val Harris (left) and Poppy took to social media to defend the painting saying they have no plans to remove it from the window. Val is now planning a new exhibition of life drawings and art in October called ‘Slay Hay Life’
‘The art in my gallery’s window had provoked a lot of discussion here in Hay. The vast majority of people have been very positive. But there were a small number of people who complained’, she said.
‘I am not trying to shake things up. But we have had people, mainly women, coming in here to complain. Some were aggressive. One called the artist a paedophile.
‘It has been a salutary and shocking experience to witness some of the anger towards these young girls’.
Gallerist Val said she was visited by police after locals complained – but they took no further action despite saying she may be committing a public order offence.
Ms Harris insisted the paintings weren’t breaking any laws and defended her right to display them to passers by when confronted.
She told MailOnline that some came into the gallery to complain, others sent vile emails.
Despite the police visit, the art remained in the window until this weekend when the exhibition ended.
But Ms Harris is planning a new exhibition ‘Slay Hay Life’ – with slay being the slang word for showing admiration or appreciation for someone’s skills or abilities.
‘There is a life drawing course at the castle each Monday. It is already here in the town and should be celebrated.
‘I only learned the word “slay” last week and the girls think it is perfect for the new exhibition’s title and I agree’.
Slay Hay Life is due to be held in late October.
The Chair is inviting artists and sculptors to show up to six pieces of art each.
Powys Police told MailOnline last week that officers were sent to the gallery having received a report about the paintings in the window.
The one that particularly upset people was of a woman’s open legs.
Artist Poppy Baynham created the painting as part of a wider exhibition of work she made with her sister
The piece of art that has caused raised eyebrows features a naked women in cowboy boots with her legs spread
Ms Harris said that they ‘aren’t going to take it out of the window’ as the gallery is ‘making a stand’ against the complaints
Ms Harris told critics that she wasn’t ‘going to take it out of the window’ as the gallery to ‘make a stand’ against the complaints.
Hay Town Council said in a statement it had not received any complaints about the painting and that no action is being planned, the BBC has reported.
But Ms Harris believes that a councillor may have been among those who complained.
However, the majority of locals MailOnline spoke to were unhappy to see the paintings.
One said: ‘Of course it’s offensive. I know it’s about ‘artistic expression’ and the freedom to paint whatever you want, but you have to draw the line somewhere and this is obviously overstepping the mark.’
Another added: ‘I know kids see worse than that on the internet every day, but I still don’t think it should be put on display for everyone to see as they walk down the street.’
Naked women or men feature in some of the world’s most famous pieces of art leaving Ms Baynham confused over the backlash her work has received, with some labelling it as ‘pornography’.
A sign next to the painting urged members of the public to share their views inside a visitor book inside the art gallery.
Ms Harris revealed that the response had been ’50:50′ with some people calling it as ‘inappropriate’ or ‘lewd’ while others were unmoved about the display.
Many have also taken to social media in support of Ms Baynham following the backlash she has received.
One user wrote: ‘Some people. And shame on the police, wasting their time on such nonsenses, twice.
‘Do the complainants have nothing better to do? I’d think better of them if they came in to discuss it directly with you, rather than hiding behind the law.’
Another added: ‘Oh wow, that’s not offensive at all. What is wrong with people. You are right, leave it in the window.’
Many have taken to social media in support of Ms Baynham following the backlash she has received
‘You are right, leave it in the window’ one person responded to Ms Baynham’s social media post about the backlash
Some believe that the painting shouldn’t be on window display but only on show inside the art gallery
However, others believed that the painting unsuitable for display in the gallery’s window.
One commenter wrote: ‘I think there’s a difference between painting the human figure without clothing and painting bodies in a sexualised way.
‘The paintings in your window are very sexualised. So, my judgement would be that they are not suitable for a window display, perfectly fine within your gallery.
‘It would be considerate for parents to be aware that there are sexually themed paintings within, so you give them the freedom to choose, rather than impose these pictures upon them.’