Portrait of SK Myra Hindley has been repaired & is back on display at British art gallery

[Joe1orbit]

Hello,

Those of you who read my posts religiously will recall how a portrait
painting of Myra Hindley, infamous child killer of 5, along with her partner
Ian Brady, that was on display at the Royal Academy art gallery in Britain,
was vandalized by two people who objected to the visage of Myra being so
prominantly displayed as a work of art.

This malicious vandalism took place three weks ago, and did damage the
painting quite severely. I must congratulate the art gallery for taking the
time and expense to have the painting restored. It is now back on public
display, and a clear plastic cover has been added to the front, so that any
future narrowminded and ignorant vandals will be thwarted. Bravo to the
gallery for not bowing to any of the public or media pressure that was brought
to bear on this issue of freedom of artistic expression.

Take care, JOE

The following appears courtesy of today's Reuters news wire:

LONDON (Reuter) - A portrait of Britain's infamous ``Moors Murderess'' Myra
Hindley went back on public display Friday after restorers repaired damage
caused by angry viewers who had splattered it with ink and an egg.

The painting is now under a clear plastic cover ``to give it the protection it
needs,'' a spokeswoman at the Royal Academy in London said.

The portrait of Hindley, jailed for life in 1966 for the murders of five
children, was created by artist Marcus Harvey out of hundreds of imprints of
children's hands. It caused an uproar when it was first displayed three weeks
ago as part of a show of controversial artworks.

There were pleas for its removal from the mother of one of Hindley's victims.
One man lobbed ink at the painting and another threw an egg, forcing the
Academy to take the picture down for repairs.

Restoration work was difficult but successful, the Academy spokeswoman said.
Asked whether security at the show had been stepped up now that the painting
was back, she would say only that ``appropriate'' security had been provided.

The ``Moors Murders'' carried out by Hindley and her lover Ian Brady horrified
Britain in the 1960s. The children were tortured and their agonies taped by
the couple. Some of the bodies were found buried on a lonely moor in northern
England.

The current show of controversial works owned by advertising mogul Charles
Saatchi has proven to be one of the most divisive in the Academy's 229-year history.

12:53 10-10-97