BDSM RTV MEDIA NEWS!!!!


09 august 2009


Images are not porn insists gallery boss


Source: www.thisiscornwall.co.uk This is Cornwall - UK


FETISH photographer Andy Craddock admits his new adult gallery in St Austell town centre is controversial - but insists it's not pornographic.


Andy, who is internationally known in the burlesque and alternative genres, opened Noelestat's studio, gallery and modelling agency on Saturday.

He said: "Older people obviously won't embrace it and I'll probably get stoned and put in the stocks and beaten.

"It's controversial but controversy isn't a bad thing and it doesn't mean I'm a bad photographer.

"Apparently there have already been complaints - but not to my face."
The studio, in East Hill, is decorated with corsets, leather and rubber bondage gear, silk knickers, masks and some adult images.

But Andy, who lives in Foxhole, won't be giving out warnings - not even to parents.

Not offensive
"I know there are people who will describe my kind of art as dirty or pornographic," he said. "But if they walk in and don't like it they can turn straight back out and go.

"It's not pornographic and it's not offensive. You would take your children around the National Gallery and look at the famous nudes, so why not here? What's wrong with the human body?"

Insp Stuart Gibbons of St Austell Police said he would be looking into the matter.

"It's a test case really, but if someone came to me saying they were offended by the material then the gallery is technically committing an offence under the public order act."

Andy is no stranger to controversy having had run-ins with police and the Church of England following his ongoing series of photos portraying nudes in church.

Controversy
He said: "I don't search for controversy but I'm not afraid of it either. People have made money out of controversy for years. If Damien Hirst didn't cut a cow in half he wouldn't be famous.

"My specialisms are burlesque and alternative fashions, such as piercing and tattoos.

"I think it fits in quite well in St Austell, every other girl is pierced or tattooed. I'm sure the town has an alternative scene.

"Some of my images are adult, but my 18 to 35 demographic will embrace it and my website's had more than a million hits so I must be doing something right."

Noelestat's will also be selling burlesque outfits, bondage gear and corsets made by Dita Von Teese's corsetiere, Velda Lauder.

St Austell mayor Brian Palmer said: "I haven't had the opportunity to call in there myself but I've read about it."

He added: "I'm not sure this is the sort of new business we want in St Austell - even in these times. I would question whether it's welcome in town."