Publisher nixes teen's nude self-portrait
Published: April 5, 2008 at 6:13 PM
PORTSMOUTH, Va., April 5 (UPI) -- A teen artist in Portsmouth, Va., who lost a contest after her nude self-portrait was deemed inappropriate, is thanking art lovers for their financial support.
Churchland High School student Nancy Reid, 17, was initially chosen as the winner of this year's The Virginian-Pilot Student Gallery for her self-portrait, described as a discrete nude. But her artistic effort was deemed inappropriate by the publisher of the sponsoring newspaper and she lost out on the $1,000 prize money, the (Norfolk) Virginian-Pilot reported Saturday.
But others jumped into action, raising $700 for Reid.
"I was not expecting it," she said. "That's really nice of them. But I feel bad that they're doing that. It shouldn't be their responsibility to make up for this huge scandal going on."
Virginian-Pilot publisher Bruce Bradley, who also would not let his newspaper publish a photo of the artwork, stood by his decision, saying Reid's subject matter was not appropriate for the annual contest.
"While it's true we don't specifically address this in the rules and regulations, the concern I had was to have a 17-year-old girl do a self-portrait of herself in the nude," Bradley said. "I thought that was inappropriate for the contest."
Churchland High School student Nancy Reid, 17, was initially chosen as the winner of this year's The Virginian-Pilot Student Gallery for her self-portrait, described as a discrete nude. But her artistic effort was deemed inappropriate by the publisher of the sponsoring newspaper and she lost out on the $1,000 prize money, the (Norfolk) Virginian-Pilot reported Saturday.
But others jumped into action, raising $700 for Reid.
"I was not expecting it," she said. "That's really nice of them. But I feel bad that they're doing that. It shouldn't be their responsibility to make up for this huge scandal going on."
Virginian-Pilot publisher Bruce Bradley, who also would not let his newspaper publish a photo of the artwork, stood by his decision, saying Reid's subject matter was not appropriate for the annual contest.
"While it's true we don't specifically address this in the rules and regulations, the concern I had was to have a 17-year-old girl do a self-portrait of herself in the nude," Bradley said. "I thought that was inappropriate for the contest."
© 2008 United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
» Next in Top News:
Student protest leads to multiple arrests
U.S. President George W. Bush visits the Bible Lands Museum in Jerusalem on May 16, 2008. (UPI Photo/Amos Ben Gershom/Israeli Government Press Office)
U.S. President Bush visits Israel
Full Photo
| Slideshow
Latest Headlines
Most Popular