The Harrow Art Society has hit the headlines (Harrow Observer, October 16) by trying to include some pictures of nudes in an exhibition in the corridors of Harrow Arts Centre.

We were asked to remove them, to the distress of the artists concerned, and to the detriment of the show.

This was to conform with an undefined policy to avoid offending people who use the centre which literally cannot afford to lose any customers. We are based there and appreciate much that is done for us.

Where do we draw the line? Which nudes if any are suitable for public dis-play? Does size matter? We certainly did not want to upset anyone, but figure drawing is an artistic tradition, and is actually taught at the centre.

Artists all over the world and throughout the centuries have studied the human form. Much money is spent these days on paintings by the likes of Lucien Freud, whose models tend to be far more explicitly splayed and displayed than any we wanted to exhibit.

At least the fuss draws some attention to the lack of proper galleries in the Harrow area. Is nobody with the power to do something about it at all interested in the issue?

NORMA STEPHENSON

Chairman, Harrow Art Society

Via email PS: The almost denuded Harrow Art Society Exhibition continues until October 26 at the Harrow Arts Centre.