Calypso
06-04-2001, 06:52 PM
i thought this was kinda funny.sorry i couldnt get the pic to work-jody
Museum keeps image of scantily-clad Virgin Mary
May 24, 2001 Posted: 1:36 PM EDT
SANTA FE, New Mexico (AP) -- A collage of the Virgin of Guadalupe clad in a flowery two-piece swimsuit will remain on display at a state-run museum despite protests from some Roman Catholics.
A museum committee recommended that "Our Lady," by Los Angeles artist Alma Lopez, continue on display at the Museum of International Folk Art. However, the entire exhibit of which it is a part will close earlier than previously scheduled.
"The committee's recommendation will stand unless it's appealed," said Tom Wilson, director of the Museum of New Mexico, which runs the folk art museum.
Anthony Trujillo, deacon of Our Lady of Guadalupe parish in Santa Fe, said later that the parish will file an appeal, probably next week.
The appeal goes to Wilson, whose decision in turn could be appealed to the Museum of New Mexico's seven-member Board of Regents.
Many Catholics have condemned the image as sacrilegious and insensitive and demanded its removal. Others among about 600 people who spoke at a forum in April said removing it would be censorship and a violation of the artist's rights.
Archbishop Michael Sheehan condemned the image Tuesday as "sacrilegious to many thousands of New Mexicans."
"The picture doesn't show respect for the one we consider to be the mother of Jesus, the mother of God. She is shown not as the innocent mother of Jesus, but rather I think as a prostitute."
Sheehan said he was "disappointed but not surprised" by the committee's decision.
As for ending the exhibit early, he said, "half a slice of pie is better than none at all."
The "Cyber Arte: Tradition Meets Technology" exhibit, which includes the collage, opened on February 25 and was scheduled to close next February. Joyce Ice, head of the folk art museum, said the exhibit would close on Oct. 28 instead, "in the spirit of reconciliation."
Virgin: 'Strong, independent woman'
The collage includes a photograph of a model portraying the Virgin of Guadalupe, wearing a computer-generated two-piece floral outfit that displays her midriff.
Lopez, herself a Catholic, said she meant to portray the Virgin as a strong, independent, modern woman. She has said "Our Lady" is an expression of her admiration for Our Lady of Guadalupe.
She said Tuesday she was pleased by the committee's decision, and expressed her thanks to museum officials who "are right in the fire where everything is going on."
Lopez said the museum would have set a bad precedent if it had removed the collage, and that it would have been wrong for her as the artist to remove it because she would have been "a Latina artist, a chicana, pressured into silence."
The Guadalupe phenomenon originated in 1531 when the Virgin Mary was said to have appeared to Juan Diego, a Christian Aztec, near Mexico City. Miracles came to be associated with the Virgin of Guadalupe, and her image now appears on religious artworks, tattoos and even automobile decorations.
More than 35 New Mexico churches are dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Museum keeps image of scantily-clad Virgin Mary
May 24, 2001 Posted: 1:36 PM EDT
SANTA FE, New Mexico (AP) -- A collage of the Virgin of Guadalupe clad in a flowery two-piece swimsuit will remain on display at a state-run museum despite protests from some Roman Catholics.
A museum committee recommended that "Our Lady," by Los Angeles artist Alma Lopez, continue on display at the Museum of International Folk Art. However, the entire exhibit of which it is a part will close earlier than previously scheduled.
"The committee's recommendation will stand unless it's appealed," said Tom Wilson, director of the Museum of New Mexico, which runs the folk art museum.
Anthony Trujillo, deacon of Our Lady of Guadalupe parish in Santa Fe, said later that the parish will file an appeal, probably next week.
The appeal goes to Wilson, whose decision in turn could be appealed to the Museum of New Mexico's seven-member Board of Regents.
Many Catholics have condemned the image as sacrilegious and insensitive and demanded its removal. Others among about 600 people who spoke at a forum in April said removing it would be censorship and a violation of the artist's rights.
Archbishop Michael Sheehan condemned the image Tuesday as "sacrilegious to many thousands of New Mexicans."
"The picture doesn't show respect for the one we consider to be the mother of Jesus, the mother of God. She is shown not as the innocent mother of Jesus, but rather I think as a prostitute."
Sheehan said he was "disappointed but not surprised" by the committee's decision.
As for ending the exhibit early, he said, "half a slice of pie is better than none at all."
The "Cyber Arte: Tradition Meets Technology" exhibit, which includes the collage, opened on February 25 and was scheduled to close next February. Joyce Ice, head of the folk art museum, said the exhibit would close on Oct. 28 instead, "in the spirit of reconciliation."
Virgin: 'Strong, independent woman'
The collage includes a photograph of a model portraying the Virgin of Guadalupe, wearing a computer-generated two-piece floral outfit that displays her midriff.
Lopez, herself a Catholic, said she meant to portray the Virgin as a strong, independent, modern woman. She has said "Our Lady" is an expression of her admiration for Our Lady of Guadalupe.
She said Tuesday she was pleased by the committee's decision, and expressed her thanks to museum officials who "are right in the fire where everything is going on."
Lopez said the museum would have set a bad precedent if it had removed the collage, and that it would have been wrong for her as the artist to remove it because she would have been "a Latina artist, a chicana, pressured into silence."
The Guadalupe phenomenon originated in 1531 when the Virgin Mary was said to have appeared to Juan Diego, a Christian Aztec, near Mexico City. Miracles came to be associated with the Virgin of Guadalupe, and her image now appears on religious artworks, tattoos and even automobile decorations.
More than 35 New Mexico churches are dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe.