March 2003
Subject: "OUR LADY"
Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2003 00:26:49 -0700
From: "JERRY SHARI JOHNSON" <sharij3029@msn.com>
To: <almalopez@earthlink.net>
DEAR, ALMA
AFTER ATTENDING YOUR LECTURE AND SLIDE SHOW, I WAS VERY INTERESTED IN SEEING
MORE OF YOUR WORK. I ENTERED YOUR WEB SITE AND WAS AMAZED AND AWED AT
WHAT I SAW.
I FOUND THAT I COULD RELATE TO SOMETHING IN EVERY PICTURE, SOME THINGS IN
THE PICTURES I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND AND SOME IMAGES STILL HAVE ME THINKING ABOUT
IT.
I HEARD YOU IN TUCSON, ARIZONA AT THE PIMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE. I FOUND
YOU VERY EASY TO LISTEN TO AND FOUND YOUR BACK ROUND INTERESTING. I
WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU CREDIT FOR NOT BECOMING AN ACCOUNTENT AND PURSUEING
YOUR ART.
I SHOWED YOUR WORK ON THE INTERNET TO MY TWO YOUNGEST DAUGHTERS AND ASK THEM
WHAT THEY THOUGHT. JOLANIE 13 SAID " MOM THIS LADY REALLY UNDERSTANDS
WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE WORLD NOW". I ASKED HER "WHAT DO YOU MEAN
BY THAT". SHE SAID " SHE IS SHOWING THE WORLD THAT THE VIRGIN
MOTHER IS HERE FOR ALL OF US, NOT JUST THE ONES, THE CHURCH SEES FIT".
I WAS TAKEN BACK A LITTLE BY HER RESPONSE.
JASANNA 8 SAID "MOM SHE MAKES OUR LADY LOOK SO REAL, LIKE SHE COULD BE
LIVING NOW". THAT GAVE ME A WARM FEELING TO THINK THAT MY 8YEAR OLD CHILD
COULD HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT ART AND HOW YOU LOOK AT ART WITH
INNOCENT EYES AND OPEN HEART.
SEND A MESSAGE TO JOSE VILLEGAS THAT HE SHOULD SPEND MORE TIME IN PRAYER,
AND OPEN HIS HEART, INSTEAD OF SENDING NASTY E-MAIL AND SPEAKING FOR
OTHER WHEN HE DOES NOT REPRESENT THE MAJORITY. HOW CAN HE SAY ALL THOSE THINGS
ABOUT AN ARTIST WHEN HE HAS NEVER TAKEN THE TIME TO KNOW YOU. THERE IS NO
WAY HE CAN SAY, WHAT "OUR LADY" REPRESENT WITH ALL THAT HATE
AND ANGER I FELT FROM HIS LETTER. HE COULD LEARN A THING OR TWO
FROM MY GIRLS.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR VIEWS AND THE TALENT THAT GOD HAS
BLESSED YOU WITH.
I ONLY PRAY THAT YOU CONTINUE TO CREATE AND SHARE YOUR ART AND YOUR SELF TO
THE YOUNG, THE OLD, AND THE JOSE VILLEGAS OF THIS WORLD.
I LIKE TO ADD THAT I AM CATHOLIC AND HAVE GONE TO CATHOLIC SCHOOLS ALL MY
LIFE TILL I ATTENDED COLLEGE.
THANK YOU AGAIN, FOR SHARING YOURSELF. MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS.
YOURS TRULY,
SHARI JOHNSON
Subject: everybody's Lady? LA REYNA!!
Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2003 14:39:12 +0000
From: "joseph marshall" <joeman66@hotmail.com>
To: almalopez@earthlink.net
Dear Alma Lopez
I recently heard your lecture at the University of Arizona, in Tucson. It
was great you are smart, sensitive and very funny. Your art kicks some major
butt. I am usually not impressed with a lot of digital art (too gimmicky even
the work I’ve done), yours is wonderfully crafted and to he point. I
think your piece “Our Lady” is awesome it shows the great power
all women have inside themselves.
Another reason why I am writing is that I too have a great affinity for the
Virgen de Guadalupe. Although I stopped attending mass when I was 15 much
of what was ingrained in me stays. This includes a love of all religious icons
but especially any “Mother of God” image. I also drew an updated
version of La Reyna as a cheerleader! YIKES! Will I go to hell for that? I
have nothing BUT respect and awe for La Reyna she has guided me often. To
see it go to www.planetnameddesire.com in the Arte section. Let me say that
I love strong women, just ask Josephine my friend/partner/coworker/girl/wife/mother
of our son Michelangelo.
The image was to show a strong women who feels the beauty of herself a beauty
god gave her (and everybody). She has no shame is which what must scare and
piss some people off. As a mother she is VERY powerful. To me Josephine is
more beautiful and amazing since she has become a mother.
Mothers rocks!! Which is why I like your work so much.
To tell the truth I am a guy, raised catholic, of Italian/Portuguese decent,
in your opinion do I have the right to do this type of work, I am curious
(like Jorge)
Keep up the great work
Peace out
your fan
Joe