Subject: Our Lady
Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2001 01:38:28 -0000
From: "Rachel Gonzalez" <rachel_gonzalez@hotmail.com>
To: almalopez@earthlink.net, davalos@csusm.edu
CC: TMNunn@mofia.org
Dear Ms. Lopez,
I am writing to express my support and sincere
appreciation for your art exhibit in New Mexico. I say appreciation because
growing up in a devout Catholic family taught me to love and respect the Virgin
of Guadalupe in more ways than imaginable. Her image and what she represents
will forever be embedded in my heart. I do not, however, feel that anyone
has the right to tell me the ways in which it is appropriate to view her.
Tradition has taught us to obey and do as told without any question. This
mind set was fine for the time period in which it represented, but we live
in a world filled with much contradiction. In order to protect ourselves from
the corruption that lives among us, I feel we must stand tall in the face
of adversity to protect those things that we hold sacred such as the Virgin
of Guadalupe. I have read numerous e-mails for and against this controversy.
I do not see where the Archbishop of New Mexico can dictate what will and
will not be see in a tax-funded organization. Churches are exempt from paying
taxes and therefore should let decisions such as these be made by the people
who pay the taxes in support of these organizations. Today's world is filled
with a vast cultural background, no more present than in this "melting
pot" we call the United States. Since we are such a large group of peoples
with many different viewpoints and upbringings I find it difficult to believe
that the Archbishop of New Mexico truly believes that he has the right to
speak on behalf of all Catholics everywhere. I was born and raised Catholic
and can tell of many others such as myself who do not appreciate having one
man stand up and speak for millions of people around the world. Our forefathers
set up the Constitution with the separation of Church and State for reasons
such as this. The Pilgrims fled their homeland to start a new life in America
free from the bondage of religion. It is unfortunate that you have to endure
such adversity towards such a beautiful and personal testimonial of you and
your relationship with The Virgin of Guadalupe. I did not feel a sense of
disrespect but rather a love beyond words towards an icon who has been role
model throughout your life. I found the piece inspiring for this reason. I
felt relieved to see a person who was comfortable enough with her self and
her personal relationship with the Virgin of Guadalupe to create such an exhibit.
Growing up as a little girl, the Virgin is easy to relate to. Backed by the
age of innocence, one has many things in common with her. But as one gets
older and searches for her new identity as a woman, the Virgin becomes harder
and harder to identify with. Your art piece speaks to young women everywhere
telling them that the Virgin of Guadalupe can continue to be a role model
to them in more ways than those in which they were taught, she is willing
to stand by them throughout the changes in their life and the world. I am
proud of you and your willingness to share this personal experience you have
with the Virgin.
I am only regretful that others who are blinded
by their own prejudices cannot appreciate it. Good Luck to you and all those
involved.
God Bless
Sincerely,
Rachel L. Gonzalez
San Diego, California
Subject: In support of Alma Lopez
Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2001 15:36:22 -0400
From: "Brynildsen, James" <jbrynildsen@LSIJAX.COM>
To: 'Alma Lopez' <almalopez@earthlink.net>
Alma,
I'm a computer artist that lives and works in Jacksonville Florida. I'm
not Latino nor have I ever been to New Mexico. But I was raised in the
Catholic traditions. I read your story online while reading the news
and have been following it the best I can since. I wanted to email you and
and give you my support in your struggles with the people of your area in
understanding your art it's message. I can tell you that there are about 30
artists I'm working with that completely support you and your point of view,
and right to express it. However, in the my attempts to merely discuss your
story and it's implications to the art community, I've created my own troubles
at work. Well it turns out I can't talk about religious art art work. Our
area is heavily dominated by Baptists... which neither understand real art
or Catholics; at least not from my experiences. It's a damn shame too. But
I don't give up that easily. I can see you won't either and I'm glad. What
I wanted to express to them was their "faith should be stronger
than an image". But they never could get past the blasphemy concept.
I personally feel my faith stronger than that and it is not based on any one
image of Jesus, the Virgin, or any other image of a holy person. I don't see
it's relevant to their power and grace that they gave to us. Am I wrong?
Muchos gracias for your time.
jAEms
(James Brynildsen)
Subject: ON liturgical art
Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2001 15:19:23 -0600
From: "Tracy E. Bailey" <tebailey@qwest.net>
To: Alma Lopez <almalopez@earthlink.net>
References: 1 , 2
Dear Alma,
Below is a copy of a letter I wrote to the Santa
Fe New Mexican on Sunday, April the 15th, in response to a full page ad taken
out by a Ms. Kristina Johnson, railing against your now famous portrayal of
the Virgen of Guadalupe.
I hope everything else is going well.
Keep up your courage and fight the power!
Yours,
Tracy Bailey
I am a liturgical artist who works in the medium
of stained glass. With my father, Charles Z. Lawrence, I have created
hundreds of mosaics and stained glass windows for churches all over this country
including the National Cathedral in Washington DC. That's why, this
morning I was amused to read Kristina Johnson's uninformed treatise on liturgical
art.
Liturgical art in the Christian tradition, has
always been used to inspire, but not exactly in the way Ms. Johnson claims.
It's been used to inspire fear and awe, to gain or maintain political control
over those who could not read, the masses. The stained glass window
is an excellent example of this theory. Many agree that the medium of
stained glass reached it's artistic pinnacle in Northern Medieval Europe where
enormous gothic cathedrals were built. With the help of a then new architectural
innovation, the flying buttress, vast walls in those buildings could be devoted
to stained glass windows. Because most people could not read, the windows
told a story of "Christianity" through pictures. (In fact,
the Catholic Church strictly forbade anyone but it's priests to read or interpret
the gospels.
Naturally the leaders and policy makers of the
Church were always sons of the ruling aristocracy.) The cathedrals took
centuries to build and their chief concern was to awe and to dominate.
They were political propaganda, used to display the divinity, might and power
of the king or lord who built them. (This is nothing new, just look
at the pyramids.)
This scenario of religious icon as political
policy, can be clearly seen in the famous windows of Chartres cathedral in
France. The southern rose window, The Rose of Dreux, and the northern
rose, The Rose of France, were paid for by two 13th century, warring factions.
The king of France, Louie VIII, had died. His Spanish widow Blanche
de Castille and his half brother, Philippe Hurepel, immediately began a civil
war over the guardianship of the next king, Louie and Blanche's infant son,
Louis IX. Blanche, the Queen mother, refused to relinquish control of
her son to Philippe. But Philippe, had the support of most of the Great
Lords and the royal family. In a fight over the hearts and minds of
the French people, the two windows, which face each, other play out this rivalry
in their iconography. Blanche's window, the Rose of France, shows at
it's center a strong, dominant Virgin, seated on the throne, scepter in hand,
with the infant Christ on her knee. Behind them, appear symbols of France
and, lest it be lost on anyone, Blanche's castles. In this case, the
Virgin is obviously Blanche with the future king of France on her knee, clearly
displaying that she is the true regent. The opposing window, Philippe's
Rose of Dreux, shows a stern faced, adult Christ enthroned and surrounded
by symbols of the Apocalypse. At the bottom of the window, the Evangelists
stand astride the prophets. The window is bathed in strong, late day sun which
casts it's rays on the surrounding walls. The message? Look out
Blanche honey, I am going to kick some butt and the powers that be, "got
my back"!
Our modern idea of Christian images as being
of God or being made to inspire us personally, really is a new one.
When I look at the image of the Virgen of Guadalupe, I see a sweet, loving
mother, but I also note that she is standing on a half moon. Knowing
what I do of Christian iconography and the history of the Catholic Church,
I know that image of Guadalupe was tailored to the New World peoples by that
Church, who was very eager to bring the indigenous population under her control.
The Aztecs, Incas and Mayas all worshipped the moon as a fertility Goddess.
The Catholic church needed to co-opt that indigenous
image, to help along with what was a hostile, military takeover of the native
peoples and their lands. And why was the Church so interested in bring
new souls into the fold? Just visit the Cathedral in Toledo Spain,
where you'll see the gold and silver of the New World in copious amounts!
So, when you think of a piece of religious art
work, think of the person who created it and what they were trying to say.
Ms. Lopez has just appropriately used a very
old vehicle to get out her political message and frankly, she wouldn't be
alone in that!
Tracy Lawrence Bailey
Artist/Designer
Lawrence West Stained Glass