Subject: in your defense
Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2001 01:10:27 EDT
From: Celiaherrerar@aol.com
To: almalopez@earthlink.net
Dear Alma I wrote this ages ago but have not
been able to get it mailed due to some error in the address, so I thought
I would at least send a copy to you. and perhaps you can get it sent off,
if it is still useful to you.
Dear Curators
I would like to send my support of Alma Lopez's
work "Our Lady."
I am late in sending in this letter of support,
because I had to think about my position. As a fellow artist I whole heartedly
support Alma, and yourselves as curators in choosing to show her work and
thus validating to her work as an artist. Artists at their best are not just
image makers but thinkers and critics of our times and culture.
I am one of those MeXicanas that holds dearly to what is sacred in our MeXicana culture. So much of our culture is constantly up for grabs, and it distresses me to witness the trivialization of our cultural icons in the common market. Virgen on shopping bags, tennis shoes, wrapping paper, etc.
It is difficult to bear. I believe it is the
same battle being fought by the Northern Native Peoples to end the use of
Tribal/Nation names and sacred objects like the Pipe and Eagle Feathers from
sports teams. The University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, for instance,
continues to defend the use of the Sacred Pipe of the Plains Nations in it's
football half-time rally.
I had to think about the images created by Alma.
It is true as she states that many Chicana artists have taken the Virgen image
as their own and in doing so both challenged and caused us to grow in our
perceptions and understanding of our MeXicana/o culture. Yolanda Lopez's Virgen
gave us back our dignity as woman/mother/worker, creator and protector of
our people. Ester Hernandez's Virgen brought the sexuality/sensuality back
to the image of the "sacred mother". These images of the Virgen,
showing legs kicking their way out of oppression, choosing to wear heels like
some modern woman, or the tatooed Virgen on a naked woman's back, force us,
as a people to contemplate and confront our colonized institutionalized beliefs.
Our discomfort is good for us, it teaches us to examine our conscience and
consciousness.
After thinking about her work in this manner
it became clear to me that this is what matters. It does not matter what I
personally think about her use of Virgen, it's artistic merit, nor it appropriateness.
She as an artist is doing what artists are supposed to do: observe, think,
and interpret; and in doing so open the conversation about what we take for
granted in our everyday lives.
In closing I want to address the attack by so
called defenders of the Catholic faith. Many, too many, of our Indigenous
Peoples lost rights, land, and lives in the name f Jesus, right there in very
plaza's of what is now called New Mexico. Where is the protest to that fact?
Where is the outrage to the continuing disregard
of Indigenous rights, spiritual beliefs and culture? If Alma with all her
alma is challenging the authority, all power and blessings to her effort!
And if the Archbishop needs a battle, let him take prejudice and small heartedness
in the name of the Lord. Let him defend the life of Leanord Peltier, and the
outright lack of justice our communities live with on a daily basis. Let him
defend the rights of women and children in his very own congregation.
I say get off the Virgen and the backs of artists and get to work with an open heart and mind.
Sinceramente,
Celia Herrera Rodriguez
Visual Artist/Lecturer
Chicana/o Studies
UC-Berkeley
Also this is a copy of a letter to La Voz in
response to their homophobic news release: dated 4/24/01
Did the Virgen de Guadalupe appear to La Voz
personally and send you to the Bishop to complain about Alma appropriating
her aura? Or did you decide that this as good a homophobic reason as another
to publicly gay bash a young woman. I did not realize that you/ La voz suffered
from the age old affliction of colonized mentality (probably with us since
La Inquisition) but now that you have used your press in this unprofessional
manner, I am sadly aware of your lack of integrity.
I am one of those MeXicanas that holds dearly
to what is sacred in our MeXicana culture. So much of our culture is constantly
up for grabs, and it distresses me to witness the trivialization of our cultural
icons in the common market. Virgen on shopping bags, tennis shoes, wrapping
paper, on earrings and key chains, etc. It is difficult to bear. I believe
it is the same battle being fought by the Northern Native Peoples to end the
use of Tribal/Nation names and sacred objects like
the Pipe and Eagle Feathers from sports teams. The University of Illinois
in Champaign-Urbana, for instance, continues to defend the use of the Sacred
Pipe of the Plains Nations in it's football half-time rally.
I had to think about the images created by Alma.
It is true as she states that many Chicana artists have taken La Virgen 'image'
as their own and in doing so have both challenged and have caused us to grow
in our perceptions and understanding of our MeXicana/o culture. Yolanda Lopez's
Virgen, gave us back our dignity and self determination as woman/mother/worker,
creator and protector of our people. Ester Hernandez's Virgen, brought the
sexuality/sensuality back to the image of the "sacred mother". These
images of the Virgen, showing legs kicking their way out of oppression, wearing
high-heels like some modern and 'free choice' Chicana woman. And especially
the tatooed Virgen on a naked woman's back "La Ofrenda" force us,
as a people to contemplate and confront our colonized institutionalized beliefs.
Our discomfort is good for us, it teaches us
to examine our conscience and consciousness.
After thinking about her work in this manner
it became clear to me that this is what matters. It does not matter what I
personally think about her use of Virgen, it's artistic merit, nor it appropriateness.
She as an artist is doing what artists are supposed to do: observe, think,
and interpret; and in doing so open the conversation about what we take for
granted in our everyday lives.
In closing I want to address the attack by so
called defenders of the Catholic faith. Many, too many, of our Indigenous
Peoples lost rights, land, and lives in the name of Jesus, right there in
very plaza's of what is now called New Mexico. Where is the protest to that
fact?
Where is the outrage to the continuing disregard
of Indigenous rights, spiritual beliefs and culture? If Alma with all her
alma is challenging the authority, all power and blessings to her effort!
And if you/La voz needs a battle, take on prejudice and small heartedness
in the name of the Lord.
Alma's identity is very healthy, as is evidenced by the forthrightness by
which she presents her work. Get off her back and the back of Virgen de Guadalupe.
Take some time to check out your consciousness and identity issues. If you
need someone to attack there are plenty of disgraceful and pitiful injustices
in this world to keep you busy.
Meanwhile please take me off your mailing list.
I am deeply offended and disappointed in your misuse of power and your lack
of compassion and tolerance.
Celia Herrera Rodriguez
visual artist/educator
UC-Berkeley
Okatlan, Califas
I agree.
Cherrie Moraga
Author.
Subject: Re: [Fwd: Lesbians Insult La Virgen
de Guadalupe]
Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2001 15:38:37 -0700
From: Aida Mancillas <aidamancillas@home.com>
To: almalopez@earthlink.net
References: 1 , 2
Dear Alma,
Wow, this story gets weirder and weirder. I
did check out the site and came across the reference which is being used to
justify the argument that Chicano culture is somehow being destroyed by decadent
Chicanos. "The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion" (published
in its entirety on the Voz de Aztlan site) is a much-circulated anti-Jewish
tracts used for years by neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups. It is deeply
disturbing to see it used by Chicanos who purport to be community minded and
"progressive."
I find the whole thing interesting from a cultural
critic's perspective--the disintegration of a powerful progressive movement
into homophobia, neo fascism and religious fundamentalism. It is something
worth looking at and talking about.
I hope you are well and are taking good care of your spirit.
Aida
Aida Mancillas
aidamancillas@home.com