http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=1592436&BRD=2144&PAG=461&dept_id=415763&rfi=6
Museum director defends `Our Lady'
By ANNE CONSTABLE/The New Mexican
March 28, 2001
Museum of New Mexico Director Tom Wilson Tuesday
made a spirited defense of the decision to include Our Lady, a bikini-clad
depiction of the Virgin of Guadalupe, in a show at the Museum of International
Folk Art.
``This is a respectful work of art in a well-thought-out
exhibition, and therefore, the piece should remain on display,'' Wilson said.
``We do not think one group of New Mexicans
should be able to dictate to another group what they should be thinking, what
they should be reading and what they should be seeing. And it is not fulfilling
the mission of the museum as an educational institution to censor works of
art.''
But there are ``countervailing'' points of view,
Wilson acknowledged, and all sides will be heard next week when the Museum
of New Mexico Board of Regents, the system's policy-making group, meets to
discuss the controversial image.
The meeting, which is open to the public, is
scheduled for 10 a.m. April 4 in the auditorium of the Museum of International
Folk Art at 706 Camino Lejo. In addition to the regents, the artist, AlmaLópez,
plans to be there to explain her artistic expression.
Wilson said the museum was arranging for two
facilitators to be present to conduct the meeting and to ``try to make it
a reasoned dialogue.''
He pointed out that around the time the exhibit
opened - Feb. 25 - the museum held a forum for four artists whose work is
included in the exhibit, ``Cyber Arte: Tradition Meets Technology.''
The Board of Regents meeting next week, he said,
is ``an extension of that.''
``The purpose is to air all views, but for the
people responsible for the Museum of New Mexico to be able to hear those competing
views,'' Wilson explained.
Wilson pointed out that a number of people who
have weighed in on the matter have not seen the exhibition. ``That is directly
akin to trying to stop a book from being published even though nobody's read
it,'' he said. Wilson invited people to visit the museum and see the picture
for themselves before making a judgment.
Visual images are powerful, Wilson conceded.
``Here we have an Hispanic artist, a Catholic. She is attempting a respectful
reinterpretation. She meant no disrespect. She was trying to show other characteristics
of the Virgin. And that point of view is wholly within the mission of the
Museum of International Folk Art.''
Copyright 2001 Santa Fe New Mexican
Reader Opinions
Name: Paul Glickman
If a person inside a community (Alma is hispanic and catholic) wishes to characterize
aspects of that community... it's fair, it's free speech and it's essential.
However, when others, outside the community, do things that offend the community
then a line is crossed. Not a legal line, but a line of civility. (e.g. When
baseball teams use indian names, likenesses, etc. When non-blacks use the
N word when refering to a black )
Name: Michael
Congratulations Alma! If you wanted to use your artistic gifts to hurt and
offend people that have a faith and devotion then you have succeeded. Perhaps
your next work should make fun of the people who died in Jewish concentration
camps and maybe have an exhibit mocking a black slave. Art is no longer art
when it harms another at their expense, and freedom of speech is not freedom
of speech when it creates a riot. It is very sad that you would want to create
something that you know can only bring pain...it inspires no one to degrade
a beloved figure who is so near to the hearts of a billion people. Think to
yourself if this art helped anyone other than you and the exhibit hall. I
don't think you can say yes honestly. You are on our prayer list Alma.
Name: Robert Ritchie
I consider Alma Lopez's computer image of Our Lady of Guadalupe in a bikini
to be shameful and blasphemous. The Virgin Mary was the most pure and modest
human being ever, a true vessel of honor. In her, God realized the fullest
expression of the splendor of His grace. She was the perfect human being,
sacred and untouchable. To protray her in a way that insults her purity and
modesty is a terrible blasphemy in my book. It seems impossible to me that
the author does not feel the pangs of conscience -- the worm that never dies
-- by portraying the most pure Virgin in an impure way. I reject the exhibit
with all the figer of my soul. May the merciful Virgin work the conversion
of Alma Lopez and all who suport her work, and bring them back -- after reparation
and penance -- to the true understanding of devotion to Mary. Robert Ritchie
Name: Lizette Sanchez
With all the hub bub that is going on. I don't understand why people are making
such a big fuss. I don't get it. I think its beautiful. Before you make your
deciosons of hating this image of "Our Lady." Please go to the exhibit
and form your own opinion. Not the opinion of people who are telling you to
hate it. Be your own person!! I want to know how many actually went to the
muesuem to see the exhibit? Its a beautiful image and I'm glad its there for
all to see Alma's incredible mastery of art. Alma, looking forward to seeing
more of your creations!!!
Name: David Fitelson
Dear Ann Constable: Would you please correct your oft repeated, erroneous,
slanderous and inflammatory allegation that Alma Lopez's image of the Virgin
is "bikini clad." Whatever those roses are supposed to represent
(possibly a garment, but just as possibly a garland), they are certainly not
a bikini. It is time for you to learn what a bikini is, and what it is not.
The contour and design of the Virgin's adornment is clearly that of swimsuits
worn by such Godesses as the late Rita Hayworth, before anyone had heard of
Bikini atoll, let alone the abbreviated outfit that was named for it. Thank
you so much.
Name: Joy
Has anyone examined why the artist made the work? Might it have something
to do with the fact that "Our Lady" is the patron of the downtrodden,
the disenfranchised? Who better to put a personal take on the image than someone
of Alma Lopez's stature? It is refreshing to see a Chicana Catholic woman
so elegantly present the true beauty and humanity of a soul who would herself
appreciate being so accessible to at least half the world (women). What are
we afraid of?
Name: Darla
I think the image of Our Lady is disgusting and shameful. Only sick people
like you will agree with you. Shame on you!!!!!!!!!!!!
Name: John
It's a sad day when a person has to do something like this to gain attention.
Isn't this the same excuse that the children doing the school shootings have
used. They we just trying to get someones attention to the fact that they
were being bullied. I'm tired of people using negative acts to gain attention.
I'm happy to see that someone through in the race card though, because we
all no that without noteriety or playing the race card, no minority could
ever make a name for themselves. Thank you Mother Teresa your goodness got
you nowhere. Maybe we should replace Marys image with Mr. Wilsons paternal
mothers. I wonder if his opinion would be the same.
Name: Laura
Egads, what rock do you people live under? How can you possibly compare this
exhibit to killings in schools and poisoning children's minds? How many murders
by paint brush have there been? You make me laugh. Perhaps it is the unwelcome
opening of the mind that is causing you such pain and FEAR.
Name: Becky
Art is an expression, a perspective. Not everyone shares the same ones. What
a boring world this would be if we did. There would be no color to the rainbow.
You have the right to exercise the "tv remote" option at any time.
If you don't like what's on the channel, change it. If you don't care for
the particular piece of art, don't go see it. But don't deny the rest of us
the opportunity to explore other ideas and aesthetic responses.
Name: Anthony Armijo
Let's get back to the real reason we have museums: they are places where new
ideas are welcomed. The arguement that publicly funded institutions should
not display anything controversial flies in the face of reason. Why do we
have public institutions? They are for everyone, for ALL the people, even
those who have ideas and beliefs different from our own. There is no better
place for differences and controversy than a public museum.
Name: E. Pettus
If, as a protestant, I am offended by images of Day of the Dead Celebrations,
I simply do not have to look when I go to the museum. If, as a Christian of
any of several denominations, I did not believe that graven images of any
kind should be displayed, the same choice applies. In a public museum there
will always be material some find offensive--that is because this is not a
Religiously dictated society, but a Democracy, where all views are to be respected,
but simply an image's disturbing an element of Society cannot be a reason
for censorship. Also, the outfitis really not a bikini, as the inflamatory
press keeps insisting. The Virgin Mary has been shown in various degrees of
nakedness in works of art approved by the Catholic Church over the past seven
or eight centuries, with no deleterious effect so far, so, perhaps we should
educate outselves a bit about art.
Name: Michael
Anyone who hasn't seen Alma's "Our Lady" (note that she does not
call it "Our Lady of Guadalupe") in situ at the Museum of International
Folkart but has only seen it on the news or in the papers, hasn't seen it
in context. Of the eight or so works by Ms. Lopez in the CyberArte exhibit,
four belong to a series containing very traditional depictions of the Virgin
of Guadalupe. All of the artist's works contain elements of religious iconography
(a staple in much of the world's folk heritage and art) which leads me to
believe that she values the religious aspects of her culture tremendously.
Perhaps she does struggle personally with issues of faith but who the hell
doesn't? It is not unreasonable nor callous of her to attempt to work out
a personal relationship to her religion through an artistic medium. When I
first saw "Our Lady" I noticed that aspects of the more traditional
depictions of Our Lady of Guadalupe are combined with elements of other cultures
seemingly far removed from us as well as elements that we may regard as being
more obviously contemporary. These include the photographic image of a (now)
21st century woman who, though somewhat defiant in attitude and somewhat sexual,
is quite real and quite human. And as for Alma's assertion that the image
is meant to represent a woman who is strong and, I would say, willfull rather
than than selfish, why not give the artist the benefit of the doubt? Afterall,
she created this piece. Her claim is born out upon careful regard of the work
itself: the woman occupying the center of the artwork is cloaked by the image
of an Aztec stone carving or relief. Quite likely, it is a depiction of a
warrior or Aztec hero. I say this because such figures are mentioned in Alma's
writings and can be seen in her other work. It is another element she has
very skillfully crafted into the piece and lends credence to the idea that
her work (all of the work she has on display at the Folkart) reveals a legacy
that didn't begin with the incorporation of what was once Mexican territory
into what is now a part of the United States. It didn't begin with the incorporation
of the border patrol. It didn't begin with Juan Diego or his vision, however
real, however profoundly affecting. Nor did it begin with the first European
contact with the peoples of the Americas. But all of these things have become
a part of that legacy which, by necessity, has given people a culture not
immune to influence or change. This does not need to be looked upon as a travesty.
A culture lives and breathes when it is injected with new wine. Without allowing
the forms of the past to be translated into a contemporary idiom, a culture
dies. Some might take take offense to traditional depictions of Our Lady of
Sorrow with her pierced heart because of the violence it entails. Using their
own words against the artist's detactors I ask: who out there would want to
see their own mother depicted in such a manner? With wounded heart and swords
protruding from her breast? Sound ridiculous? You bet.
Name: C Maes
Good for Alma! In a city where there are many artists struggling to make a
name for themselves, shemanaged to generate publicity for herself and her
art. Now we all know who she is.