http://www.freedomforum.org/templates/document.asp?documentID=13989
N.M. museum to keep bikini-clad Virgin on exhibit
By The Associated Press
05.23.01
Archbishop Michael J. Sheehan listens to reporter's question as framed picture
of the Virgin of Guadalupe stands behind him at Archdiocese of Santa Fe offices
in Albuquerque, N.M., yesterday.
Editor's note: State District Judge James Hall, ruling on a legal technicality
Oct. 10, refused to order a state-run museum to remove the "Our Lady"
collage. Opponents of the computer-generated image had argued in court that
museum officials violated the state's open meetings laws when they decided
to hang the piece and leave it up. Hall ruled that the opponents didn't properly
notify the museum of the alleged violation as required by law before going
to court. But even if the proper notice had been given, Hall said, removing
the artwork would not have been the proper remedy. The disputed image is scheduled
to be removed from the Museum of International Folk Art on Oct. 28.
Archbishop Michael J. Sheehan listens to reporter's question as framed picture of the Virgin of Guadalupe stands behind him at Archdiocese of Santa Fe offices in Albuquerque, N.M., yesterday.
SANTA FE, N.M. — 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 yesterday that "Our Lady," by Los
Angeles artist Alma Lopez, continue at the Museum of International Folk Art.
However, the entire exhibit will end earlier than originally 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 would 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 the work would be censorship and a violation of the artist's
rights.
Archbishop Michael Sheehan condemned the image yesterday 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 Feb. 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."
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, who is 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.
Lopez said yesterday 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.
Previous
N.M. governor: Bikini-clad Virgin Mary should stay on display
‘If you take it down, then where do you draw the line on the next piece
of art?’ Gary Johnson asks in response to furor over artwork. 04.09.01
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