Friday, June 1, 2001
Los Angeles Times

Morning Report
Arts and entertainment reports from the Times, news services and the nation's press.
By SHAUNA SNOW

Virgin Uproar Prompts 2nd Show

Santa Monica artist Alma Lopez, whose semi-nude digital collage of the Virgin of Guadalupe remains a focus of protest in Santa Fe, N.M., is finding out that there is no such thing as bad PR.

Santa Fe Catholics are appealing a recent decision by the state-supported Museum of International Folk Art to continue displaying Lopez's controversial work, called "Our Lady." But now, Lopez has gotten another showing in the New Mexico state capital. Emanations Studio Gallery has included Lopez in a group show called "Las Malcriadas: Coloring Outside of the Lines." According to gallery owner Pola Lopez (no relation to Alma), the show features "taboo" art by meztiza artists and is a response to the outcry over "Our Lady." The term Malcriadas refers to ill-bred, spoiled or bad girls. Among the works to be shown is a photograph of a penis with multiple piercings by Albuquerque photographer Delilah Montoya.