Los Angeles Times
Sunday, July 1, 2001

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Lady Be Good

     Regarding Gabriela Mafi's letter (June 10) criticizing Alma Lopez's version of Our Lady of Guadalupe:

     I find it interesting that there are plenty of well-regarded works of art featuring semi-nude or nude male religious figures (Michelangelo's David, numerous representations of Christ, etc.), yet when an artist chooses to represent a female religious figure with a bare belly, arms and legs, it is considered degrading and disrespectful.

     Rather than direct so much criticism at Lopez's work, perhaps we would do well to examine some of our beliefs about what it means to be a woman and what is appropriate for women in Western society. I think that is part of what the artist wanted to achieve with this piece.

     SHEILA PECK
     Huntington Beach