Our Lady of Controversy: Alma López's “Irreverent Apparition”

Appendix: Selected Viewer Comments

Editor’s note: The comments have been transcribed as written. No spelling or grammatical corrections have been made. Names have been substituted with initials. I am very glad that people who would not normally visit museums are doing so due to the modestly provocatively dressed Virgen. P.S. Please read “Holy Blood, Holy Grail” —Unsigned, 3/24/01 Thank you for bringing this most creative + thought provoking show. If it hadn’t been for the protest AGAINST ART I might have missed this wonderful exhibit!!! —M.A., AlbuQuirky, NM, 3/24/01 Excellent! Yes—art has always been controversial leave it on the wall—it makes everyone think—I don’t see anything offensive—go look at religious art in Europe—Italy—nudity is common. —M.G., Wisconsin, 3/24/01 I believe it was a great exhibit. The exhibit by Alma L. was an interesting piece although I was a little disturbed by the nudity but in general the artist has a right to self expression. In all I enjoyed the show & look forward to more of her work. —C.A.V., 3/24/07 Applaud the Artist for pushing the button. Some in the public need to look @ their emotional responses—it would be better for the protesters to become more rational. —D., 3/24/01 A P P E N D I X cyber arte: tradition meets technology selected viewer comments* * Taken from the Cyber Arte Collection, Museum of International Folk Art Archives. Used by permission. O u r L a d y o f C o n t r o v e r s y 294 Sorry, but one comment that may seem negative among the many positive exhibitions in the entire museum, is the Alma Lopez representation of Our Lady of Guadalupe in a bikini with an angel bare-breasted below her. Especially annoying and disrespectful in my opinion, is that it was placed in the local Hispanic section of the museum. That art is not our Hispanic local art. Sincerely, —Brother S. A., F.S.C., 3/25/01 It is very important for all of our citizens that the museum system support artistic expression. I’m in full support of the museum’s position. —A.W., Santa Fe, 3/25/01 Great exhibit—represents the transition of a generation out of colonization into self expression and personal interpretation. “Our Lady” in particular represents to me a young woman’s vision of her tradition within a rapidly changing context—no disrespect was meant here—it is a glorification of Faith and the world we live in today. Keep it up! —Unsigned, 3/25/01 After seeing the photography exhibit in the New Mexico Museum of Art in which normal people are portrayed as mystical/religious people I can see that no insult was meant by the portrayal of the Virgin Our Lady of Guadalupe was intended. However, I still feel by my normal standard the portrayal is inappropriate. —G.M., 3/25/01 Artists must be protected to do what they believe the Holy Spirit leads them to express. The modern portrayal of the Lady of Guadalupe is only a problem to those trying to control others, and to get attention to their own interests. Ultra-conservatives in any realm of life are more destructive than helpful, except to draw attention to what they complain about. —R.K.H., 3/25/01 We visited the museum of International Folk Art to see Alma Lopez’ Our Lady and found it truly beautiful and a sincere expression of her faith. Any idea that this is profane is ridiculous. The whole exhibit, Cyber Arte is wonderful ! We thoroughly enjoyed it and commend the curator, Dr. Tey Nunn, for presenting such a meaningful show. —A.O., president, Folk Art Society of America, Richmond, VA, 3/27/01 295 A p p e n d i x Please do not crucify the messenger (museum staff) for displaying this freedom of personal expression which could only offend those who are troubled by viewing the human body! —W.O., founder, Folk Art Society of America, 3/27/01 Good for you—International Folk Art Museum The Lady is still a Lady! —J. & J.C., 3/28/01 I’m disappointed + deeply offended that a museum of this caliber decided to exhibit this sacrilgiouss image. Those involved showed very poor judgment in my opinion. —L.L.P., 3/28/01 Juan Diego himself...