April 11, 2001

Subject: Santa Fe Trip
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2001 06:44:10 -0600
From: "Helen Lopez" <hllopez@laplaza.org>
To: <almalopez@earthlink.net>
References: 1

Hi Alma, My friend Roberta Orona said you were considering not attending the Monday meeting. I thought I would weigh in on the subject. She told me that at the last meeting you were prepared with a slide presentation of Latina art and I don't think you showed it. I look forward to seeing it. These are my thoughts. I would not go to the Monday meeting. The regents have set it up so that people are broken up into small discussion groups.

Then I guess there will be a big one for people to talk. I understand that it isn't a formal board meeting - it is one of a public dialogue thing. Let them talk their heads off. You have won on the issue because the piece is still up and there is every indication that it will remain up. The politicos who have pandered to the loud crowd are or will back off as it cools off. I think they received letters about their stupid letter, especially Max Coll and Speaker Lujan. It is cooling off. And by Monday, the Taliban will be busy with their lives again because Easter weekend will have taken some of their energy. I think it would be great if you could schedule on your own time a presentation of the slide show - perhaps with a show with Pola. And make the presentation a presentation by the show, not by you, so there isn't so much heat. The idea of Latina Art will still get publicity and the Guadalapana /Taliban Society will have burned out a bit and be derailed. These are just ideas. Run it by your advisors.

Remember to come up and visit me. We got about 3 inches on snow last night - Northern NM's famous Primavera Loca. We have had so much snow this winter (and spring) so the mountain wildflowers will be spectacular. We have ancient acequia systems up here. I am a commissioner on mine. We have moradas (where the penetentes do their thing) and tiny churches. You would enjoy the beauty.
Helen

 

Subject: virgen
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2001 10:37:47 -0700 (PDT)
From: Nina Serrano <ninaserrano@yahoo.com>
To: almalopez@earthlink.net

Companera Alma: This is a copy of the letter i sent to the museum on April 2nd.

Dear Museum Director,

I am writing to you to support the continuing exhibit of Alma Lopez's "Our Lady". The Church cannot dictate to the state. The separation of church and state is a long cherished tradition.

Many saints were first persecuted by the church fathers, (like St. John Of the Cross, or Joan of Arc) before being sanctified by later generations. This may also happen with Lopez's work: not sainthood, but the general acceptance that the image of the Holy Virgin can reflect the artist's culture in dress and demeanor or that of her worshipers.

Images of dark Madonnas and Goddesses appear the world over, as part of the legacy of the ancient Mother worship. The Roman Catholic hierarchy does not own exclusive rights to the image of the feminine form as an expression of the divine.

Sincerely, Nina Serrano- Oakland CA

 

Subject: Greetings...
Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2001 20:40:09 -0600
From: Lorraine Schechter <lorraineschechter@earthlink.net>
To: <almalopez@earthlink.net>

Hi Alma...just wanted you to know you have my support and encouragement to continue your good work. I've sent the following letter to the appropriate museum and legislative people I feel should hear my voice. Good luck!
Best regards, Lorraine