April 29, 2001

 

Subject: [AztlanNet] Re: Rudy y 'pobre yo'
Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2001 03:37:49 -0000
From: "michael sedano" <mvsedano@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: AztlanNet@yahoogroups.com
To: AztlanNet@yahoogroups.com

Hey you, Pedro Romero, I, Michael Sedano, understand how you, Pedro Romero, might feel all picked on and a bit sorry for yourself now, because at every turn your passionate defense of your particular version of the virgin, has been turned back at you.

Pero Pedro, sabes que, much as I thank you for associating me with these two women, la Alma y la Kat, know that I, Michael Sedano, am my own person and speak only for my self. I am not anyone's anything, and, though perhaps it pleases not your punning pen, I am no one's linguist, cunning or otherwise. Stop conning about cunning and own up that your opinion is outnumbered. That is the Truth, and if you know the Truth, let it set you free.

The responsibility for any "nits" lies with the nit creator. Don't blame others for finding what you create. Besides, those aren't "nits," ese, they are huge holes in your faith-based reasoning. Such is the nature of hieratic argument, you gotta take things on faith, putting you at a severe disadvantage when others want to speak in human terms, of art, taste, and things secular.

Thanks for the association, my apologies to the women if you've been tarred with my feathers.
mvs
c/s

 

Subject: Re: the fire needs to be put out
Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2001 05:54:19 -0700
From: Dorinda Moreno <dorinda@pacbell.net>
To: Alyssa Gutierrez <alyssa_n_g@hotmail.com>
References: 1

dear alyssa, thank you for your tenacity at keeping vociferous against the continuing harrassment of alma and all mujeres. it has been hard to keep quiet on this and you are speaking out for all of us. i have been communicating with an insider in new mexico who is concerned for how this has impacted on the santa fe community,this forward sent you-- name deleted to respect identity-- is from someone there who is trying there to keep the calm while we wait for a statement from alma and all supporters. the silence has been is deafening as we wait for a positive response to heal the division being instigated by the few hungry wolves on aztecanet... dm

........wrote:

Dorinda:Pedro is really moving fast with his vision of opening the museum of NM eye balls. Yeah, I think he is going to be a tough chicano to deal with in which the museums here in NM are going to have additional nightmares. You know, pedro is just one of hundreds of chicanos and chicanas that are going to do some serious "reputation" damage to the museums in NM because of Alma's collage.

So what can I tell you. There is no way that I can stop any of our gente regardless on where they live in aztlan because their issues are a combination of thier own life experiences, not mines. This is some serious stuff that I have no control over.

I did speak with Pedro this morning on the phone and the vato was spitting spikes at me. Basically he thinks I am grandstanding the issue and not listening to him. He cussed me out for being a "lone ranger on a mission". 

Usually, whenever I do something in the varrio, I don't ask for help. I just do it without any help from anyone. Most of the time whenever I take on an issue that deals with my gente, my same razaa gives me the thumps down anyways. But when the media writes the story and I get the press listening, then, my raza wants to join the wagon.

Other than that, I have to eat thier caca everytime I go on my own because I just don't invite or tell them anything.

If I had to rely on some of my own raza to help me get something done in my varrio, I would get nowhere but the gutter.

So as you can see, we have these personal communication problems with everyone regardless on where you live.

And another thing, I just don't have one simple causa at a time. Right now, I am dealing with the death of two people whose familias are in a turmoil. A little boy died in a fatal bus crash and a daddy of three kids also died in this same crash.

In another case, I am dealing with a chicano state policeman who is dignosed with lukemia and he is real sick. He's only 33 years old and has two children & wife. I am also dealing with a four police suicides dealing with thier families, one recent teen suicide and one murder of a chicana who was killed by a hardcore gang member from L.A.

I have a list so long that even pedro and all my gente who do chicano(a) activism in NM cannot catch up with the kind of chicanismo(a) work that I am doing..................As I said, everyone has priorities and a special vocation on aztlan.....It just happens to be that I deal with alot of death and funerals relating to my raza eachday.

 

Subject: Re: [AztlanNet] The viciousness of Innocence: Alma Lopez
Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2001 07:10:25 -0700
From: Alma Lopez <almalopez@earthlink.net>
Reply-To: AztlanNet@yahoogroups.com

Organization: www.almalopez.net
To: AztlanNet@yahoogroups.com

References: 1Octavio Romano wrote:
>
> ==================
> ==================
> Innocent Viciousnes
>
> Since the advent of the Alma Lopez controversy,
> I have been concerned with the viciousness exhibited
> by her defenders, which, I imagine, makes Alma
> happy indeed. For she has seen no need whatsoever
> to control the irrational attacks which have been made
> in her name. In fact, by her stone silence, one can
> only infer that she is in complete agreement with the
> attacks against individuals who express their freedom of
> expression.
>
> In the words of the Spanish philosopher, Unamuno:
>
> Silence is but another form of guilt.
>
> To this I would add:
>
> Silence is but another way to kill democracy.
>
> To this I would also add:
>
> Professing innocence, is but a stronger form of viciousness.
>
> Octavio Romano Ph.D.
> =============

Mr. Octavio Roman, Ph.D.

I do not respond to every single email regarding this topic because:

1. I don't feel the need to have my cuchara in everyone's discussion.

2. Instead of spending time addressing every single "vicious" email,

I'll rather work or spend time with friends and family.

If I am guilty of anything, it is being an artist.

This will be over soon and people like Pedro Sedeno and you, can focus on their own work and lives or perhaps someone else to direct your "viciousness".

Alma
--

 

Subject: Re: the fire within could change herstory!
Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2001 07:16:05 -0700
From: Dorinda Moreno <dorinda@pacbell.net>
To: almalopez@earthlink.net
CC: Consuela Zumwalt <czumwalt@OREGON.UOREGON.EDU>
References: 1 , 2 , 3

dear alma, your response to romano is appreciated and i agree that it can be a waste of time, but the silences have been as
deafening as the insults to women have been hurtful. you cracked the silence and we who have been contending with it are relieved.

the issue with this website is another matter with which we will contend, this is work for our support system to take action on, and the guadalupe issue only brought it to public light. this will go fast once we get something for supporters to be able to respond to.

I know that that you have already stated your position. may i have a copy on email or reference to this statement. i will review your website again... but, if you could send me something on this for reviewal, it would make our developing a statement easier. also, i haven't talked to glora except to having received an email that stated she would give time to this today...

i will be back to you when i recieve whatever statement you have already made. thank you and i hope you your needed rest from this controversy-- as i hope that all we who have been impacted also find the space to reclaim our private peace. though you and i know these dormant issues that your artistic contribution has
provoked will not be peaceful until tonantzin is ready to deem us that realm of understanding her presence has assured.

we mujeres who walk the sacred red road of aztlan are poised to defend our dignity in our lives and on the internet. it will take a lot of dialogue and commitment to overcome the mental fray put forth by our assailants. paz in your choice as an artist of aztlan, dm


Alma Lopez wrote:
> Dorinda
> I'm learning that issues like these really take us away from our own
> work. I feel like I have catered to these men already too much, and
> that they have taken my time away from working or spending time with
> friends and family.
>
> There is so much work to do, and as an artist, I do it by creating
> images. I advice everyone to be involved in change by using their own
> special talent, and to take time to take care of yourselves.
>
> Dorinda have you been in communication with Gloria regarding the
> statement? I don't think it should come from me since I have already
> made a statement. It needs to come from community.
> --

Subject: Re: hi there
Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2001 09:52:46 -0700
From: Zulma Aguiar <zaguiar@ucsd.edu>
To: almalopez@earthlink.net
References: 1 , 2

Alma,

there is this great discussion about your work by some self-proclaimed inteligencia of the pochos and they participate in a
chatroom created by lalo Lopez called pocho.com cybercholo chat. and anyway, there is this whole thread about your work, and it would be cool if you could say something briefly about the posts.... http://www.pocho.com/chat/messages/42113.shtml this is the thread.

The guy who posted this is a professor at UCLA and has a PHD in Physics and Astronomy, and teaches at the UCLA Dept. of Physics & Astronomy.

So he's no real art critic, just a guy with l ots of opinions. so anyway, just thought i'd let you know of how some pochos percieve your work..

I've always loved it...

anyway take care....
z

BTW, i just got back from the BINACOM 2001 where i presented a documentary, (which you can see on the web)
and a digital art...

My dream is to have one of these painted where I made the documentary, in Calexico, CA

what would it take to get a mural painted in a building?

Let me show you the art work...

see attachment

z

 

Subject: Dear Alma,
Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2001 13:39:21 -0700
From: Elizabeth Gaylynn Baker <elizabethg@earthlink.net>
To: almalopez@earthlink.net

My name is Elizabeth Gaylynn Baker. I write and direct for a company I founded called Signature Films.

Our goal at Signature is to produce documentaries that gently reflect information to viewers in a way that inables them to gently shift their conciousness. I believe it is in this shift of conciousness that a new world, one free of both racism and sexism, can begin.

In attempting to get funding for a documentary on "Our Lady," I felt it would be wise to introduce myself to you. I am in prayer that this opportunity to heal and unite a community will not be lost.

I admire your art and your courage.

Elizabeth Gaylynn Baker

 

Subject: your art
Date: Sun, 29 Apr 2001 16:40:39 EDT
From: Cuba1199@aol.com
To: almalopez@earthlink.net

Wow. That was my reaction to viewing your art, which I learned about from the listsevrve, XColumn. I applaud your work. I think you seem very creative, passionate intellectual and assured. Assured as to why this was
created and what it means to me. I can clearly see how it could have different meanings to different people. Yet, I think when viewing art and we learn about the history & perspective of the artist, what we see becomes
clearer and understandable. Thank you for your website. And, press on. You provide a really gripping description of what the Virgen means to you.

Thanks for the insights. Peace, Janét Hund

 

Subject: Your beautiful work
Date: 29 Apr 2001 21:11:52 -0700
From: mles@nytoday.com
To: almalopez@earthlink.net

Greetings,

I was turned on to your work when the NY Times did a story on 3/31/01. I was thinking of reading a book tonight but I don't want to offend our Mayor Rudy G. He has, as I'm sure you know by now, been deciding what art is "offensive." Do you think I should contact him directly to make sure my reading material is not offensive to him?

Wanting to do the "right thing"
--mike