Hernandez, Jaclyn

Professor Gaspar de Alba Presentation & Virgin Mary Reconstructions

     First off, it was a huge honor being lectured by Professor Gaspar de Alba. Her dissertation on the C.A.R.A. exhibition showed that it was not just an event, but more of a cultural unification. I think both she and the artists sent out a transparent message, of the need to take action in order to reprimand the ongoing story of social injustice. Turning to Professor Lopez’s presentation, when she revealed her research on the Virgin Mary it made me also speculate her story’s entirety. First off, my Grandmother (mom’s side) shares the same birthday and name as la Virgen de Guadalupe. Secondly, my mother was named Maria after my grandmother. Yet, I do not ever recall either of them telling me of Mary’s story. I was raised Catholic and even attended catechism, but Monday’s lecture was honestly the first time I learned about the Virgin Mary. She was and still is an iconic figure in my household because my mother and most of my relatives pray the rosary every single day. I was always speculative of why Mary’s prayer states, “…Mother of God…” and Professor Lopez’s PowerPoint just added on to the questions that I have. Now flipping to the Chicana feminist interpretations, in my opinion I do not think they were intentionally trying to insult the church in anyway, whatsoever. Art is a form of expression and those pieces surely did not seem judgmental of the religious legend at all. As for the anti-art individuals, I do understand why they were upset; the original Virgin Mary is depicted as being an innocent, modest, and poised woman. And, anything different than this may be taken as a negative reconstruction of her iconic figure.