Cory Allen Contemporary Art Announces "Virgin Mary in Bondage," Causes Stir with Community in Women's Rights Protest

OKLAHOMA CITY, March 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Cory Allen Contemporary Art (CACA) announces that artist and feminist Marilyn Artus is introducing her new portrait of the Virgin Mary in attempt to protest the "continued infringement of women's rights by the Catholic Church and the many prominent conservatives." The portrait of the Virgin Mary will be on tour though many galleries and events; kicking off the tour with the AKA Gallery in Oklahoma City, Okla., April 6, 2012.

"The Lady of Nazareth Chose to Play Along," depicts the Virgin Mary, with Pope John the XXIII looking on, in provocative black pantyhose and heels, but "denied free will by bondage restraints," according to Cory Allen. "Her arms crossed and pinned, and her hands, sticking out passed curved hips, embrace the traditional aged crucifix."

"My image shows solidarity for the Virgin Mary, not blasphemy. I feel that as a woman she has been the submissive victim of male dominated Catholic hierarchy," said artist Marilyn Artus. "But, I've already been met with a certain amount of anger with requests to not show the image coming from some of my friends and relatives who belong to the Conservative Right."

The artist's camp is expecting more contentious voices to emerge against the work that is set for display throughout the month. "The artist isn't trying to anger anyone. She is simply saying the Catholic ban against modern contraception was put into place by a Pope, and it can be lifted by a Pope," said spokesman Cory Allen.

Marilyn Artus's past work includes "Our Lady of the Anti-Personnel Weapon and Her Stepford Friends." The work depicting clashing conservative ideologies featured the religious icon wielding a knife and a hand grenade and was covered by the mainstream media in 2010.

The Virgin Mary portrait will be on a tour from coast to coast in the United States before going international. It will first publicly appear next Friday, April 6th, at AKA Gallery Oklahoma City, Okla., before heading to other galleries and festivals.

For more info, contact Cory Allen at 323-393-3115 or visit http://www.cacanet.com .

RSS Newsfeed for CACA: http://send2pressnewswire.com/author/cory-allen-contemporary-art/feed .

* IMAGE (no nudity): Send2Press.com/mediaboom/12-0329-artusvm_72dpi.jpg
* Caption: "The Lady of Nazareth Chose to Play Along" by Marilyn Artus.

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SOURCE Cory Allen Contemporary Art