Our Lady of Lactation

videoOPTalks
Written By Open Plaza

Dr. Neomi DeAnda and artist Alicia Sosa-Provencio discuss La Virgen de Guadalupe and the divine power of breastfeeding.

“Breastfeeding Virgen De Guadalupe - Virgin Mary and infant Jesus” stained glass, 8x10 print by Alicia Sosa-Provencio

“Breastfeeding Virgen De Guadalupe - Virgin Mary and infant Jesus” stained glass, 8x10 print by Alicia Sosa-Provencio

 

Dr. Neomi DeAnda is the recipient of the 2014 Louisville Institute First Book Grant for Minority Scholars for her project A Theology of Breast Milk: A Latina Perspective. The book-length manuscript includes chapters with intrepid titles like “Your Caridad del Cobre is not my Guadalupe, but Let Us Share La Leche: A Look at Latina/o Theological Roots in Images of Breast Milk.” In this episode of OP Talks, Dr. DeAnda talks to artist Alicia Sosa-Provencio, whose vibrant series of Breastfeeding Virgen De Guadalupe paintings portray Our Lady cradling and feeding the infant Jesus at the breast. Sosa-Provencio's vision: "I would love for this image to be so universal, or just so common, that you don’t even see a breast; you see a feeding child."

 
 

MORE: Alicia Sosa-Provencio

 

MORE: Dr. Neomi DeAnda

 
Featured
Neomi De Anda

Dr. Neomi De Anda is Executive Director of International Marian Research Institute (IMRI) at the University of Dayton, where she served as a Human Rights Center Research Associate and is an Associate Professor of Religious Studies. She teaches courses in religion, languages and cultures, Latinx studies, race and ethnic studies, and women and gender studies.  Dr. De Anda holds a PhD in Constructive Theology from Loyola University Chicago, and Master’s degrees in Theology (Oblate School of Theology) and Educational Leadership (St. Mary’s University, San Antonio).  Her research interests include LatinoXa Christology; theology and breast milk; chisme; Marianist Catholic Higher Education; the intersection of race and migrations, in conjunction with the Marianist Social Justice Collaborative Immigrant Justice Team; and partnering with the Hope Border Institute on a border theology at the intersections of the environment, migrations, labor, and women. Dr. De Anda is the most recent past president for the Academy of Catholic Hispanic Theologians of the United States (ACHTUS). Her honors include: the 2021 University of Dayton University Award for Faculty Teaching; the 2021 University of Dayton College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Service Award for faculty; recognition as a Courageous Woman's Voice at the University of Dayton (2020) and an outstanding faculty member in the State of Ohio by Ohio Magazine (2019). Dr. De Anda has also received various grants from the Hispanic Theological Initiative, the Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Religion and Theology, the Association of Marianist Universities, and the Louisville Institute, where she now serves as a member of the board. 

Featured
Alicia Sosa-Provencio

Alicia Sosa-Provencio is an artist born and raised in New Mexico. As a graduate of The University of New Mexico, she is a former primary grade and art educator, though currently the stay-at-home parent of her 3 young boys. She is a passionate believer in the power of arts’ healing abilities and an advocate for neutralizing color across gender expectations. She is known for her use of bright colors in playful abstracts and cultural connections to her native New Mexico roots. She also has a unique series of Breastfeeding Virgen De Guadalupe paintings portraying Our Lady cradling and feeding the infant Jesus at the breast. She currently sells her original acrylic paintings, print reproductions and greeting cards in her online Etsy Shop.

Open Plaza
Previous

My Ancestors’ Keys
Next

Cuerpo Sabio