Loveland Church Cheers Artist's New Piece On Jesus
LOVELAND, Colo. (AP) - An artist whose museum piece with religious tones was destroyed by a woman wielding a crowbar has created a new portrait of Jesus for a Loveland church.
Enrique Chagoya's painting was revealed to a cheering congregation Saturday at Resurrection Fellowship Church. The Reporter-Herald reports it shows Jesus in a white cloth and red cape, holding a banner with the word "love" on it.
Chagoya previously created a lithograph at the Loveland Museum/Gallery that critics say depicted Jesus engaged in a sex act. Chagoya has said his work was mischaracterized and was a satire directed at corruption within the Roman Catholic Church.
After the piece was vandalized in October, Resurrection Fellowship Church pastor Jonathan Wiggins exchanged emails with Chagoya, who agreed to create a "loving" portrait of Jesus for the church.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)