Stormy Daniels[1] as the Virgin Mary? “Virgin,” a show of photographs by Nika Nesgoda[2], opens Thursday at the Spur, the Southampton co-working space and social club.
Inspired by Caravaggio, who used a prostitute model for “Death of the Virgin” in 1606, Nesgoda had adult-film actresses Stormy, Tera Patrick (who has since retired from the industry) and other porn stars pose as the Virgin Mother in 2002.
“Stormy doesn’t care what other people think of her. She’s a free spirit,” Nesgoda told The Post. “My show’s a playful look at art history. Pornography is art that we deem excessive in a way. Throughout history, women were seen as virgins or whores. I’m not trying to be ironic. The way I see it, with art you look at something and make a judgment whether you like it or not — but things are not always what they seem.”
The show has 15 images, each depicting a moment in the life of the Virgin Mary, based on actual paintings and “reinventing in the light of the present,” said Nesgoda. “The Stormy one is based on Simone Martini and Lippo Memmi’s 1333 ‘Annunciation,’ which I chose because the woman in the painting looked like she’s seen things in life, not like an empty-headed virgin. She has the same expression as Stormy has in my photo.”
“We’re always on the cutting edge,” said Spur president Gary Bierfriend.
Bill Donohue, of the Catholic League, said, “I have a suggestion for this genius. Why doesn’t she do an exhibit called ‘Mohammad’ that features Harvey Weinstein and Anthony Weiner as the prophet? That might attract a crowd, but I’d make sure to call the bomb squad first.”
Nesgoda was raised Catholic and says she’s not