cascada post 6

Frieda and Diego

In 'el centro' of Xalapa is a park called 'el Parque Juárez'. It is usually filled with people milling about, or sitting on benches, or buying balloons for their kids, or food from various vendors. There is restaurant, a movie theater, an art gallery and a very nice view. Check it out if you can. If you go down the steps on the west side of the park there is a street and there you will find another gallery, possibly called the 'Diego Rivera gallery', which for the last couple of months has had a show about Diego Rivera and Frieda Kahlo. Picture taking is not allowed inside, but outside I snapped this shot:

That was invitation enough for me. Inside was a very nice exhibit with lots of works by both Frieda and Diego as well as a wealth of historical information. I won't try to give you any details here, just a flavor of those two Mexican artists who had interesting, if turbulent and painful lives. First here is a clip about Frieda which, if you click on it, will take you to the site where it came from and more information about both of these artists and there lives together, and apart.

Next, here is a 1985 image by Lucía Maya whose interpretation I leave for you to ponder:

Here is an honest photo of Frieda that I rather like:

This is a painting done by Frieda in 1931 in honor of her (first) wedding to Diego. I think it was done a couple of years after their marriage:

Here is a photo of Diego and Frieda taken at about the same time by Carl Van Vechten:

And here is one of many troubled and troubling self-portrait, 'The two Friedas':

Lest you thought border issues were new, here is that topic from 1932:

Now comes a painting which may surprise you, because it was done by Diego Rivera:

Diego Rivera - House over Bridge 1909

It was done very early in his career and bears little resemblance to his later work, such as his giant murals or his simple stylized pictures of people such as this:

Diego Rivera - Lo Molendera 1924

This last image is a 1914 portrait of Diego Rivera by Modigliani

In 2002 there was an excellent movie called simply 'Frieda' which portrayed the troubled life and time of Frieda Kahlo. Frieda was played by Salma Hayek, nominated for Best Actress Oscar that year. Diego was played by Alfred Molina and the movie was directed by Julie Taymor. The story is interesting, compelling and accurately told. I have heard that it was not well regarded in Mexico, but I don't know why.