Hello my fellow screen printing comrades it is almost Frida Friday! I encourage all of you to visit the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, CA. Yes my friends , the Molaa is located right here in Long Beach on 7th St. and Alamitos and is free on Sunday's. I went to Molaa on the 18th of May with a dear close friend of mine. Who was brave enough to break the Molaa law and take these pictures like a ninja. Most of you have probably heard of Frida Kahlo, or seen a painting of a Mexican Women with a sexy unibrow, but do not know who she is. Molaa has just opened a new exhibition called FRIDA KAHLO, HER PHOTOS. I thought the exhibition was extraordinary they had over 200 photos of Frida, her family, her house, her homeland, her love, and her pain. These photos give some type of insight into Frida's inspiration, and life. We do not always get precious memories of talented artist, but Molaa has blessed me with an opportunity to visit a different time, land, and soul through photographs taken many years ago.
Frida Kahlo de Rivera also known as simply Frida was born July 6, 1907 and died July 13, 1954. She was a Mexican painter who is best known for her unique self portraits. She was born and raised in Mexico City in Mexico and lived in a well known house called La Caza Azul. Frida was also married to a famous Mexican artist called Diego Rivera. Talk about a power couple. Frida was a strong, amazing women full with inspirational charisma, but is most known for her portraits that carry tons of pain. When Frida was young she was in a bus accident that left her in a body cast. She broke her spinal chord, pelvis, legs, and many other parts of her body. This accident left her in a great deal of pain for the rest of her life.Both physical, and emotional pain. She had about 35 operations due to this accident in her life time, and she was unable to bare a child. Frida was a lover, and loved people, but because of this accident she would have to spend the majority of her time healing alone which hurt her soul. Frida once said " I paint myself because I am so often alone, and because I am the subject I know best".
While I walked around the exhibition I saw that every photo had its own story, and memory. Every single photo taught me something new about Frida. However, there was one photo that captivated me for minutes. The photo I am talking about is the family photo where Frida is dressed as a man. When i first saw this photo I laughed, and new Frida was not afraid to be different. It is a lovely family photo taken by her father Guillermo Kahlo. The photo is black and white, and everybody in the photo looks serious because this was the custom in Mexico at this time. At a glance you think it is a regular family photo until you realize one of the daughters appears to be a brother. This led my mind to explore, and i wondered why she chose to dress like that. You have to understand in the 1900's this type of behavior, and image was unacceptable for a women in Mexico. This photo holds many narratives, and that is why I fell in love with it. This revealed to me that Frida was a brave individual, and did not care what people around her would say, or think of her. It showed me Frida had an extraordinary sense of humor. Also, this photo could have shown a sexual desire for women that she did have. I am not sure what her motivation was, but I am happy to know that she was brave enough to be different during a time where different was shunned, and unaccepted.
I personally think this photograph is amazing. I think that Frida was a true revolutionary in every form. She lived to rebel against what society, and social norms. This picture is the perfect example of that. Frida was an artist in every form. She pushed the boundaries, and refused to be put in a box. She did what she felt was right, and most of all what made her happy. I think this picture captures Frida's intrinsic freedom. I want to be this brave. I want to rebel against society. I want to push boundaries with my art, and mind. This picture motivated me to be different, and standout. To do things society will question so, that things may begin to change.
Finally, I did not only leave with a better understanding of Frida the artist, but I left with inspiration in my soul. I was inspired by Frida and her life. She endured so much suffering, but i have no doubt in my mind that art kept her alive. The pain in her paintings, and pictures relieved her of her emotional, and physical pain. I know this out of pure experience when you express your self with art you release all of your pain, and suffering. I forgot about this, and was inspired to put some of my actual feelings, and concerns into my artwork. I am also a painter, and when I left this amazing exhibition I remembered about a part of me I forgot about. I remembered about the kid that used to paint his pain away, and said to myself "I want to be Free as Frida".
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