On my last day in Mexico city I went to see the Museo de Frida Kahlo. A little back history on my obsession with Frida Kahlo: I fell in love with Frida's work in highschool when I had the opportunity to go to the Seattle Art Museum with Senor Smith and other students to see both Diego and Frida's paintings. The museum exhibit also included extensive biographical information, and Frida really had quite an interesting life. Then later my Auntie Phyl gave me a copy of the Frida Kahlo movie and I watched it a million times. I remember staying up late painting while watching the Frida movie in my dorm room. Inspirational. This all went hand in hand with my love for dia de los muertos art, the colors and adorable skeletons were really what made me interested in painting. So with this in mind, my trip to Frida's house was like a pilgrimage.
One whole section was the doodles and sketches she had done on envelopes, on pages of books, everywhere. I really liked this section because it is a good reminder that the greatest of artists also do little scribbles like I do in my notebooks. I stood in the room where Frida was born, now dedicated to letters to and from Frida and Diego. One letter in particular was really inspiring. Alejandro Gomez Arias (I think?), a boyfriend of Frida's, wrote her a letter in which he was talking about her talents and personality and he told her that she was an "uncommon woman." I am not sure if I can adequately describe my reaction to this statement, but it struck me that this was not only very true of Frida, it was also something that I hope will be true of myself. To me, being an "uncommon woman" is to be independent in thought, creative in expression, and to live inspired and passionate about all that one does, among so many other things.
Moving on, I was really just shocked that I was walking through her home, seeing her childhood toys, her mirrored bed, her cast that she painted on after the traumatic accident. After the museum I went to the Coyoacan post office to send my mask and a few other things to my parents. What an interesting experience that was. My initially reaction was "why the heck are these people being so nosy?!?" I really wasn't annoyed by the situation, it was just very different than the overall 'ignore everyone around you in public institutions' attitude that there is in the city. The idea that certain things are and are not ones business. They probably thought nothing of openly staring at everything I did, everything I put in the box and asking questions. Jen was helping me figure out how to send the mail and she said that she felt like the other post office patrons (upper class mexicans who tend to be lighter) looked shocked when she spoke to me in english, as if they didn't think a brown person would ever speak perfect english. I am sure both Jen and Rafa have had very interesting experiences being mexican-americans back in mexico. I thought I was almost out of the place when I didn't have brown paper to wrap the box, after a few moments of me looking totally confused a guard/postal worker wrapped the box for me which was really kind.
I am behind in the blog because I haven't had much time to be on the internet and haven't had a chance to upload photos. I have been going back and adding pictures to old blogs, something I will probably do from time to time... So be on the lookout for more pictures. This seems like a good time to announce that I am in Nicaragua, the land of lakes and volcanos! I am currently in Managua (which so many people have noted is a city without a center...very interesting that this is so often mentioned), but I will be flying to the atlantic coast on monday morning. I am really not sure if I will have internet access for the next week or so but I will be back in full swing with pictures and stories soon (I hope).
One whole section was the doodles and sketches she had done on envelopes, on pages of books, everywhere. I really liked this section because it is a good reminder that the greatest of artists also do little scribbles like I do in my notebooks. I stood in the room where Frida was born, now dedicated to letters to and from Frida and Diego. One letter in particular was really inspiring. Alejandro Gomez Arias (I think?), a boyfriend of Frida's, wrote her a letter in which he was talking about her talents and personality and he told her that she was an "uncommon woman." I am not sure if I can adequately describe my reaction to this statement, but it struck me that this was not only very true of Frida, it was also something that I hope will be true of myself. To me, being an "uncommon woman" is to be independent in thought, creative in expression, and to live inspired and passionate about all that one does, among so many other things.
Moving on, I was really just shocked that I was walking through her home, seeing her childhood toys, her mirrored bed, her cast that she painted on after the traumatic accident. After the museum I went to the Coyoacan post office to send my mask and a few other things to my parents. What an interesting experience that was. My initially reaction was "why the heck are these people being so nosy?!?" I really wasn't annoyed by the situation, it was just very different than the overall 'ignore everyone around you in public institutions' attitude that there is in the city. The idea that certain things are and are not ones business. They probably thought nothing of openly staring at everything I did, everything I put in the box and asking questions. Jen was helping me figure out how to send the mail and she said that she felt like the other post office patrons (upper class mexicans who tend to be lighter) looked shocked when she spoke to me in english, as if they didn't think a brown person would ever speak perfect english. I am sure both Jen and Rafa have had very interesting experiences being mexican-americans back in mexico. I thought I was almost out of the place when I didn't have brown paper to wrap the box, after a few moments of me looking totally confused a guard/postal worker wrapped the box for me which was really kind.
I am behind in the blog because I haven't had much time to be on the internet and haven't had a chance to upload photos. I have been going back and adding pictures to old blogs, something I will probably do from time to time... So be on the lookout for more pictures. This seems like a good time to announce that I am in Nicaragua, the land of lakes and volcanos! I am currently in Managua (which so many people have noted is a city without a center...very interesting that this is so often mentioned), but I will be flying to the atlantic coast on monday morning. I am really not sure if I will have internet access for the next week or so but I will be back in full swing with pictures and stories soon (I hope).
1 comment:
emma! i am really enjoying this--it's a virtural travelogue; i especially enjoyed mexico/frida/celebrations (and they must celebrate alot!) i had forgot my password, so had to start a new blog response...love you, TAKE ARE.
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