mexican curios.

By 1921, Atl, busy painting murals, writing a landmark book...

Fri, 03 Aug 2012 14:36:53 -0400

By 1921, Atl, busy painting murals, writing a landmark book about Mexican Popular Art, in which Tonala ceramics received great acclaim, had begun a wild, passionate but short-lived romance with Carmen Mondragon (otherwise known as Nahui Olin), an intense relationship punctuated by violent incidents and outbursts. Even Atl eventually conceded that Nahui Olin, in reality a nymphomaniac, was amongst other things, a “green-eyed serpent”.

Atl’s contribution to the Mexican art revolution had already been considerable; he had encouraged, aided and in several cases taught many major artists of the next generation including Orozco, Siqueiros, Clausell, Zaraga, Galvan and others, including a then unknown Diego Rivera . Atl had pressured his wealthier friends to buy all the works of a Rivera exhibition held to fund Rivera’s first trip to Europe. He had invented Atlcolors, painted several murals, though none have stood the test of time, overseen the rebirth of mural art in Mexico, helped in the transformation of art education throughout the country and made respectable the popular art forms of Mexico such as toys and handicrafts.

The eruption of the Paricutín volcano in 1943 gave Atl the opportunity to live on its ever changing slopes for a year and paint, draw and write to his heart’s content. His landscapes took on a distinctive look, much imitated since but never seen before, characterized by bold, heavy lines, simple forms, stark colours and undeniably Mexican in style. Late in his life, with the aid of borrowed Pemex helicopters, Atl pioneered another entirely new school of landscape painting, the “aerial” landscapes, painting vast tracts of Central Mexico as though seen from an aeroplane

Gerardo Murillo (October 3, 1875 – August 15, 1964) was a...

Fri, 03 Aug 2012 14:33:56 -0400

Gerardo Murillo (October 3, 1875 – August 15, 1964) was a mexican painter and writer who signed his works “Dr. Atl”. He was born in Guadalajara Jalisco , where he began the study of painting at an early age, under Felipe Castro.

After showing his abilities, Murillo was granted a pension by President Porfirio Díaz to study painting in Europe. There he broadened his scope of learning, with study of philosophy and law at the University of Rome, and many trips to Paris to listen to lectures about art given by Henri Bergson. His strong interest in politics led him to collaborate with the Socialist Party in Italy and work in the Avanti newspaper. It was at this time that he was baptized “Dr. Atl” (the Nahuatl word for “water”) by Leopoldo Lugones.

Tree of Hope, Remain Strong 1946 Frida painted this...

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 13:42:33 -0400

Tree of Hope,
Remain Strong

1946

Frida painted this self-portrait for her patron, the engineer Eduardo Morillo Safa, after a botched operation in New York. She wrote to him about the painting and about the scars “…which those surgeon sons of bitches landed me with”. In the message “Tree of Hope, Remain Strong”, which is written on her flag, she seems to be giving herself courage. The phrase is taken from one of her favorite songs, “Cielito Lindo”.

In this painting we see two Fridas; the one on the left is the Frida who has just been rolled out of the operating room on a hospital trolley and the other is the forceful, upright and confident figure of Frida. The painting is divided into two halves, one day and one night. The maimed and bleeding body is assigned to the sun, which in Aztec mythology the sun is fed by sacrificial human blood. The two gaping wounds in her back are echoed in the fissures in the barren landscape behind. The other Frida, looking strong and optimistic, is assigned to the moon, a symbol of womanhood. In her hand she holds the corset that she has “Hope” of casting off forever after the surgery. Unfortunately, this surgery was terribly botched and resulted in numerous complications. It has been described as “the beginning of the end” for Frida.

In April of 1977, this painting was auctioned at Sotheby’s. The auction estimate was $20,000 - $30,000 with a minimum sale price of $20,000. The painting failed to reach the minimum sale price but was sold anyway to the highest bidder for $19,000.

Display Window in a Street of Detroit 1931 This painting appears...

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 13:37:57 -0400

Display Window in a
Street of Detroit

1931

This painting appears to be a simple “still life” painting of objects in a store window. However, the theme is very patriotic and perhaps an allegory of the United States. In the background she seems to imply that the country is still “under construction” and the objects in the vacant store window are just a façade for distraction.

The lion and horse in the painting very closely resemble ceramic and terracotta figures in Frida’s personal collection.

The painting is clearly dated “1931” but Frida was in New York in 1931 and wasn’t in Detroit until 1932. She may have started the painting in New York and then finished it in Detroit. Frida’s friend Lucienne Bloch recalls being with Frida in New York when they saw the display window that inspired this painting.

However, in an opposing account, Lucienne recalls she and Frida wondering about in the poorer sections of Detroit where they walked past a long-closed store that contained the 4th of July window display.

In a 1950 interview, Frida had this to say about the painting: “In Detroit, I painted a very ugly painting that gives me a lot of sadness when I see it, of a showcase with many things in it.”

The inscription in the lower right corner reads: “Display window in a street of Detroit”.

My Dress Hangs There 1933 After more than three years in...

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 13:36:08 -0400

My Dress Hangs There

1933

After more than three years in America, Frida wanted desperately to return to her native Mexico. Diego, however, remained fascinated by the country and his popularity and did not want to leave. Out of the conflict came this painting. The only collage in the artist’s oeuvre, it represents an ironic portrait of American capitalism and superficiality. Filled with symbols of a modern American industrial society, it points to social decay and the destruction of fundamental human values. In this painting, Frida takes an opposite view to her husband, who was expressing his approval of industrial progress in a mural in the Rockefeller Center.

What is missing from this painting is the focal point of nearly all of Frida’s paintings…herself. Instead, Frida’s Tehuana dress hangs empty and alone amidst the chaos in the background. It may be her way of saying “I may be in America but only my dress hangs there…my life is in Mexico.”

Frida started this painting while still in New York and finished it after she and Diego returned to Mexico. She signed this painting on the back in chalk and added the inscription: “I painted this in New York when Diego was painting the mural in Rockefeller Center”.

The painting was given to Frida’s trusted medical advisor Dr. Leo Eloesser of San Francisco. When Dr. Eloesser died in 1976, he willed the painting to his long time companion Joyce Campbell. In 1993, Campbell sold the painting just before there was a boom market for Kahlo’s works.

#mexican #revolution #latino #mexico

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 13:23:26 -0400

#mexican

#revolution

#latino

#mexico

#mexican #revolution #latino #mexico

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 13:23:04 -0400

#mexican

#revolution

#latino

#mexico

#mexican #revolution #latino #mexico

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 13:22:34 -0400

#mexican

#revolution

#latino

#mexico

mexicanx revolutionx latinox mexicox

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 13:21:40 -0400

mexicanx

revolutionx

latinox

mexicox

mexicanx revolutionx latinox mexicox

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 13:20:55 -0400

mexicanx

revolutionx

latinox

mexicox

Photo

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 13:20:12 -0400

Baruch Vergara, was born in Puebla, Mexico. He concluded his...

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 13:14:23 -0400

Baruch Vergara, was born in Puebla, Mexico. He concluded his studies of Plastic Arts in the University of the Americas in Puebla, Mexico. Where later he became professor of drawing and engraving. It was during 1995 in Milan, Italy, where its graphical experience was significantly developed in the Atelier of the famous painter Giorgio Upiglio. Their he experienced in diverse areas of the plastic arts incorporating “the Pop” culture and the history of the art incorporating fundamental elements of its production. At this moment he works in his studio in Puerto Rico.

Photo

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 13:14:07 -0400

Photo

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 13:13:53 -0400

Photo

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 13:13:40 -0400

Photo

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 13:10:57 -0400

Photo

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 13:10:31 -0400

Photo

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 13:08:03 -0400

Photo

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 13:07:44 -0400

Photo

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 13:07:02 -0400