Jessica Finkel and her friend dressed up as Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera for Halloween. I think they make a stunning couple! Jessica is actually dressed as Diego. Here's what Jessica had to say about Frida: "I went to a bilingual elementary school where I learned Spanish and English. My school used art a lot in their curriculum. Therefore, we learned about Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, and though it has been a long time, I still remember some facts about Frida Kahlo. I know she was famous for her self-portraits and that she was very much influenced by her husband Diego Rivera, and also Mexican culture post-Revolution. She tried to incorporate Mexico's culture into her paintings. I think she also had polio or some kind of disability that affected her spine and legs, which is why she wore big, long skirts, to conceal that." Thank you Jessica for allowing me to reproduce this photograph and your comments.
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I'm looking forward to my talk today. If anyone wants to respond to anything I present, feel free to leave me a comment. Also, if you want to see the Dobles Vidas Mexican folk art exhibition in the Thatcher Gallery at USF, you can see it today after my talk. If you don't have time, then you can catch it up through December 12th. Frida Kahlo is an iconic figure, yet I'm often surprised when I tell people about my book that they know very little about her. Some have never heard of her. Maybe Beyonce's Halloween costume will bring Frida's image to the surface of popular culture once again. Fridamania reached its zenith in the 1990s, but I think Beyonce's costume signals a shift into a new wave of, what I like to call, Frida love. What people know and do not know about Frida interests me. As a writer, I want to appeal to a large spectrum of readers, from those who know nothing to those who know a lot. I'm asking people to tell me if they've ever heard of Frida Kahlo. If they have, then I'd like to know how they learned about her and what they know about her and her art. For those who are Frida lovers, I'd also like to know what facets of her life and art are inspirational. This is an ongoing project that I will post periodically as I continue to blog about Frida's journey through the United States. The excursion begins on November 10th, the day that Frida set foot in San Francisco. Until then, I want to hear from you. Please click on "comments" and join the conversation. I'm looking forward to it! I think Beyonce wins for the best costume I've seen this Halloween! Of course, I'm biased, but I absolutely love all the colors and patterns on her dress and accoutrements. Did anyone else dress up as Frida? I'd love to know and to see your pictures. The photograph of Frida, Frida on White Bench, New York, 1939, was taken by Hungarian photographer Nicholas Muray. He took the most sumptuous photos of her, which have been published in a book. I suppose it makes sense that he captured a lusciousness in his images since he and Kahlo were lovers. This photograph graced the cover of Vogue magazine, creating an interest in the Frida look. |
Celia Stahr teaches art history at the University of San Francisco. She’s interested in women artists and artists who cross cultural boundaries. She fell in love with the power of Frida Kahlo's art in the 1980s, a feeling that has intensified over the years. Frida in America took 10 years to research and write, but Stahr never lost interest in this fascinating woman and artist.
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October 2022
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