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| View from the Tram of Poster that includes Frida Kahlo, Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird circa 1940. Don't you just love the two butterflies? |
While Kim Kardashian West boasts that she has been taking 'selfies' since the age of four, it's the true queen of self potraits, Frida Kahlo (of her approximately 200 paintings, nearly 55 are self-portraits), that comes to life from May 16th through November 1st at The New York Botanical Garden.
The newest exhibition from The New York Botanical Garden debuts this Saturday and is the first to examine Frida Kahlo's appreciation for the beauty and variety of the natural world as evidenced by her home and garden and the complex use of plant imagery in her artwork. The exhibition features a rare display of more than a dozen original Kahlo paintings and works on paper (borrowed from Private Collections), but what truly stands out is how it re-imagines the artist's famed garden and studio at 'La Casa Azul' her lifelong home in Mexico City.
The exhibition was inspired by a trip taken by NYBG staff members to Kahlo's home in Mexico City, known as Casa Azul, it now exists as a museum dedicated to the artists life. They were inspired by the vivid indigo walls and lush plants in the courtyard.
I will walk you through the Press Preview, but I needed to point out that this six month limited exhibition will be ever-evolving throughout the course of it's run, you want to check out www.nybg.org/frida to check out what is happening from week to week so you can maximize your experience.
Upon entering the main gates at Southern Boulevard you will see a row of tall palm trees in planters and hear the sounds of traditional Mexican folk music playing through the speakers. The addition of a special cantina created just for the exhibition is where visitors can stop and purchase 'agua de jamaica', hibiscus punch, horchata, or cocktails including specialty margaritas (try the prickly pear magarita, it's delicious!)
Here is a play-by-play of the press preview:
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| Gregory Long, Chief Executive Officer and The William C. Steere Sr. President of The New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx, New York kicks off the Media Preview of Frida Kahlo: Art, Garden, Life |
Above: Gregory Long let us know that the exhibition is "intended to celebrate not only Kahlo's work, but also the "energy and sophistication of Mexican Culture". The exhibition was made possible by a variety of sponsors including MetLife Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Institute of Museum and Library Services, AeroMexico, Azteca, Karen Katen Foundation, Mexico Tourism, National Endowment for the Arts, Art Works, Jose Cuervo, Gillian and Robert Steel, Univision Contigo, Club Med, Modelo Especial, Mex-Am Cultural Foundation, Prestige Paints, and the Federal Council on the Arts and Humanities.
The Enid Haupt Conservatory should be your first stop, it is where Kahlo's re-imagined studio at La Casa Azul (the Blue House) is on display. During the quick walk there you can enjoy the poetry of Octavio Paz, as part of the Poetry for Every Season: Octavio Paz Poetry Walk. (His poems often referenced many native plants and flowers) but it is the exhibition wing at the Conservatory that comes alive with an explosion of native fauna of Mexio found at Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera's Casa Azul including typical pottery and planters.
Above: The sign reads "Frida and Diego lived in this house 1929-1954"
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| Todd Forrest, the New York Botanical Garden's Vice-President for horticulture and living collections gets ready to begin the tour of the exhibition in The Enid Haupt Conservatory |
Above: The Conservatory was transformed with Cobalt Blue Walls, Lava-Rock Paths, beautiful displays of flowers as well as a scale version of a pyramid at Casa Azul that was created to display pre-Columbian art collected by Frida Kahlo's husband, famed artist Diego Rivera featuring Mexican terra-cotta posts filled with plants found in Kahlo's garden.
Above: Re-creating La Casa Azul was no small task, but the results are truly impressive!
Above: I tried to nab a few shots of the flowers and plants along the way!
Above: Calla-Lily are quite prominent in Diego Rivera's work, I couldn't resist grabbing this shot, with living plants that almost appear as they are actually a painting, but these were created by the master painter known as 'Mother Nature'!
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| This interactive workspace is inspired by Frida Kahlo's own studio which overlooked the Garden. |
Above: It was hard to resist the temptation to sit there and be transported, I could certainly use the injection of creativity!
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| Musical Artists in Residence, the Villalobos Brothers perform in front of a living fence of cactuses at the Media Preview Day for Frida Kahlo: Art, Garden, Life |
Above; They will be performing on both the opening and closing weekend of the exhibition as well as the upcoming 'Canciones de mi Padre' Concert with Linda Ronstadt on June 20th/Father's Day on Daffodil Hill. They blend indigenous rhythms and melodies of their native Veracruz with the intricate harmonies of Jazz and Classical Music. I think I nabbed this shot at just the right moment if I do say so myself!
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| Artist in Residence, Humberto Spindola discusses the paper dresses he designed based on Frida's 'Las Dos Fridas' or translated 'The Two Fridas' |
Above: Remember the 'Gender Bender Twist' that I alluded to in my title? Well here it is! Two male models brought the art to life by posing with Humberto's dresses. I think Frida Kahlo who was speculated to be bi-sexual, and often dressed in 'drag' as a male, even posing in family portraits as a man would have gotten a big kick out of this! And the models who remained very much 'in character' were incredibly compelling and brought an interesting dimension to the presentation of Humberto Spindola's work. NYBG staff members that had actually visited the 'real' Casa Azul in Mexico City met Humberto who was working there as a Gardener. (We were actually seated near each other during lunch and I had to work very hard to resist my urge to geek out and ask a ton of questions!)
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| Frida Khalo dressed a man, with her sisters Adriana and Christina and cousins Carmen and Carlos Verasa, photographed by Guillermo Kahlo in 1926 |
Above: If it weren't for the eyebrows I bet you wouldn't have guessed this was her!
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Above: If RuPaul were to caption this one I would guess he would share that the models are serving up Frida Kahlo REALNESS! and maybe hashtag it #WERK
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| La Casa Azul Taco Truck feeds the hungry Press at the Media Preview Day |
Above: La Casa Azul Taco Truck was a big hit for the hungry press at Media Preview Day!
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Above: As my instagram of my La Casa Azul Taco Truck lunch was wildly popular, I thought I would share it again here too, I ordered a Fish Taco and A Modelo Especial Beer! It was an absolutely perfect moment, the weather was beautiful, not too hot or cold out, great company, great food, an amazing exhibition and eating outdoors with the beauty of the Garden surroundings.
Much like the Orchid Show, the exhibition will also include an evenings version on Select Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 6:30-9:30 p.m. called 'Frida Al Fresco' allowing you to stroll the exhibition after hours that will include live music performances, an outdoor Cantina where you can enjoy a Modelo Especial Draft (cerveza) or a Jose Cuervo Margarita, and Mexican foodie fare inspired by Kahlo's own recipes called "Frida's Kitchen" a prix fixe menu in the brand new full-service restaurant the Hudson Garden Grill, I greatly enjoyed Orchid Evenings, and can't wait to experience 'Frida Al Fresco' this weekend! Your advanced ticket purchase for Frida Al Fresco includes one complimentary Modelo Especial Draft or a Jose Cuervo Tradicional Margarita, your choice (and of course non-alcholic beverages are available too if you prefer!).
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| That's me getting in touch with Nature! |
My Take:
Frida Kahlo in many ways was ahead of her time, and I feel this exhibition is very much a living, breathing, ever-evolving tribute to the artist and the woman, It is interactive, immersive, creative, and vastly different from any presentation I have experienced of her work. I actually have way more pictures and could go on a lot longer, so I will be covering the show again throughout it's run and hopefully showing you how vastly different the experience is from visit to visit. Mexico is actually one of my favorite Travel Destinations, and The New York Botanical Garden has managed to bring a piece of the cultural richness of Mexico right to Bronx, New York!
Garden Members can enjoy a preview of the show on Friday, May 15th, and the show opens to the public on Saturday, May 16th. Benefits on the Members-Only Preview Day include Free Parking with a valid Member ID, 20% discount on all purchases at Shop in the Garden, 10% discount at the Cafe, and up to four half price tickets for friends and family.
I will also be working on a Pinterest Board that will include pictures that didn't make this post and will also include photos from all the days I visit this exhibit, I will post the link to the URL as soon as it's up.
I will also be working on a Pinterest Board that will include pictures that didn't make this post and will also include photos from all the days I visit this exhibit, I will post the link to the URL as soon as it's up.
Get Social:
Tag your tweets and instagrams with #FridaNYBG
Get Smart:
Take the Mobile Tour via smartphone, the mobile app serves much like a digital brochure and map of the exhibition on your phone, and has some fun extras including taking a Frida Selfie! Content on the app is in both English and Spanish as are the Poems in the Poetry Walk! There are also screenings
I can't begin to express just how much I enjoyed the Media Preview and I look forward to opening weekend! I have a strong feeling I will be back quite a bit during the course of this exhibition, this Latina Lifestyle Blogger was in paradise!
Do you have a favorite Frida Kahlo Painting? If so, which one? Butterflies I know just how much you appreciated the Orchid Evenings Giveaway and I will work on getting one put together for this show as well so please stay tuned!
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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post, no monetary compensation has been received, and all opinions are 100% my own! I attended a Media Preview of the Exhibition for Editorial Consideration. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255 - Guides Concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising, you may check our Giveaway and Disclosure Page for additional information regarding Ascending Butterfly Disclosure.
