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I belong to a few online groups these days, one of them is a group of artisans calling themselves "Handmade Division", spearheaded by the lovely and dynamic Andes Cruz. We are having a 'talk about' this week end, where we all answer a question and link our blogs. I decided to participate this time, so here we go! This weeks' talk about question is:
what item made by another artist would you *like* to have?
Well, I would like to introduce you to Frida Kahlo and her painting titled "Self Portrait with Monkeys". I believe this one is in a museum, ( or probably belongs to Madonna, who idolized her, hoping to play her in the biopic, and owns many of her pieces. Salma Hayek won the rights to produce and star in the film, which I HIGHLY recommend...see a clip HERE)...but if I could have this painting, I would make it mine! Frida (1907-1954) was a self taught surrealist who married in an on again, off again fashion to Diego Rivera, the famous Mexican muralist. I love her vibrant colors, surrealist style, and incorporation of the natural world. Out of her 200 or so known paintings, most of them were self portraits...some are fairly brutal in her 'description' of the aftermath of a horrific accident she was involved in, yet even these have contemplative nature, as to the meaning of life. Frida has been quoted as saying that she "painted myself as I was the subject I know best". She had such an interesting life, albeit troubled in many ways, but her gaze, in all of her work is mesmerizing. She had the ability to make the most powerful and graphic content seem peaceful. I just love her crazy style...if my medium was paint, this is how I wish I could do it!
check out what some of the members of Handmade Division are talking about:
have a beautiful week end everyone!
namaste
PS oh, and while you are pondering Frida's art, listen to her doppelganger, Lila Downs to set the mood...another big favorite of mine!