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| Frida and Diego, nicknamed "The Elephant and the Dove". She was 98lbs to his 300lbs! |
Happy Cinco de Mayo. Today, the 5th of May, is the day to celebrate Mexican culture and heritage. It marks the date of a Mexican victory in a regional battle with the French in 1862. However when I think of Mexico I think of Frida, bright splashes of color and real Mexican food, not the goop of melted cheese you find so often in "Mexican" restaurants. Frida, of course, is surrealist Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, one of the most well known artists of the twentieth century. She was married to the famous muralist Diego Rivera.
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| An ethereal painting by Frida Kahlo |
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| This Diego Rivera mural was created in 1931. I had the pleasure of seeing it at the San Fransisco Art Institute on my honeymoon in 2009. The colors are still amazingly vibrant! |
The movie Frida, starring Salma Hayek and Alfred Molina relates their tumultuous relationship as well as the revolutionary political climate and personal experiences that colored both their careers as artists. I love this movie because it is art. I doubt there is a single solitary frame in this film that cannot stand on its own as a work of art. The colors are amazing as are the scenes that morph from reality into artwork.
One of my favorite scenes is Frida's tango portraying a seductive dance between Frida Kahlo and Tina Midotti (Italian photographer and fellow revolutionary) played in the movie by Salma and Ashley Judd. Watch the steamy scene here.
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| The sultry tango scene starring Salma Hayek and Ashley Judd as Frida and Tina Midotti |
Frida's kitchen was no less colorful than her life. Her house, La Casa Azul in Coyoacan Mexico, is open to the public. A visit is something I definitely need to add to the old bucket list.
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| Imagine making guacamole here! |
If you find yourself craving some Mexican culinary magic check out this cookbook filled with authentic Mexican recipes.
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| A source for "the real deal" in Mexican cooking |
I'm hoping you have Netflix so you can blend up some frozen margaritas, whip up some fresh guacamole, sit back and enjoy Frida on this Cinco de Mayo. You're in for a treat!
Am currently reading The Lacuna, Barbara Kingsolver's fictional account of early 20th century Mexico, in part set in the Kahlo/Rivera household. Great read. Maybe some lucky blogger might get my copy when I'm finished.
ReplyDeleteThanks Pam. As you know that book is on my "to read" list. Looking forward to it!
ReplyDeleteI love the bright colors of Mexico. My wife is Mexican-American, which probably explains my own girth! My favorite ethnic food has always been Mexican food, and I've been getting it homemade for 35 years now! We both loved the movie Frida. The colors, the music. It was really quite something. I can't begin to compete with that sort of thing, but I did make a Mexican-themed building for our backyard spa, which we call the casita.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Joseph. Please send pics of the casita AND some guacamole :)
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