The D.F Experience Part 1

The first spot that we visited was La Casa Azul, the house of Frida Kahlo. She wrote, "Pies para que los quiero si tengo alas para volvar (Who needs feet? I've got wings to fly)."She wrote this after she had to have her foot amputated. After being hit by a street car while on a bus and as a result of her immobility she began to paint one. One of Frida's most recurring subjects was her portraits. By looking at Frida's portraits it is apparent that she suffered from reoccurring issues such as infertility and inability to be a mom, her miscarriage and desire to conceive. Certain places in Casa Azul were closed and asked to be kept closed for 15 years by her husband Diego. In 2004, 2 years after her death, they opened closed bathrooms and storerooms in the house. They found 28,000 new documents, 6,500 photos, and one of the earrings Picasso gave her that was thought to be lost. Diego Riviera said, "There is almost an unknown humble painting tradition in which they use sheets of metal and wood depicting a St. Virgen Mary or God." Little is paid for the of painting while is commissioned by the poor. Frida liked indigenous art and reflected that in her clothing as well. Frida and Diego treasured pre-hispanic art before all others, this was evident in their dining room. Two clocks were displayed. One of them has the date that Diego had an affair with Frida's sister Christina. It said, "1939 September, The hours were broken." The other clock said, "December 8th 1940 at 11 o'clock in San Francisco California" which represents the day they got re-married. Their personal lives are very prevalent in their artwork. Frida is shown in many of Diego's murals and Diego is the subject of Frida's pieces. "If we are not our colors, aromas, our people, what are we? Nothing." This is how Diego explained his artwork on numerous occasions and so he believed painted and lived it. The struggles that Diego and Frida lived through we're evident in their artwork and their home.