Art in the most unexpected places

This past weekend I was up in Auburn for a wedding and my family and myself were out exploring, well shopping, in down town Auburn before the ceremony. We went into this little whole in the wall gardening, of all things, store. I was checking out a book when my cousin turned and asked me "who is this lady on this box, I always see her in Mexican resturaunts, ect." I looked down and instantly knew who it was.. Frida Kahlo and in a gardening shop! I was so stunned, and I automatically responded "well that would be Frida Kahlo!" I got excited and I started explaining her painting style and experiences to my cousin. That's one of the many moments that I've had that I realized why I love art so much. I loved getting to explain about her to my cousin, I started going off on some of her culture and Kahlo's abstract views of her own reality. Most people think art history is boring.. I find it fascinating. I love learing about the movements and each artist's contribution to specific movements and movements after their gone. I love seeing how art has evolved because while art evolves so does society and societys morals and views. I find the meanings behind the paintings more fascinating than the art it's self. I like seeing it from the artist's perspective almost more than the viewers. Like Goya's art for instance.

More than knowing the meanings I love going places and recognizing pieces of art. The pieces come to life. I also like being able to tell people about pieces, it's fun for me I enjoy telling their stories. For instance, my family is big on the history channel, and one nigth we were watching about myths and before the commercial they showed a picture of Palace King Minos lived in (Knossos). I instantly knew the myth; deep in a maze underneath the palace, never to be seen, was a half human, half animal. The outcome of King Minos's wife falling for a beast. I love being able to see pictures and know exactly what it is. From art I have gained a new way to look and approach life. A new way to analyze everything. From all of my art history classes I am just now seeing how much art really is apart of everyday life.. and I like it!

Voting

First of all I would like to say that this was my very first time voting :) via absentee ballot. (When I worked the voting polls 2 years ago I quickly found out how much easier absentee voting is than dealing with long lines and voting machines breaking on election day). I have to say, I was already fed up with McCain and Obama's campaigns months ago so I am glad that the election is finally over. This election was monumental because either a woman would be in office or an African American. With Obama's Presidential win our country has officaly taken a step toward equality for all races and people; eliminating racist ideas of ancient generations.

My over all voting expierence was stressful. I was overwhelmed by all the stuff I was voting for. Half of which I wasn't really too concerned about or even understood. I felt a lot of responsiblity to just not vote hastily and to take my time and read through everything. Which made me think back to my political science class last semester and a huge topic we debated on about all elections and how voting is so important yet it is taken for granite. I'm wondering how many people just vote to vote and how many people actually were educated voters. It sounds silly to ask what's better, an educated voter or not voting at all because one's not educated, because the answer is right there "educated voter" but how many people actually are? In class we diccussed whether people should have the right to vote or not because it was intended that all people would research what they were voting on. It's a legit question I believe, AND TO CLARIFY THIS QUESTION HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE OUT COME OF THE 2008 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, before anyone gets the wrong idea. I was just thinking of things to write about voting and the question popped up in my mind as I thought about discussions from my political science class. But it's so exciting that my first time voting was for such a historic election, with such a great out come.

Frida Kahlo Exhibit

Self Portrait with Monkeys.

Frida Kahlo's paintings were much different than I imagined they were going to be. I was not familiar with her work before the exhibit, although when I was there I recognized some of her paintings from her "uni brow". Her pictures were more dark and eccentric than I imagined them to be. Yet very interesting and exciting to look at at the same time. I liked trying to figure out what each picture could symbolize or mean. Her paintings made me want to read more about her and her art work, where she came from and her life. Her paintings exhibited pain, sorrow and a feeling of desperation. They all drew you in. A few of my favorites from the exhibit were: Henry Ford Hospital, The Two Frida's, The Broken Column, Self Portrait with Monkeys, Flower of Life and Sun and Life.




The Broken Column.

This picture was one of my favorites. Her gaze is captivating yet blank. You can see her depression and desperation in her stare. In place of her spine is a broken column, it looks like possibly a Doric or Ionic Greek column, and it's shattered, resembling a broken spine. The various sizes of nails all pinned into her body seem to represent a reminder of a pricking pain all throughout her body. The straps that are wound around her torso and shoulders seem to resemble some sort of brace. The background is as plain as her gaze and i love the blues in the sky behind her. Yet there is still a melancholy feel to this picture.







Henry Ford Hospital.

This painting is really odd and twisted. It's so strange that I almost don't know what to make of it. It took a lot of staring and thinking to realize this had to do with having a baby or from the puddle of blood, a miscarriage. She lays in a hospital bed, naked, in a puddle of blood. Connected to her stomach by veins are a snail, baby, insides, flower and pelvic bones. Her paintings, especially in this one lack a realistic quality visually, but after reading up on the background information of this painting, it's clear that it represents her reality. Her painting is flat and dream like. All the images look as if they were just pasted onto the background. They lack depth, but even still a wave of emotion overcomes you as you look deeper into this painting.


Flower of Life.

This painting is a prime example of her paintings representing her reality all while looking very unrealistic. The flower looks like a monster version of a Venus fly trap. The colors in this particular painting are dark and diluted. This looks like an image one would have in a freaky and horrific nightmare. This painting of the flowers reminds me of a Georgie O'Keeffe painting, having the flowers represent sexuality and male and female organs.









The Love Embrace of the Universe.

This was the piece in Kahlo's collection that I felt was most influenced by Aztec/Pre-hispanic/Ancient Mexican art. I saw in most of her paintings elements of influence of Ancient Mexican art but this painting seemed more influenced than the others. All of her paintings represented the culture where she came from, either by ethic makeup, dress, or landscape. This paintings theme had a spiritual and mystical influence as we have learned the Olmec valued and created art for. In this painting Kahlo is in a more traditional dress and is holding a full grown man in a position of a baby. Kahlo is being held by a sort of God. This God and as well as Kahlo are being cradled by 2 large hands. The hands embracing them are black and white. Most likely representing day and night. In the arms of Night and Day are many cactus's which are the most common landscape elements in Mexico. Roots hang from underneath the 2 embracing arms, showing the roots of earth.

Mexico

When I think of Mexico the first thing that comes to my mind is food. Tacos, Fajitas, Nachos, Burritos, Margaritas, Tequilla, ect. Good home made, family style cooking. The one particular food I think of is jalapenos peppers.

From all the times I've watched the History Channel I am reminded of the Aztec and Maya civilizations that used to inhabit Mexico. I am really excited to get to learn about their culture and art. To see where Spanish and Mexican roots originated from.

I visited Cabo last summer and I have to say it was not what I expected. The coast line was absolutely breath taking but the city and weather took some getting used to. Visiting Mexico was definatly not resort like such as Hawaii but you definatly learn to apperciate what you have. The people were very personable and very hard working. Their markets were full of so many diverse artifacts and locally made items. But the one thing I was clued into was how poor Mexico actually is. I thought Mexico was going to be like Hawaii but I quickly learned what good advertising can do for a company/place. I'm just couldn't believe that so many people lived like that. I had never seen anything like that. I just don't see how people could be okay with living in such poverty right next door to multi-million dollar resorts.

Being a lover of the motor sport community I automatically thought of the Baja 1000/500.

The landscape. Raw desert. Cowboys and lone rangers. The landscape makes me think of Western flicks and desert wildlife.

Most of all I think about it's tradition, culture and family values. My overall image of Mexico is putting the family before the individual. And a culute with lots of history and roots which have all been rooted in faith and family.