Frida: Her photos ~ A trip to MOLAA and Long Beach!

Nothing is worth more than laughter.
It is strength to laugh and to abandon oneself,
to be light.
~Frida Kahlo

In mid may I headed down to Long Beach, and met my aunt and uncle at the Museum of Latin American Art. I'd been hearing on the radio about an exhibition of Frida Kahlo's private photos, finally released after 50 years, for public viewing! 

On arriving at the museum, I couldn't believe how different it looked! I remembered it being very small and kind of hidden. Not any more! I realized it had been a decade since I'd been there.

Oh, and there was a mariachi band in front of the entrance, when we arrived!

The exhibition had all kinds of personal photos, including old photos of her family members. Unfortunately, I couldn't take photos in there and there was no catalog, but this video, below, gives you an idea of what they chose for exhibition. 

I would say it's definitely an exhibition for those fascinated with Frida and her life, as well as those who enjoy seeing history through old photos.

From the MOLAA (Museum of Latin American Art) Website

About the exhibition

Frida Kahlo, Her Photos presents over 200 images from Frida Kahlo’s personal Casa Azul archive in Mexico City. MOLAA’s featured spring exhibition includes images of Frida, by Frida and for Frida. Represented here are a wide range of photographs that shed light on a more personal side of Frida’s life, from family photographs, both traditional portraits and candid shots at the Casa Azul, to mementos of pain, love, and the artistic, intellectual and political milieu in which she lived. This selection from the Casa Azul trove also includes images by Lola and Manuel Álvarez Bravo, Man Ray, Tina Modotti, and Edward Weston among others.

Never before had a woman
put such agonizing poetry on canvas
as Frida did.
~Diego Rivera

A little music for the visit ...

Take a lover who looks at you 
like maybe you are magic.
~Frida Kahlo

I have always been inspired by Frida, because her art is so raw and courageous. She bares her soul, her life, and heartbreaks, in such an intimate and visceral way. I have always admired that. 

They thought I was a Surrealist, but I wasn't.

I never painted dreams. 

I painted my own reality.

~Frida Kahlo

In the exhibition, I found out that not only was her father of German decent (like mine) but her mother's side was of Spanish decent and a Calderon de La Barca ... Like mine! I texted my sister immediately. I have now decided that she must be our cousin! ;)

Frida recovering ...



I am not sick.
I am broken.
But I am happy to be alive as long as I can paint.
~Frida Kahlo 

At the end of the exhibition, there were activities for kids (and adults.) Frida was known to have painted her body cast. (In 1925 she was in in a bus that hit a trolly car, and broke her spinal column, collarbone, pelvis, right leg, ribs, foot ... among other injuries.)

There have been two great accidents in my life.
One was the trolley,
and the other was Diego.
~Frida Kahlo

The other "activity" was to write Frida a get well postcard. This, below, was my favorite that someone wrote. Love her comment about Diego Rivera (Frida's lover, and on again off again husband.)

My aunt and uncle, in the lobby. ;)

At the museum, there were other exhibitions going on, including a room of black and white photos by Manuel Carillo (born 1906).  This small exhibition runs through Nov. 30, 2014.

Boy Watering Horses, 1956

Manuel Carillo

I got the photo, above, off the MOLAA website. Google him, and you will see how beautiful his photos are! To see my favorite photo of Carillo's, click here.

We had a Mexican beer and snack in the cafe, as well. Pretty yummy flat bread with molé and cheese!

Back out in front of the entrance ...

My aunt and uncle are actually going to be moving down to Long Beach, next month, so they drove me around their very cute new neighborhood! Looking forward to some fun visits and more exploring of the area!

Old footage of Frida ...

Yay! I made it to the exhibition! It closes June 8th, so if you are in Socal, get on over there! (And no, I couldn't help myself with the "theme dressing!" What else is new?!)

I used to think I was the strangest person in the world 
but then I thought
there are so many people in the world, 
there must be someone just like me
who feels bizarre and flawed in the same ways I do.
I would imagine her, and imagine 
that she must be out there thinking of me, too.
Well, I hope that if you are out there 
and read this and know that, yes, it's true I'm here, 
and I'm just as strange as you.
~Frida


For more info on MOLAA click here.

Big blessings and light!
Can you believe it's almost June?