It’s hard to talk about Mexican street art, or Mexican art of any ilk, without massive nods to Frida Kahlo.
D.G. – You should see all the Frida stuff I have here, from art to books to clothing and a beach bag. Can you tell I’m a huge Frida fan? LOL
Resa – Yes I can tell! So, let’s see what you’ve captured and then spend some time with Frida! In regards to the pic below, that you have titled“Little Boy Lost in Technology”: It looks like it is painted on a crumbling shack.?
D.G. – I didn’t even remember titling it that, lol. My interpretation is because so many are lost in their phones like phone zombies.
D.G. named many of the pics she sent in. I’ll put those in blue italics.
But actually, it’s not a shack, it’s the side of a store downtown. I’m not sure but I would guess it was painted on stucco? I mean the brick is exposed and so is part of the board and stucco?
Resa – Is this what it is like in parts of Puerto Vallarta?
I mean is poverty and hi-tech living together?
Is this image reflective of real life there?
D.G. – Yes, there is definitely poverty, just not in the tourist areas. Wall art/murals are permitted there as a medium of social messaging. The artist only needs the permission of the building owner and/or local authorities. Funny though, no matter how poor, everyone seems to have a phone. 🙂
D.G. – This intricate mosaic done in mirrored glass is in the Entertainment Park at the malecon (boardwalk), a square where they have entertainment sometimes and the Saturday morning market is held.
Resa – It’s gorgeous!
Resa – Is this image on the malecon? Or where did you find it?
D.G – The above shot and the next one were taken at the La Cruz market. Above, the artist featured paintings. The next one was a mural painted on a storefront entrance.
Resa – Is the La Cruz market the main market in Puerto Vallarta? Is it on the Malecon?Does one buy food there as well as art?
D.G. – Yes, there is a whole area like an outdoor foodcourt where merchants sell home made food and baked goods. Delish! There are several little markets throughout all towns, and yes, the Malecon has little markets as well, and a Saturday market. But the La Cruz market is by far the biggest and doesn’t have typical market items. It’s more artisan crafted – clothing, jewelry, hats, collectibles, lotions – you name it.
Resa – Tell me about “Child Art”!
D.G – The image of the girl is an actual painting, not a mural. I took the shot up in La Cruz outside a booth with an artist doing his art. I didn’t get to speak with him so I don’t know his name. His art was outside his booth on stands. I wasn’t the only one with a camera.
Resa – You titled the above “Catholic Religious”. Is this image on, or by a church?
D.G. – The girl with the red apron was snapped outside a building on a downtown side street. I’m still trying to figure it out. It looks religious at first, but why would the vegetable be on it? Lol. It’s wall art, but not sure what it represents.
Resa – I get it! The red apron/poncho looks like a “chasuble”, a liturgical vestment worn by Roman Catholic priests and bishops at mass. Seems like there are a lot of murals/street art in Puerto Vallarta.
D.G. – Puerto Vallarta is a growing art scene with so much talent.
Murals are allowed and have been a common way for artists to express themselves in social justice since the Mexican Muralism Movement. It began with wall paintings in the civic buildings after 1910 to educate the illiterate.
Resa – “Planetary art” Was this found at a trip to the Planetarium, or is it street art that made you think planetarium?
D.G. -As you well know, when you walk along older narrow and/or cobblestone roads, there’s always something to see. This photo was painted on a wall on a narrow downtown street.
Resa – Where were “Splash of Nature’s Colour” and“Peaceful Art” found?
D.G. – The splash was taken in Punta Mita, another town not far from La Cruz. It was a very short street with a few stores and restaurants and outside the stores you would find art.
D.G. – Peaceful art grabbed my attention while I was walking downtown around the malecon area. We were looking for the cotton store. I remember being disappointed when I looked at it later. I’d cut some of the top off. I was standing across the street from it, and I was trying to snap the photo in between many cars driving by.
Resa – Out of the dozen pics of art you sent, 5 are of Frida. It seems to me inasmuch as Mexico inspired Frida, Frida now inspires Mexico. Am I overstating her influence?
D.G. – No, you aren’t overstating the huge influence Frida had and still stands for in the Mexican culture. Frida is loved and admired throughout Mexico. She is admired for her colourful artwork – all expressions of what she was feeling throughout her life as well as many political paintings.
Resa – I adore this mural of Frida, which you say is on a restaurant. Did you eat there?
D.G. – No I never ate there, so I can’t even tell you what the name is. My bad.
Resa – The important thing is you got the pic!
Resa – I love this pic of Frida and Diego you took when visiting “Immersive Frida Kahlo”, in Toronto.
Click on the pic below and go to an article D.G. wrote about Frida. It fills in many things not in this post.
A BIT OF HISTORY
D.G. – Frida was born July 6, 1907 – July 13, 1954. Frida played a big part in the Nationalist Movement during the Mexican Revolution that took place from 1910 to 1920. The country was fighting for democracy to get rid of a dictator that had been in power for 34 years, violating the Mexican Constitution.
Many of her art pieces represent the pain she suffered in her younger days when she was first bedridden for months when she contracted Polio in 1913. She recovered, but she was left with one leg shorter than the other and deformed and wore a built-up shoe to help her limp. Then she was bedridden after a terrible bus accident in 1925. It was when Frida was held up in bed for months that her father had an easel installed above her bed so she could draw.
Frida is known as empowering, and as an icon for women’s strength, her art, and her love for the Mexican culture. Many only knew her as Diego Rivera’s wife in their younger days because he was already a famous mural painter when they met, and her art was not yet recognized.
Resa – Although you shot the “Immersive Frida Kahlo” images from moving wall projections, I am enamoured. I put most of them in the Slideshow below.
D.G. – Frida’s portrait of Diego in the slide show – To me. this painting highlights their volatile and turbulent relationship as it looks like hot flames.
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D.G. – Check out this great video on Mexican Muralism
How Mexican muralism sparked a public art movement
Resa – What a fabulous video! Thank you, Debby! I’m thrilled with everything you’ve sent me. Our post will be the bee’s knee’s!
D.G. We’re a great team. And of course we’re not just throwing pics up without discussing what they are, and perhaps a personal opinion or observation here and there. You are the creative art director and great photographer. I take amateur pics that tell me a story and love to write about. Teamwork!
About the Author
D.G. Kaye is a Canadian author living in Toronto. She is a nonfiction writer of memoirs about her life experiences, matters of the heart, and women’s issues. Her positive outlook keeps her on track, allowing her to take on life’s challenges with a dose of humor and a mission to overcome adversity.
D.G. began writing when pen and paper became the tools to express her pent-up emotions during her turbulent childhood. She began journaling about her life at a young age and continued writing about the people and events that left imprints and lessons. She writes books to share her stories and inspiration.
D.G. is a big advocate for kindness and for empowering women. Her favorite saying is “For every kindness, there should be kindness in return. Wouldn’t that just make the world right?”
When she’s not writing, D.G. loves to read (self-help books and stories of triumph), cook (concocting new recipes, never to come out the same way twice), shop (only if it’s a great sale), play poker (when she gets the chance), and, most of all, travel.
Visit her website at www.dgkayewriter.com and join her mailing list to keep up with her latest blogs and news about her books and events.
Contact D.G. at: d.g.kaye.writer@gmail.com
Follow D.G. on her social sites:
http://www.dgkayewriter.com
www.twitter.com/@pokercubster
www.facebook.com/dgkaye
www.linkedin.com/in/dgkaye7
Visit D.G.’s author page and books: www.amazon.com/author/dgkaye7.
Podcast links: Grief the Real Talk
https://www.youtube.com/DebbyDGKayeGies
https://soundcloud.com/dgkaye
https://open.spotify.com/episode/38OoQQysdvNYjXL3pfCMMq?si=wg-DQ8_PSs-hthRtIzvpFQ
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