Program objectives for “Frida Vice-Versa”:
This one-woman show illuminates an aspect of Latinidad by introducing a key figure in
Mexican art and culture. Frida Kahlo invented a unique and personal style of painted
self portraiture that also bears the undeniable stamp of her Latina-Mexican heritage. It
inspires students to follow their passion in life.
It informs them about a legendary Mexican painter who prevailed in spite of being
physically handicapped because of an accident.
“Frida Vice-Versa” flourishes on the wishful conceit that we, the audience, might be
among the first or last students Frida Kahlo teaches at La Esmeralda School for
Painting and Sculpture in Mexico City. The teaching begins in 1943 and continues for
many years. Frida has grown increasingly famous, blossoming both as an artist and as
a personality-this in spite of a fractured body perpetually in some state of decay or
medical reconstruction. Even so, Frida remains indomitably flamboyant, full of joy,
sexuality, humor, vitality and passion. Her story unfolds in response to a simple query
about her painting-a question whose answer-packaged as ten “lessons:-reveals itself
with the black humor of opposites, accidents, and irony that rule her memorable life.
About Frida Kahlo:
She was born in Coyoacan, Mexico, in 1907. At age 18 (1925), she sustained severe
injuries in a bus-trolley accident. During recuperation, she taught herself to paint. After
three years she took some paintings to the famous muralist Diego Rivera, who
encouraged her. The two later married. And though Rivera certainly outshone Kahlo
during her lifetime (she died in 1954)-her following and fame have grown immensely
since that time.
Pre-show assignment:
1. Find Mexico in a world map.
2. Spanish is the official language in Mexico.
3. About Frida Kahlo’s work: her paintings are the frankest expressions of herself. Her
subjects were always her sensations, her state of mind and the profound reactions
that life had been producing in her.
4. Frida never followed any school of painting or anyone’s influence. In her best work,
she combined fantasy and reality; the world inside and outside.
5. Frida was an art teacher. She encouraged her students to be observant and to find
their passion
Post-show assignment:
1.Find the titles of some of Frida Kahlo’s paintings.
2. Which of her paintings ended in The Louvre Museum?
3. Where did Frida Kahlo exhibit her paintings?
4. What are some of the symbolisms that Frida used in her paintings?
5. What influence if any did Diego Rivera have in Frida’s paintings?