Frida Kahlo was just 18 when she was seriously injured in a bus accident in Mexico City. Besides multiple broken bones, including a leg fracture in 11 places, a metal handrail pierced her abdomen, broke her spine in three places and exited through her vagina. The accident required that she remain in a plaster body cast for months. During this time Kahlo began painting while lying on her back in bed. Using a mirror she began a series of self-portraits. These self-portraits make up a major part of the 150 or so of her works that survive today.
”I paint myself because I am so often alone, because I am the subject I know best.”
Frida Kahlo was photographed by many artists including Carl Van Vechten, Edward Weston, Héctor García, Imogen Cunningham, Manuel Alvarez Bravo, Lola Alvarez Bravo, Tina Modotti, Lucienne Bloch and Nickolas Muray.
You can find more information about Frida Kahlo at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frida_Kahlo
According to gallery’s website: “We are very excited to let you know about this year’s Frida Kahlo Art & Poetry Exhibit. Last year we had such a great response with artists, poets, musicians and even Frida and Diego look-a-likes, we can’t wait for you to see all the new things this year. During this exhibit, various artists come together to display their own works portraying the famous Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.”
Picture This Gallery is located at
4130 Norse Way
Long Beach, CA 90808
Phone: 562.425.4861
General Hours:
Tuesday – Friday Noon – 5pm
Saturdays 10am – 4pm
The show runs July 29 through September 13
Closing Reception, Poetry & Song: Saturday, September 13th 10am-4pm
By Jim McKinniss
6/22/09 Update: Douglas Stockdale reviewed Graciela Iturbide’s book El Bano De Frida Kahlo (The Bathroom of Frida Kahlo) on The Photobook, which can be found here.
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