Diego Rivera (1886 – 1957) created numerous portraits, capturing unnamed subjects alongside close friends and renowned figures in the arts. Mandrake (1939) depicts Maya Guarina, whose lace dress and headpiece contrast with a skull in her hands and a spiderweb in the upper left corner. A small mandrake root emerges in the upper right area of the portrait. Known for its hallucinogenic properties and magical associations, it contributes to an enigmatic portrait with surrealist qualities.
Souvenir shopping in San Diego’s historic Old Town presents an unmatched opportunity to score treasures that perfectly blend Mexican folk art with pop culture. Case in point: an eye-popping picture frame that reimagines DC’s Wonder Woman — with supporting appearances by Superman, and Batman — in bold, colorful Day of the Dead style, with intricate sugar skull makeup, vibrant detailing, creating a playful twist on the heroes we all know and love. Continue reading Yes, It Exists: Wonder Woman Day of The Dead Picture Frame→
Best known as one of Mexico’s great muralists, José Clemente Orozco spent much of the early 1930s working in the United States, where he absorbed the industrial dynamism and contradictions of modern life. Painted in 1930, World’s Highest Structure reflects his fascination with progress and its perils during an era when skyscrapers were reaching unprecedented heights and symbolizing the ambitions of the modern age. Continue reading Modern Art Monday Presents: Jose Clemente Orozco, Worlds Highest Structure→
When you think of Old Town, San Diego, chances are your mind goes to adobe buildings, rustic wooden signs, authentic Mexican food, and the kind of historical charm that makes you feel like you’ve stepped back into the 1800s. But as I discovered on my recent visit, history and pop culture sometimes collide in the most delightful ways.
Case in point: tucked inside one of the colorful shops, hanging alongside traditional woven blankets and embroidered dresses, was a bright Mexican poncho emblazoned with likenesses of Hello Kitty. Yes, Sanrio’s beloved pink-bowed feline has made her way into traditional fashion! Continue reading Pink Thing of The Day: Hello Kitty Poncho in Old Town San Diego→
David Alfaro Siqueiros’ Echo of a Scream (1937) is one of the most haunting and politically-charged works of the Mexican muralist and social realist painter. Created during the Spanish Civil War, the painting is a powerful anti-war statement that reflects the horrors of industrialization, war, and human suffering. Continue reading Modern Art Monday Presents: David Alfaro Siqueiros, Echo of a Scream→
