"La Casa Azul" Museo de Frida Kahlo: Frida's Jewelry, Shoes, Accessories and Beauty

The exhibit, "Appearances Can Be Deceiving" in La Casa Azul, Museum of Frida Kahlo is a curated selection of Frida's personal dresses, jewelry, shoes, accessories and even beauty items.  

As a young girl, Frida suffered from Polio, which affected her right leg and eventually stunted it's growth. She also suffered from a severe spinal injury (from a bus accident), which in turn led to many surgeries throughout her life trying to correct it and she had to wear a cast/back brace. She also had her right leg amputated right below the knee, due to gangrene. 

"Appearances Can Be Deceiving" displays how Frida's vibrant fashion style celebrated her culture while disguising physical conditions. Frida wore traditional Tehuana clothes (long dresses, skirts, blouses) and in-depth shoes to disguise the physical issues.

From what I learned while touring La Casa Azul, Diego Rivera (Frida's husband) had locked Frida's closet doors and banned entry to anyone, after he passed away, he had left one of his close friends in charge and made sure that the doors remained closed. His reasoning was that he didn't want Frida's personal belongings to be mistreated/damaged. Anyways, his friend decided that Frida's closet was to be opened, only after she had died. She passed away in 2002, and the Museum of Frida Kahlo decided to open Frida's closet doors years later...and it is only until last year that the public has been invited to browse some of her personal items on display in the exhibit, Appearances Can Be Deceiving.

I can only imagine how excited and emotional the individuals who sorted through Frida's closet were. There was clothes, jewelry, love letters, sketches, perfume and even a bottle of Revlon nail laquer. Imagine being able to not only touch her personal belongings, but SMELL her essence? Must have been an out of this world moment.

I am thankful that I was able to feel her presence while exploring her home, La Casa Azul. Appearances Can Be Deceiving is a once in lifetime experience and is on display until November 2013.

"La Casa Azul" Museo de Frida Kahlo: Diego Rivera's Bedroom

Last week I shared some of the photos I took of the kitchen and dining room in La Casa Azul (click here to see). Today I present to you some of the photos from Diego Rivera's personal bedroom in La Casa Azul. Yes, although Frida and Diego were married while living in La Casa Azul, they did sleep separately.

The first thing that I noticed when I walked into Diego Rivera's room was the pair of signature denim overalls hanging on the wall. I was able to close my eyes and envision  him wearing them while painting one of his many famous murals. His signature overalls and hats also reminded me of the Portrait of Ignacio Sanchez, which is an oil on canvas  he completed in 1927. I felt his presence.

I carefully examined the small bedroom and spotted a miniature of Diego Rivera's death mask on top of the cabinet (pictured in photo #2, far right). I also noticed that there were couple of Pre-Hispanic pieces on that same cabinet, which is nothing compared to the HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of pieces he collected

Do you have a favorite painting/mural by Diego Rivera?

"La Casa Azul" Mueseo Frida Kahlo: The Kitchen and Dining Room

Cuando tuve el privilegio de conocer La Casa Azul, el hogar de Frida Kahlo senti una fuerte energia que me inspiraba mas con cada pazo. Cuando caminaba por los cuartos y pasillos senti que la tenia a mi lado guiandome. Y cuando estaba viendo sus maravillosas obras de arte juro que la tenia frente mi, pude sentir su fuerza, su amor y su dolor. Fue algo fuera de este mundo poder convivir con ella en su hogar donde realizaba sus sueños. 

La verdad es que en cada rincon de La Casa Azul puedes sentir a Frida Kahlo. Si no as tenido la oportunidad de visitar La Casa Azul, Museo de Frida Kahlo, espero que puedas disfrutar de estas fotos que comparto. Bueno, y si si has tenido el privilegio de conocer La Casa Azul, espero que estas fotos te traigan buenos recuerdos!

Posts anteriores sobre LA CASA AZUL:

Click AQUI para ver las pinturas en cuartos 1 y 2.

Click AQUI para ver fotos, retablos y pinturas de Diego Rivera.

Pies, para que los quiero si tengo alas para volar- Frida Kahlo

Aqui les muestro algunas de las fotos que tome de el comedor y cocina en La Casa Azul.

COMEDOR:

COCINA:

"La Casa Azul" Museo de Frida Kahlo: Family Photographs, Diego Rivera and Retablo's

Two weeks ago I shared a little bit about my first experience at La Casa Azul, Frida Kahlo's home (click here to read first post), today I am going to show you a few of the photographs I took in rooms three, four and five of La Casa Azul.

Room three is absolutely breathtaking. It's full of Kahlo's family photos, her parents, her sisters, and of course her love Diego Rivera. There are also some of Frida's sketches and a paper mache set that she made.

Room four is dedicated to her amor eterno Diego Rivera: his sketches, paintings and even blueprint and photographs of the museum/home he as building "Anahuacalli."

Room five is dedicated to Frida's "Retablos." From what I have read, Frida and Diego had hundreds of Retablo's displayed throughout their home. A retablo is a painting that includes three basic elements:

1. A scene depicting a tragedy or someone with a grave injury/illness,
2. A Saint or Martyr that intervened and made a Milagro (Miracle),
3. An inscription describing the tragic event and giving thanks for the Divine intervention.

Retablos

Note: I did pay 60 Mexican Pesos for a photography pass, which allowed me to take photos throughout La Casa Azul.

"La Casa Azul" Museo Frida Kahlo: Room #1 and #2

Third time's a charm...

I had always wanted to go to el Museo de Frida Kahlo on our previous trips to Mexico City, but for one reason or another, it never worked out. So, it was a DREAM COME TRUE when we finally went to Frida Kahlo's home, "La Casa Azul"  in November 2012.

As soon as we drove up to La Casa Azul, I couldn't believe it! Everything I had seen and read in books was right before my eyes. And I got a rush of excitement and energy that I could't contain, I was BEAMING, smiling from ear to ear! I was eager to dedicate a whole day to feeling Frida, to walk through her home and astounding garden I had read so much about. 

The first five rooms in La Casa Azul are dedicated to Frida Kahlo's paintings, sketches, personal/family photographs, Diego Rivera, and ofrendas (devotions). The following images are from the room #1 and #2 in La Casa Azul. 

It was an amazing feeling to be in the presence of Frida Kahlo...

[Above: Frida and the Cesarean Unfinished]

[Above: Don Guillermo Kahlo, Frida's dad]

[Above: Portrait of a Girl Unfinished]

[Above: Self Portrait Unfinished]

[Above: Frida's Family Tree Unfinished]

[Above: Viva La Vida Watermelon]

Coyoacán, Frida's Barrio #MexicoMonday

[Above: Fuente de Los Coyotes]

Coyoacán, is a beautiful Historic borough in Mexico City. It is where you can find La Casa Azul, home of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. You can also find Anahuacalli, the museum that Diego Rivera's  designed, which houses his personal collection of Pre-Hispanic art and much of his amazing work. 

I love Coyoacán because it is bursting with history, culture, tradition and great food! Plaza Hidalgo is at the center of Coyoacán, it is a garden/park with Municipal building, Parish San Juan Bautista, Cafe's, Restaurants and the Mercado Artesenal Mexicano (Flea Market).

Gabriel and I usually start off with taking a stroll in Plaza Hidalgo, then we head on over to the Mercado Artesenal Mexicano for some vintage and one of a kind goodies. After a couple of hours of hunting for unique things, we grab some food at one of the many restaurants. After eating our meal, we always grab a cafecito at a cafe!

Have you ever been to Mexico City?

[Above: Casa Municipal on the right]

[Above: Parish of San Juan Bautista]

[Above: Coyotes at Mercado Artesenal Mexicano]

[Above: Kiosk de Plaza Hidalgo]