Frida y Yo/Frida and Me
self-portraits inspired by the work of Frida Kahlo
by the 4th grade students of Sanchez Elementary
at Las Manitas Avenue Cafe, 211 Congress Ave., Austin, TX
Exhibit: May 4 - 26, 2005
Reception: Friday, May 6, 2005
For over a decade, La Peña has presented exhibitions of children’s artwork from Sanchez Elementary. These shows have ranged from the popular Aztec God Masks to last year’s take on the popular Mexican card game Loteria. This year, La Peña is presenting “Frida y Yo/Frida and Me”, an exhibit where the fourth graders at Sanchez Elementary have created self-portraits inspired by the work of Frida Kahlo. They will be on display at Las Manitas from May 4th thru the 26th with a reception taking place on Friday, May 6th from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm.
Frida Kahlo has almost become a pop culture icon. Virtually overlooked during her lifetime and living in the shadow of her muralist husband Diego Rivera, it wasn’t until her death that her work began to receive the recognition it deserved. Her style of surrealism mixed with symbolic meaning gave her self-portraits a unique personal touch that would help it stand out and influence many artists for years to come. The students at Sanchez Elementary have created self-portraits inspired by Frida’s work. They’ve taken the idea of making artwork to reveal part of who they are, what they like, or special memories to share with the world. Each unique piece also features a personal statement about the work.