In May 1974, when another American president was doing his best to destroy his country – and was soon to resign in disgrace for his efforts (now there’s a precedent for 47 to follow) – I spent a few days in Mexico City after visiting my parents in Guadalajara.
I can still remember how amazed I was at discovering the fabulous paintings and murals by Diego Rivera, José Orozco, David Siquieros and Rafael Tamayo that were to be found on the walls of schools, government buildings, and at the many museums that were spread around the city. It was a real morale booster in those troubling times to see the wonderful ways in which art could be used to contribute to a progressive consciousness and, not least, lift the spirits.
Anyway, I will be going back to Mexico City next week to help my sister celebrate her 80th birthday, and I look foward to revisiting the murals. Heaven knows we all can use a morale booster these days!
At the time of my previous visit, Frida Kahlo was known primarily as Diego Rivera’s wife, and was “also a painter” as a guidebook from the 1990s that I have in the store puts it, and her house was off the beaten track and I certainly didn’t know about it or her, for that matter. Now it is a very popular place and, if I hadn’t booked tickets last week I wouldn’t have been able to get in when I was there. All sold out.
So I hope you can make it through the week without Andy’s Corner being open. We’ll be open again at the regular hours on March 27.
AndrewJamison 