He painted for the people of Mexico. She painted to survive. Witness the romance and tragedy of the 20th-century art world’s most dynamic couples, on display this fall at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), with Frida & Diego: Passion, Politics and Painting. Comprising 155 works including paintings and a selection of iconic photographs that document the enthralling lives of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, this highly anticipated exhibition will be on view from Oct. 20, 2012 until Jan. 20, 2013. Tickets go on sale this week.
To celebrate the opening of the exhibition, the AGO will host ¡Viva La Vida!, an exciting night of art, entertainment and Mexican cuisine. Co-chaired by Margaret Priest, Tony Scherman, Benjamin Diaz and Paul St. Amour, the event takes place on Oct. 13, 2012, and features inspired artistic direction by Luis Jacob and Carol Weinbaum and culinary design by FRANK’s award-winning executive chef, Anne Yarymowich. Guests will be treated to a showcase of artist projects and entertainment inspired by the works on display in Frida & Diego: Passion, Politics and Painting. They will also enjoy exclusive preview access to the exhibition before AGO members or the general public. For tickets, please contact David Gosse at 416-979-6660 ext. 552 or visit www.ago.net/opening-party.
Talks * Volunteers receive members pricing for all talks, unless otherwise noted
Programming highlights for Frida & Diego: Passion, Politics and Painting include a series of talks designed to provide context for the exhibition and provoke thought and discussion.
Frida Kahlo Film Screening and Discussion
Nov. 21, 2012 (7 – 9 p.m.)
Jackman Hall Public $12 / AGO Members $10 / Students $8
Watch the movie Frida, naturaleza viva (1983), directed by Paul Leduc, with Ofelia Medina as Frida and painter Juan José Gurrola as Diego, followed by a discussion about Mexican cinema with Dot Tuer, the guest curator of the exhibition.
Hayden Herrera on Frida Kahlo
Dec. 6, 2012 (7 – 8:30 p.m.)
Jackman HallPublic $12 / AGO Members $10 / Student $8
Hayden Herrera is an art historian and biographer of Frida Kahlo. She has lectured widely, curated several art exhibitions, taught Latin American art at New York University and has been awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship. Her books include Frida: A Biography of Frida Kahlo; Mary Frank; and Matisse: A Portrait. She is currently working on a critical biography of Arshile Gorky. She lives in New York City.