Frida in Mictlan/Mictlan in Frida

Day of the Dead Offering/Performance

Coordinated by:
Professor Juan Pescador (IAH 211C)

Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo Calderon (1907-1954) was born on July 6, 1907 in the village of Coyoacan, outside Mexico City. One hundred years after her birth she has become one of the most celebrated and enigmatic artists in the Western hemisphere. Her work, deeply rooted in personal journeys, ancient Mexican traditions, a rebellious outlook on contemporary esthetic and social values, and a fierce surrender to the forces of life and death, make Frida one of the most intriguing and fascinating artists of the 20th century. There will be a special Day of the Dead Offering/Performance at Sunset (6:32) on Thursday November 1, 2007.

This offering-performance celebrates the artistic impulse, life and work of Frida Kahlo in the context of a unique and sacred festivity for people of Mexican descent: the Día de los Muertos. An ancient Mexican celebration in which families reconnect with departed ancestors, the Day of the Dead provides a unique opportunity to remember Frida´s passionate and provocative perspectives on life, art and culture.

This multimedia installation combines visual and performance arts evolving from a traditional Ofrenda de Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead altar-offering). It honors Frida´s irresistible magnetism for life, beauty, passion, hope and the quest for renewal in the face of human suffering. The performance Quetzalcóatl & Quetzalxochiácatl Atatapálcatl¨ (The Precious Snake and the Water Lilies, Precious Water Flowers) includes Ancient Mexican and Chicano poetry, excerpts from Kahlo´s vivid memoirs, traditional music and interpretive choreography. It also features student presentations on Frida´s life and contributions, the history of Día de Muertos and the significance of this tradition in contemporary society.

Opening at MSU Museum: November 1, 2007.
On display in MSU Museum's Entry Floor Gallery: November 1 -16, 2007

(Co) sponsored by the Center for Integrative Studies in the Arts and Humanities, Department of History, Chicano Latino Studies Program, and the MSU museum.