I love living near Chicago. We’re so lucky to be a frequent stop on world tours for popular artists and performers. My favorite thing to do is experience Broadway in Chicago—Hamilton, anyone? Chicago’s home to famous museums and other historical landmarks. In 2020, I’m looking forward to seeing world famous art right here in Glen Ellyn.
Starting in June 2020, the Cleve Carney Museum of Art at College of DuPage will feature art by Frida Kahlo. This is the largest and most extensive collection of Frida Kahlo’s art to visit Chicago in 40 years. The exhibit will feature 26 original works on loan from the Dolores Olmedo Museum in Mexico City. This is being described as an “immersive exhibit,” so it will have other items, like reproductions of her clothing, photographs, and other multimedia to put Frida Kahlo’s life in context. There will also be a poetry garden and a children’s area. Frida Kahlo’s art has been to the Louvre in Paris, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and this collection will be in Milan before it arrives in Glen Ellyn. It’s amazing that this collection is coming right to our town!
Frida Kahlo is perhaps the most well-known Mexican artist and maybe even one of the most recognized artists of the 20th century. She is known for her collection of over 50 self-portraits. Her works often contained themes of pain, politics, and love. Her Surrealist style is also reminiscent of Mexico, and it often features color and animals. Even though she died in 1954, her creativity has positioned her as a modern icon, even in the fashion industry.
If you want to get hyped for Frida 2020, Check the Library!
The Youth Department has planned several Frida-inspired events:
Hora de Cuentos Bilingue | Bilingual Storytime | January 21, 4:30-5 pm
Mexican Prints and Printmaking | March 31, 10:30-11:30 am
So You Want to Be an Artist | May 16, 1-2 pm
And we always have plenty of books!