Esoteric Survey

The Dolores Olmedo Museum , in Xochimilco, is home to the largest collection of works by Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo in the world. Along with the art is 16th-century architecture, peacocks, Xoloitzcuintles, and even a little Eames. The museum was the vision of entrepreneur Dolores Olmedo Patiño. It's housed in Dolores Olmedo’s former residence and sprawling grounds of the the historic La Noria estate.  Born in Mexico City in 1908, Dolores was the daughter of a businessman who passed away when she was four, and a schoolteacher. She initially studied law before studying anthropology, music, and art history in Paris. In her twenties, Olmedo purchased several brick factories, launching a business that eventually evolved into ICA, one of the largest construction companies in Latin America. Source: UNAM This photo of Dolores with one of her beloved Xoloitzcuintles hangs inside her former home.  There are a number of the dogs still living on the estate.  Frida also loved dogs, ...

Luis Barragan built some great walls in Mexico.  Luis Barragan  Barragan paid for his own walls at Casa Luis Barragan. Juan O'Gorman Mathais Goeritz Mathais Goeritz and Ricardo Legorreta The Mexican government, through a program led by Diego Rivera, paid American-born artist Isamu Noguchi to build this wall in Mexico City. The mural deals with greedy capitalists and fascism. It was done in the early 1930's and is unfortunately relevant again.   

Abelardo Rodriguez Market (1934), Mexico City The market in 1934. It was a post-revolutionary progressive model which included social areas, day care and had a goal to bring art to the people. Source:   Portal Academico Diego Rivera curated the art program. Murals were painted by his students and visiting artists. A wood sculpture in the lobby. Unfortunately, I have no idea who the artist is. Fresco murals by American artist,   Marion Greenwood , 1935 Marion working on the mural Source: Archives of American Art Her mural leads upstairs. At this time Isamu Noguchi came to Mexico City, apparently in  a car (a Hudson) lent to him by his friend, Buckminster Fuller.  Marion and her  sister helped Noguchi get a wall commission in the market by convincing Diego Rivera to let him join the project.  More information on this is included in Marion's interview at the  Archives of American Art Noguchi and Marion...