Esoteric Survey

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...

The studio and houses of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo and a small photo studio for Guillermo Kahlo were designed by Juan O'Gorman and built between 1931 and 1932 in San Angel Inn, in Mexico City. Frida and Diego  would not start living there until late 1933, after a long trip to the United States, which included the Diego mural at the Detroit Institute of Arts. Mojigangas Exposed wiring The infamous bridge connecting Frida and Diego's living quarters.  Due to Polio, a past accident, and other ailments, Frida had mobility issues. The staff carried her up and down the stairs. In 1931, Juan O'Gorman built this house for his parents (although they never moved in) on the neighboring property. It's considered the first functionalist/modernist house in Mexico. After seeing it in person, Diego commissioned O'Gorman to design the buildings   for him and Frida. La Casa Azul  was built in 1904. It was wher...