Enter, stage left: Frida’s imaginary friend. Her name is also Frida. They play games.Frida

Jonah Winter Illustrator Ana Juan Scholastic 2002Text and Illustration Pages 8-9

Frida Jonah Winter Ana Juan [Illustrator] Scholastic Books 2002

Frida Kahlo is possibly Mexico’s most widelyrecognized and appreciated painter. Mainlyself-taught, she belonged to a circle ofinnovative and influential artists in Mexico andinternationally. Kahlo was married to the artistDiego Rivera. She was also an activeparticipant in the cultural and politicalmovements of her time.

Her work combines folk-art elements with ahighly personal symbolism that can be bothmysterious and disquieting. Her self-portraitspainted between 1925 and 1954 offer acomplex autobiography, exploring bothphysical and psychological pain. Kahlocontracted polio as a child and as a teenagerwas involved in a serious bus accident thatrequired many surgeries throughout her life.Her relationship with Rivera was a source ofconflicting emotions as well.

Frida Kahlo was born in Coyoicoàn, MexicoCity, to a Mexican mother and German father.At the age of fifteen, when she was preparingto enter medical school, she suffered a roadaccident. Though she never fully recovered,and her life would be increasingly filled withpain and disability, she began painting during

her recuperation from the accident. She sentpaintings to the well-established Mexicanpainter Diego Rivera encouraged Kahlo, and in1928 the two painters married; their stormyrelationship would last for the rest of Kahlo'slife.

Largely self-taught, Kahlo was decisivelyinfluenced by the starkness, high color, andbold, naive figuration of the popular andreligious arts of Mexico. She connected thosearts with developments in French and Spanishsurrealism, in which modernist abstractiongave way to realistic images placed inunexpected-even bizarre and nightmarish-juxtaposition. One of Kahlo's early supporterswas the leader of the French surrealists, AndreBreton, who in 1939 sponsored an exhibition ofher work in Paris.Grade LevelsK-4Curriculum AreasArt • Language Arts • TechnologyNational Language Arts StandardsNL-ENG.K-12.8 DEVELOPING RESEARCHSKILLSStudents use a variety of technological andinformation resources (e.g., libraries,databases, computer networks, video) to

gather and synthesize information and tocreate and communicate knowledge.

National Art Education StandardsNA-VA.4 UNDERSTAND THE VISUAL ARTSIN RELATION TO HISTORY AND CULTURES

Students identify specific works of art asbelonging to particular cultures, times, andplaces.

Students demonstrate how history, culture,and the visual arts can influence each other inmaking and studying works of art.

ObjectivesTo introduce the book, Frida, written by JonahWinter and illustrator Ana Juan.

To introduce to students that mythology andart help perpetuate traditions and customs of aculture or ethnic group.

To introduce visual symbols and ancientMexican art and folk art that have influencedFrida Kahlo in her art work.

To draw upon the ethnic, popular and folk-artof Mexican cultural heritage for their own artwork.

ActivityThe author, Jonah Winter starts out the text inFrida: “Frida’s world is Mexico.” This is awonderful introduction to the teaching ofMexico as a country. Throughout the book areillustrations that introduce various pieces offolk art and fine art from Mexico.

Introduce students to the culture of Mexicothrough visuals such as a large globe, largemap, folk art and fine art pieces, and otheritems collected from Mexico.

TigerPaper Mache

Masks of Mexico: Tigers, Devils, and the Danceof Life. New Mexico: Museum of New Mexico

Press.Barbara Mauldin 1999

Coloring Book Jaguar Costumed FigureThe Folk Art of Latin America: Visiones Del

Pueblo Family GuideMarion Oettinger, Jr. 1992.

ActivityThe Looking Exercise #1 will provide anintroduction to the folk art masks used inMexico for festivals. Students may makedrawings of masks, use the coloring bookillustration of Jaguar costumed figure, or makefinger puppets of masked figures. (Excellentpictures can be found in books listed in theResources)

LOOKING EXERCISE #1:FRIDAJonah WinterIllustrated by Ana JuanText Page 4

For little Frida, the world is Mexico. Her houseis a blue house. It is in the town of Coyoacán.

What is going on in this picture? Describeeverything you see.

What folk art is depicted?

Are the animals and plants important to themeaning of this painting?

What do you think will happen next?

ActivityCreate a simple wooden folk art toy by usingmaterials such as colored paper, cardboardstrips, paper brads, and imagination. [SeeWooden Folk Toys in the handouts for apattern and student art.] Cuckoo: A MexicanFolktale Cucu: Un Cuento Folklorico Mexicano,by Lois Ehlert is a great for inspiration andideas for folk art toys.

Jaguar Folk Art ToyStudent Art WorkLinda Kreft 1995

Cuckoo: A Mexican Folktale Cucu: Un CuentoFolklorico Mexicano

Lois Ehlert. New York: Harcourt Brace andCompany. 1996.

Explore another book: Diego, by JonahWinter Illustration Page 4

Can you find Frida Kahlo looking out a window?Diego Rivera? Costumed Festival Jaguar?Compare costumed festival jaguar to Mexicanfolk art masks.

Jonah Winter. Frida. New York: Arthur A.Levine Books. 2002.

ActivityThis would be an opportunity to teachsymmetry and Mexican Paper cutting.Examples of Mexican Paper cutting andtechniques can be found in the book, MexicanPaper cutting: Simple Techniques for CreatingColorful Cut-Paper Projects by KathleenTrenchard. Papel PicadoPapel picado pierces and cut banners havebeen used to decorate for festive occasions forover 400 years in Mexico. To begin thisproject, cut a rectangle from tissue paper thenfold down a 1-inch hanging flap along thelength of the paper. Fold the paper in halfcrosswise so that the flap is on the outside.Fold the paper in half 2 more times up to theflap. Shape the outer edge with scissors andthen cut designs along the folded edge. Unfoldthe paper once and cut the bottom foldededge. Open the flap folded down. Hang thebanners on string and glue the flaps down.

Papel PicadoKathleen Trenchard

Mexican Papercutting: Simple Techniques forCreating Colorful Cut-Paper Projects. New

York: Sterling Publishing. 2000

ActivityOaxaca is one of the Mexico's largest andpoorest states, yet its traditions and folk artare among the richest. Unsurpassed for theiroriginality, colors and wizardry, Oaxacanwoodcarvings have become a prized folk art.Oaxacan Figuras de Madera [figures of wood]or Alebrijes. The Alebrijes of Oaxaca, Mexicoare now known and collected worldwide. Woodcarving with Copal wood was introduced bymany years ago by Dominican monks for altardecoration. Over the years Oaxacan carvinghas evolved into a very creative and fancifulart form. Alebrijes come from the imaginationof the carvers, traditionally the men of the

village. The women paint wonderfully minuteand intricate designs all over the sculptureadding to its fantasy like appearance. Theyhave become a very collectible and prized formof folk art.

Mexican folktales and art often depictfantastical themes and images. They involveanimals transforming into other animals orobjects, and people doing superhuman orimpossible feats. Talk about what fantasticalmeans and have students write and illustratetheir own fantastical tales.

Let students look at images of the OaxacanAlebrijes. Allow students to draw their ownexamples of animals with the detailed designsfrom Oaxaca.

Oaxacan WoodcarvingManuel Jiménez Ramírez

Feline, 1997Wood

Arrazola, OaxacaGreat Masters of Mexican Folk Art

http://www.nmai.si.edu/exhibitions/gm/enter.html

ActivityFrida Kahlo painted many paintings of her selfby looking in a mirror. How has the illustratorsuggested a mirrored self-portrait? Paint yourown self-portrait. You will be the main person -the focus - of the painting. You do not need topaint your whole body. You can paint only yourhead and shoulders.

ActivityLooking Exercise #2 gives an opportunity touse the Internet website created for theillustrator of the book.

In her notes, Ana Juan states:

“Although Frida lived with her five sisters, shewas a lonely little girl. So she created animaginary friend. Every time she wanted tomeet her friend, Frida would do the samething: she would steam up a floor tile with herbreath and then with her finger she woulddraw a door on the steam. Then she wouldimagine herself escaping through the door,flying over the streets until she arrived in frontof a shop called PINZÓN (which means "bird"in English). She would fly through the letter"O" in the word PINZÓN, which was printed onthe store's sign, to the center of the earth,where her friend was waiting for her. Only thencould she open her heart and tell someone hersecrets. At the top left side of the illustration,we can see the circle of the letter "O," with thereal world on the other side. I used the colorblue because it adds to the floating feeling.Many objects inspired by Mexican folk art, suchas masks and mermaids, surround Frida andher friend. I doubled her as if she were in frontof a mirror because her imaginary friend was,in fact, herself.”

LOOKING EXERCISE #2:FRIDAJonah WinterIllustrated by Ana JuanText Pages 5-6

Enter, stage left: Frida’s imaginary friend. Hername is also Frida.

What is going on in this picture? Describeeverything you see. Do you have an imaginaryplaymate?

What folk art is depicted? Why is the image ofa mermaid important in Mexican Folk Art?

What other folk artists have createdmermaids? Compare the techniques ofpaintings to carved clay folk art.

Mexican Ceramic MermaidGirard Collection

Museum of New Mexico, Santa Fe

LOOKING EXERCISE #3:FRIDAJonah WinterIllustrated by Ana JuanText Page 11

Frida also paints things she sees through amicroscope. She loves looking at things veryclosely.

What is going on in this picture? Describeeverything you see. Have you looked through amicroscope?

What folk art is depicted? What is Papier-mâché?

Still Life With ParrotFrida Kahlo 1951

Oil on Canvas, 10x11 inchesIconography Collection Harry Ransom

Humanities Research Center, University ofTexas, Austin

Terri Hardin. Frida Kahlo: A Modern Master.New York: Smithmark Publishers. 1997.

Page 113

ActivityThe Looking Exercise #3 will provide anintroduction to the folk art of ceramicearthenware and papier-mâché. There are anumber of still life paintings that Frida Kahlocreated with fruit and parrots.

ActivityIn ancient Mexico, clay stamps were introducedto a new technique, the mold-made stamp, formass production. The stamping process wasfrequently used to decorate pottery. It wasapplied to the surface of the vessel when theclay was still pliable. The result was adecoration in relief. Sometimes the stampswere used as a mold to make the whole vesselwith its decorations.

Flat Stamp Masked Figure with HeaddressTerri Hardin. Frida Kahlo: A Modern Master.

New York: Smithmark Publishers. 1997.Page 80

This rigid, coifed figure in the ancient Mexicanstamp, Masked Figure with Headdress, bearssome resemblance to Kahlo’s own self-portraitsin both posture and style of dress.

Flat Stamp of Man with ParrotAncient Mexican Stamp

Pre-ColumbianTerri Hardin. Frida Kahlo: A Modern Master.

New York: Smithmark Publishers. 1997.Page 112

The stamp of Man With Parrot is a pre-Columbian emblem from Oaxaca; a man in aheaddress is balancing a parrot on his arm.Parrots had been domesticated for centuries,and thus were, for Frida Kahlo, a tie toMexico’s ancient past. In her painting, Still LifeWith Parrot, the parrot is both a mascot andpredator in this richly colored still life filled withripening and decaying fruits, icons of sexuality,fertility, and dissolution.

ActivityThe art of clay and cylinder stamps in Mexicowas a clear influence for Frida Kahlo. Studentscan make cylinder stamps with molding clay.They can make prints from stamp, search cardshops for stamps and create their own designs.Stencil printing can also be explored as asource of printing.

Roller StampStudent Art WorkLinda Kreft 1995

Pre-Columbian StampDesign Motifs ofAncient Mexico.

Jorge Enciso. NewYork: Dover. 1953.

Page 8

Stencil AnimalsStudent Art Work

Linda Kreft 1995ActivityIn her notes, Ana Juan states:

“After her childhood sickness and nearly deadlyaccident, Frida was always in pain, even whenshe made the smallest movement. For Frida,her body was like a painful prison, so I paintedher as captured inside a hawthorn bush fromwhich she couldn't escape. The pain was asdeep in her body as the roots of the hawthornbush in the earth, and the pain separated herfrom the rest of the world. She always feltalone, and her only friend was nature, shownhere in the form of the moon and fireflies.”

LOOKING EXERCISE #4:FRIDAJonah WinterIllustrated by Ana JuanText Pages 19-20

After the accident, life will never be the samefor Frida. She will walk with a cane-when sheis able to walk. Her body will hurt, always.

What is going on in this picture?

Describe everything you see. Does the illustrationdepict the branches as arms of a loving parent?

LOOKING EXERCISE #5:FRIDAJonah WinterIllustrated by Ana JuanText Pages 25-26

She paints little magical scenes with words atthe bottom. All over Mexico, people paint thesekinds of scenes. Sometimes they are scenes ofaccidents with angels coming to the rescue.They are like prayers for people who are sick.They are called ex voto. Frida paints ex votosof herself when she is sick or in pain.

What is going on in this picture? Describeeverything you see. What is an ex voto?

“Ex voto paintings, as I explain in the book,are little religious scenes painted by Mexicanfolk artists that often have words on themexplaining what's happening in the scene. FridaKahlo collected these little paintings, and theyinfluenced her. Some of her paintings are likeex voto paintings with words on them. So frommy point of view, it seemed like a good idea totell her story in this manner; this seemed likeone way to make her complicated life story alittle simpler.” Jonah Winter. Authors andBooks. Scholastic.com

“Frida got her freedom by painting. This is thereason I chose to depict her surrounded byflying birds; I also wanted to paint hereyebrows, one of the most remarkablecharacteristics of her face, as a swallow. Here,birds are a symbol of the freedom that Fridadreamed of. She could only get this dream byusing her imagination. The roses stand forbeauty and pain, both of which filled the life ofFrida Kahlo.”

Resources Books for Young ReadersEhlert, Lois. Cuckoo Cucú.New York: HarcourtBrace and Company. 1996.

Fry, Frieda, Margaret Frith, and Tomie DePaola. Frida Kahlo: The Artist Who PaintedHerself. New York: Grosset and Dunlap. 2003.

Oettinger, Jr. Marion.The Folk Art of LatinAmerica: Visiones Del Pueblo. New York:Dutton Studio Books. 1992.

Winter, Jonah. Frida. New York: Arthur A.Levine Books. 2002. Resources for TeachersHardin, Terri. Frida Kahlo: A Modern Master.New York: Smithmark Publishers. 1997.

Herrera, Hayden. Frida: A Biography of FridaKahlo. New York: HarperCollins Publishers,2002.

Herrera, Hayden. Frida Kahlo: The Paintings.New York: HarperCollins, 1993.

Mauldin, Barbara. Masks of Mexico: tigers,Devils, and the Dance of Life. New Mexico:Museum of New Mexico Press. 1999.

Trenchard, Kathleen. Mexican Papercutting:Simple Techniques for Creating Colorful Cut-Paper Projects by Kathleen Trenchard. NewYork: Sterling Publishing. 2000.

Internet Websites

Ancient Mexican arthttp://www.nmai.si.edu/exhibitions/ancient/

The Diego Rivera Mural Projecthttp://www.riveramural.com/

Enter Frida’s WorldConversation with the Illustrator-Ana Juanhttp://teacher.scholastic.com/authorsandbooks/events/frida/illustration1.htm

Great Masters of Mexican Folk Arthttp://www.nmai.si.edu/exhibitions/gm/enter.html

My Hero Project-Frida Kahlohttp://myhero.com/myhero/hero.asp?hero=f_kahlo

Oaxacan Animal Carvingshttp://www.nhusd.k12.ca.us/ALVE/wow/PAWS/oaxacan/oaxacanintro.html

Oaxacan Woodcarving-Manuel JiménezRamírezhttp://www.nmai.si.edu/exhibitions/gm/html_sub/wood.html

PBS-The Life and Times of Frida Kahlo Worksof Art-Self-Portrait With Monkeyhttp://www.pbs.org/weta/fridakahlo/worksofart/monkey.html

Talking About Mexico for Kidshttp://www.elbalero.gob.mx/kids/about/html/home.html