Running with Scissors: Frida's Corsets ​ ​ ​ ​ To view online blo​ g​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ |https://www.fit-a.net/single-post/2017/09/12/Running-with-Scissors-Fridas-Corsets ​ Alina Rojo ​ ​ ​ ​

photo credit: juan guzmán. ​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Running with Scissors: Frida’s Corsets 1 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Frida Kahlo wore a corset most of her life, not to cinch her waist, but to frame a weak ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ spine caused by a near fatal accident at the age of 18. The incident left her bedridden ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ and wearing a full torso plaster cast corset to help her heal. Kahlo passed the time in bed ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ by painting on canvas and turning her plaster casts into works of art full of personal ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ symbols and designs. The narrative of trauma, pain, and disability became a recurring ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ theme in her artwork. Frida Kahlo, born on July 6, 1907, in Coyocoán, Mexico City was ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ to become one of the most important and influential Latin American artists of the 20th ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ century.

The surviving painted corsets and other orthopedic artifacts of Frida Kahlo are part of ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ the collection of La Casa Azul or “The Blue House", Museo Frida Kahlo, Mexico City. In ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 1954, at the time of her death, her husband and partner Diego Rivera ordered her ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ wardrobe including the full torso casts, leather, and steel corsets to be vaulted in her ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ personal bathroom at La Casa Azul and remain untouched for 50 years. In 2004, the ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ treasures were unsealed to the world. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

The extraordinary images of Kahlo's wardrobe are plastered on social media Google, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Pinterest, Tumblr, and Instagram. Her color palette, patterns, and painted motifs are ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ most referenced but she is recognized by her dark braided hair, unibrow, and colorfully ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ embroidered wear. A collection of Frida Kahlo portraits, Through the Lens by Nickolas ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Muray was recently on exhibit at the Museum of Latin American Art, Long Beach ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ California. Nickolas Muray immortalized Frida with countless portraits at work and at ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ play. The artist and photographer met each other in 1931, becoming on and off lovers for ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 10 years, and lifetime friends. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Kahlo's art, unconventional personal style, aesthetic, and particularly her corsets have ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ inspired designers Jean Paul Gaultier to design Madonna's cone bustier, Christian ​ ​ ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Lacroix, design house Comme des ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Garçons, feminists, singers, ​ ​ ​ ​ photographers, stylists, ​ ​ poets,writers, and contemporary ​ ​ ​ ​ artists alike. ​ ​

Comme des Garçons Kahlo inspired fashion ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ (left); Kahlo's plaster corset at La Casa Azul ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ (right) Running with Scissors: Frida’s Corsets 2 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

“My painting carries with it the message of pain.” Frida Kahlo. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

​ ​ Kahlo's life is marked by tragedy and pain; first contracting polio at the age of 6, leaving ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ her crippled for life and then the victim of a bizarre accident at age 18. Polio left her ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ right leg thinner and shorter than her left leg. She sustained 22 surgical operations of ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ the spine and right leg. Her deteriorating body confined her to a wheelchair and bed for ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ extended periods of time for the rest of her life. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Kahlo veiled her physical confinements and created a personal signature style with ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ colorful Tehuantepec clothes, creative hair pieces, specially made shoes, decorative ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ gloves, extravagant jewelry and painted corsets. The enigmatic artist concealed her ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ orthopedic wear with clothes but her art transparently referenced her disability without ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ constraint. Running with Scissors: Frida’s Corsets 3 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

"There have been two great accidents in my life. One was the train the other was Diego. Diego was by far the worst.” ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ― Frida Kahlo ​ ​ ​ ​

In this photograph, Frida is being watched by her husband, communist comrade and ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ partner, Mexican muralist Diego Rivera. Diego encouraged her artistic pursuits knowing ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ that painting is what kept her alive. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

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I am not sick. I am broken. But I am happy as long as I can paint. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Frida Kahlo ​ ​

A 2012 exhibition titled “Appearances Can Be Deceiving: Frida Kahlo's Wardrobe" was ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ the result of the discovery and unveiling of Kahlo's entire wardrobe. The exhibit was ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Running with Scissors: Frida’s Corsets 5 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

inspired by the above drawing showing Kahlo’s physical impairments. The nude ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ drawing like an X-Ray outlines her huipil top and Tehuana long skirt over the corset, it ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​ ​ shows her shorter right leg and indication of the metal tube that pierced her abdomen ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ during her accident. ​ ​ ​ ​

The Tehuana outfit is the folkloric dress of Tehuantepec Isthmus, Mexico. The over shirt ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ is called a huipil, pronounced (güipil) and it is usually embroidered in a cross chain style ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ originated by the Mayans. Kahlo chose this typical dress style to define her and as a ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ symbol of female empowerment. The Tehuana dress is original from Oaxaca, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ southeastern Mexico, a matriarchal society. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

In 1953, Frida looses her leg to amputation and had to use a prosthetic leg until her ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ death in 1954. The amputation left her depressed but the more she suffered the more ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ she decorated and adorned herself. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Even her prosthetic leg (below) was ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ painted red and adorned with Chinese ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ embroidery.

Her corsets were covered with pasted ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ pieces of fabrics, collages, embedded ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ mirrors, drawings of animals, monkeys, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ and birds. The corsets are a testament ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ to her strength and empowerment in ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ the face of frailty and struggle. Though ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ riddled with pain, Frida was known as a ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ light person who was always laughing ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ and smiling. ​ ​

Photo credits: Ishiuchi Miyako, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ courtesy of Michael Hoppen Gallery ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Running with Scissors: Frida’s Corsets 6 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Marxism will Give Health to the Sick, Frida Kahlo ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Running with Scissors: Frida’s Corsets 7 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Painting completed my life. ” ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ - Frida Kahlo ​ ​ ​ ​

One of Frida's last paintings (above) depicts her with a leather corset and discarding her ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ crutches. By the time of this creation, she was in constant pain and very sick. "For the ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ first time, I am not crying anymore"...Frida Kahlo said of this unfinished political ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ painting. Frida's luminary life and sense of incautious abandonment in the face of ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ adversity is what keeps us intrigued in deciphering her oeuvre and most personal items ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ like her corsets and wardrobe. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ------This blog was created for educational purposes as an introduction to a professional development course ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ for art educators titled Runing with Scissors: Frida's Corsets. The course will introduce fiber arts and an ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ examination of Frida’s corsets. Participants will learn paper-cloth layering techniques, fabric painting, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ thread painting and applique. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

To learn more visit www.fit.a.net or contact [email protected] ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

More Resources on Frida Kahlo ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ http://www.pbs.org/weta/fridakahlo/worksofart/index.html http://www.pbs.org/video/laart-frida-kahlo/ https://www.slideshare.net/guimera/art-in-detail-kahlo-frida-featured-paintings http://www.pbs.org/video/colores-frida-kahlo-portrait-of-a-woman/ http://www.pbs.org/video/byyou-art-culture-fam-exhibit-frida-kahlo-through-lens-nic kolas-muray/ http://www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/article/35745/1/frida-kahlo-fashion-style-clothi ng-nikolas-muray-portraits http://www.pbs.org/video/arizona-illustrated-november-13-2016/ http://www.pbs.org/video/art-assignment-fierce-women-2/ /www.frida-kahlo-foundation.org/biography.html http://www.fridakahlofans.com/c0650.html ​ ​ https://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/uncovering-clues-in-frida-kahlos-private-w ardrobe/ http://www.museofridakahlo.org.mx/esp/1/exposiciones/actual/givenchy http://www.fridakahlofans.com/c0650.html http://www.theartstory.org/artist-kahlo-frida.htm http://www.fridakahlo.org/ Educational guide ​ ​ http://www.pbs.org/weta/fridakahlo/guides/index.html

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