Frida Kahlo Botanical Gardens Exhibit - January 6, 2016

I tried to drown my sorrows,
but the bastards learned how to swim,
and now I am overwhelmed by this decent and good feeling.
~ Frida Kahlo ~

Frida, That good feeling? That's called wine!

On Friday, January 6, 2017, 10 Women Who Wine journeyed to the Tucson Botanical Gardens to enjoy the New York Botanical Garden’s blockbuster exhibit: Frida Kahlo: Art, Garden, Life. The exhibit examines Kahlo’s work, life and influence through the lens of the plants and nature that surrounded her.  Tucson Botanical Gardens was selected as the only institution to receive this extraordinary exhibition designed by one of the world’s premier botanical gardens, the New York Botanical Garden.

Our host for this event, Ruth, arranged for us to join a docent-led tour of the exhibit and gardens, followed by lunch at Cafe Botanica and a visit to Butterfly Magic.

Casa Azul

Frida and Diego lived in this house 1929-1954

The centerpiece of Frida Kahlo: Art, Garden, Life is the recreation of the gardens that Frida Kahlo maintained in her home in Mexico City: La Casa Azul.  Great care was taken to present the plants, colors and forms that were such an important source of inspiration to Kahlo.  Included in the installation is the Meso-American-inspired pyramid that Diego Rivera built in the central courtyard of Casa Azul.  This replica is used to showcase a diverse collection of cacti and succulents native to the deserts of Mexico and the Southwestern United States.

Replica of the Pyramid in the Casa Azul Courtyard
I'm thinking of one myself...will the ALC approve?

Browsing the gardens was followed by lunch at the Café Botanica. Can you say delicious?! Unfortunately no wine but, still, absolutely delicious food!

LtoR Debbie, Pam, Kelly, Judy, Vicky
Carole, Cathy, Daryl, Connie and Susie

Lunch was followed by a stint in the Butterfly Magic Gardens. So delightful!

Perfectly lovely. Photo credit to Judy.

LtoR - Judy, Vicky and Ruth

LtoR - Vicky with her back to us, Kelly butterfly gazing, Pam, Judy and Carole

Loved how each of us had to be checked for butterfly hitchhikers on our way out!

Colorful blue frog in the Butterfly Magic exhibit. Photo credit to eagle eye Cathy.

After our trek to the Tucson Botanical Gardens, we reconvened at the Oasis Lounge for libations and laughter.

Words of Wisdom from Frieda...

Twenty Frida Fun Facts

1. She lied about her birth date.
2. She groomed her brows with special tools.
3. Her dad was of German Protestant descent.
4. Her right leg was skinnier than her left. She hid this by wearing long skirts.
5. She was in a terrible, life-altering car accident that left her bedridden for months.
6. The artist gave away her self-portraits as gifts.
7. Kahlo was surrounded by mirrors all her life.
8. She first approached her would-be husband Diego Rivera, asking him what he thought of her art.
9. Kahlo and Rivera were active communists.
10. Kahlo's relationship with Rivera was kind of scandalous.
11. Kahlo had affairs with both men and women.
12. Rivera cheated on Kahlo with her younger sister Cristina.
13. Kahlo's husband was apparently not the best looking dude.
14. Kahlo was never able to have kids.
15. Though her story is tragic, there are people who believe Kahlo exaggerated her physical agonies and medical conditions.
16. Kahlo had her leg amputated after contracting gangrene. Pretty hard to exaggerate gangrene but maybe she contracted it for sympathy. Just sayin'.
17. When she died, no autopsy was ever conducted.
18. Kahlo had only one major solo exhibition in the United States during her lifetime.
19. Kahlo is on the 500 Peso bill.
20. She is the first Hispanic woman to be featured on a US postal stamp.