Rivera and Kahol in Detroit

This weekend the Detroit Institute of Arts opens their special exhibit on Diego Rivera and Freda Kahol. The focus is on their time in Detroit between July 1832 and March 1933 when Mexican born Diego Rivera (1886-1957) created his masterpiece mural Detroit Industry. As members of the museum we were able to attend a preview for the show which opens March 15 and runs through July 12, 2015. The exhibit includes cartoons of the murals, videos, and art by both Rivera and Kahol.

Edsel B. Ford, son of Henry Ford and Ford heir, and William Valentiner, director of the DIA, commissioned Rivera for the project. Rivera was paid $25,000.

 Edsel B. Ford, who donated $10,000, and William Valentiner, Director of the DIA, who commissioned the project

Rivera spent months studying the Detroit factories and labs. He then put in 16 hour days painting. He lost 100 pounds. Rivera Court is impressive. How the artist managed to do the work in eight months is unthinkable. (http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2013/09/05/mura-s05.html)

Ford was amazed that Rivera caught all the details and complexity of the Rouge River Plant and assembly lines.

 "Edsel Ford was carried away by the accurate rendering of machinery in motion and by the clearness of the composition, which was not confused by the great number of workmen represented, each occupied with his assigned job. The function of the machinery was so well understood that when engineers looked at the finished murals they found each part accurately designed…"

http://www.diego-rivera-foundation.org/The-Assembly-of-an-Automobile,-1932-large.html

Rivera  arrived in Detroit in the middle of the Depression. He was a Marxist and his work elevates the role of the worker. When Rivera completed the mural in 1933 some were outraged by the murals and wanted them whitewashed. A Detroit News editorial called it coarse, vulgar, and "un-American." It is now a National Historic Landmark.

"I admire Rivera's spirit. I really believe he was trying to express his ideal of the spirit of Detroit." Edsel Ford

10,000 people came to see the murals. People were amazed and proud to see their work captured in art. The common man saved Rivera's work.

Dear Master,Please, give me the permission to express my grateful thanks for the greatness of your feeling and understanding in all your great work, this, your own creation as I stand here and see it with my old eyes that labored for 45 years for others with no other recognition in this corrupt society than just to be called a ‘hand.’Therefore useful workers of the world, for the first time in the history of mankind, shall honor you as the first great artist of understanding, and with your great help the workers of the world will take their place. Wishing you a healthy, joyful life.Respectfully, Louis Gluck. For 45 years a wood carver.( http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2013/09/05/mura-s05.html)

See details about Rivera Court here.

During this time Freda Kahol was painting, developing a new style, and suffered a miscarriage.

Rivera and Kahol, http://www.dia.org/calendar/exhibition.aspx?id=4608&iid=

The exhibit begins with her pencil sketch of that depicts a bus accident that left her badly injured when she was only 18 years old. She was in a full body cast for months. Later in the exhibit we see her painting that depicted her post-miscarriage experience at Henry Ford Hospital. She also had polio as a child and perhaps was born with spina bifida. It was moving to know what she had endured. Rivera changed a portion of the mural from depicting farming to depicting a healthy fetus in the womb.

 Kahol and Rivera had a stormy and complex relationship which is only hinted at.

I enjoyed seeing the artist's paintings not related to their time in Detroit. There is a beautiful painting of Rivera's daughter from his first marriage; she holds a bronze mirror.

We also enjoyed seeing Make A Joyful Noise, Renaissance Art and Music at Florence Cathedral which runs through May 167, 2015. Included were illuminated, over-sized choral books that took six years to create and reliefs from the singing gallery created by Luca della Robbia.

See Rivera's paintings at http://www.diego-rivera-foundation.org/the-complete-works.html

A VIsit To The Detroit Institute of Arts

Uncle Tom and Little Eva, Duncanson

Indian Telegraph by Stanley

Head of a Negro by Copely

Watson and the Shark by Copely

On Sunday afternoon we visited the Detroit Institute of Arts. They have some real treasures. Recent financial issues have brought the art to the table as a way of raising money for the bankrupt city. So far the art has been protected from sale.

Frederick Church's Cotopaxi

George Washington by Peale

Vincent Van Gogh self portrait

When I was in Eight Grade my homeroom and music teacher arranged for our class to go on a series of cultural field trips. The art museum was included. Afterwards I begged for my family to take me back.

In the Garden by Mary Cassett

A Woman by Mogdalini 

Matisse

Van Gogh

Every visit I see familiar paintings which I recall from childhood and notice others that had not struck me before. There were also paintings on loan from other collections, keeping the experience fresh. These were new to me:

Three Top Sergeants by George Luks

Fisher Boy by Charles Webster Hawthrone

Merrymakers by Carolus-Duran

The museum has learning experience throughout. Whistler's painting Black and Gold was controversial in its day and children could read about it and comment.

We bought a membership although we can attend free of charge as our county taxes helps to support the museum. I look forward to many more visits.

The Lily Pond by Charles Harry Eaton