/images/devices.png)
/images/newspaper.png)
/images/textalerts.png)
/images/newsletters.png)
Visitors expected to flock to DuPage County
![[Diana Martinez, director of the McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage, is helping bring a world-class Frida Kahlo art exhibition to Glen Ellyn.]
GLEN ELLYN – In anticipation of a major exhibition of works by mid-20th century artist Frida Kahlo, a crowd filled the auditorium at the McAninch Arts Center in November to hear plans for a three-month show in 2020 expected to draw a wide audience to the College of DuPage campus in Glen Ellyn.
Events leading to the immersive exhibit, which officially opens in June 2020, will begin with a gala in spring 2019 designed to raise awareness and funding for the project. Curricula across multiple academic fields at the college will tie into the Mexican artist and her era. The exhibit will spark visual and performing arts offerings from music and dance to film. And a Frida Fest will be presented by the McAninch Arts Center on Sept. 14, 2019.](b9fc80a2-a726-4c2c-91b9-72459f219513/image-pv_web.jpg)
[Diana Martinez, director of the McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage, is helping bring a world-class Frida Kahlo art exhibition to Glen Ellyn.]
GLEN ELLYN – In anticipation of a major exhibition of works by mid-20th century artist Frida Kahlo, a crowd filled the auditorium at the McAninch Arts Center in November to hear plans for a three-month show in 2020 expected to draw a wide audience to the College of DuPage campus in Glen Ellyn.
Events leading to the immersive exhibit, which officially opens in June 2020, will begin with a gala in spring 2019 designed to raise awareness and funding for the project. Curricula across multiple academic fields at the college will tie into the Mexican artist and her era. The exhibit will spark visual and performing arts offerings from music and dance to film. And a Frida Fest will be presented by the McAninch Arts Center on Sept. 14, 2019.
[Frida Kahlo's "Self Portrait with Small Monkey" is a 1945 oil on Masonite work from the Museo Dolores Olmedo in Mexico, copyright 2018 Banco de México, Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo Museums Trust, Mexico City, Mexico.]
The center's Cleve Carney Art Gallery will be expanded to accommodate the 26 works from the Museo Dolores Olmedo, a museum in Mexico City that holds the largest private collection of the late artist's works, according to COD.
After surviving polio at age 6, Kahlo was in a streetcar accident at age 18, causing a broken spine among many injuries that led to 30 surgeries throughout her life. Initially bedridden for months, Kahlo was encouraged by her parents to take up painting to pass the time. Using a mirror placed above her bed, she would become best known for self-portraits highlighting themes of identity, politics, sexuality and death.
[A rendering depicts the entry to the coming exhibit at the Cleve Carney Art Gallery at the McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage.]
Adversity and courage continued to mark the life of Kahlo, who was married to famed Mexican muralist Diego Rivera, in a notoriously tumultuous relationship.
"Diego Rivera cast a shadow over her achievements," said special guest Francisco Javier Olavarria, minister at the Mexican consulate in Chicago, sharing a message from the consul general.
[A cake specially designed for the November launch event promoting the 2020 exhibition was created by College of DuPage culinary arts students.]
Olavarria said she defied convention not only artistically but in the way she lived her life, adding that at COD, the unique Kahlo would find the "refuge her heart and art deserve."
[Carlos Phillips is director of the Dolores Olmedo Museum Collection.]
Diana Martinez, director of McAninch Arts Center, thanked COD founding community members and benefactors Milly and Alan Peterson for making the show happen through their friendship with the late museum founder's family. Because of the Petersons, works from the collection recently displayed in Budapest and Milan will be headed to Glen Ellyn.
[A crowd gathers at the College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center for the preview of the Frida Kahlo exhibit planned to open in June 2020.]
Martinez said COD's 30,000 students will be inspired by the art world icon and her "perseverance, tenacity and talent," calling the chance to celebrate diversity a gift. She noted that the intimate, educational showcase will bring works never before seen in the Chicago area to DuPage County.
[College of DuPage benefactor Alan Peterson (left), his wife, Milly (right), and son Mark Peterson (center) were among the guests gathered to announce the coming Frida Kahlo exhibit. The project was suggested by Alan Peterson.]
Peterson said he wanted to create a bridge between the U.S. and Mexico. His son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Marcie Peterson, are host committee co-chairs for the exhibit. Organizers invite people interested in volunteering to organize events and activities or in supporting the exhibition in other ways to contact them.
[A replica of one of Frida Kahlo’s most iconic dresses, which appeared on the cover of Vogue, was created by students in the COD Fashion Studies program.]
Martinez said earlier in the year that the exhibit conservatively is expected to draw 1,400 viewers a day.
Justin Witte, Cleve Carney Art Gallery director and exhibition curator, described paintings as points of contact that span cultural, linguistic and geographic barriers.
Although Kahlo died 64 years ago, he said people still are captivated by her life story, health challenges, relationships, her intense pride and celebration of her heritage, and how she defied the limits imposed on women.
When people view her works, he said "time is going to start to bend" as they make the connections as told by Kahlo.
[A rendering depicts part of the planned Frida Kahlo exhibition at the Cleve Carney Art Gallery in the McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage.]
College of DuPage President Ann Rondeau calls the exhibit "a terrific opportunity for the college and for all who will come."
Presenting 19 oil paintings, including "The Broken Column" self-portrait and seven works on paper, "Frida Kahlo – Works from the Dolores Olmedo Collection" will be the most comprehensive showing of Kahlo’s work in the Chicago area since 1978, when works from the collection were included at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. Magical realism and surrealism are among the styles melded into her uniquely personal expression.
[Ballet Folkloric Quetzalcoatl of Aurora closed the preview event with a performance highlighting the rich culture of Mexico.]
Lineup of events
• Gala will be set for spring 2019
• Frida Fest presented by McAninch Arts Center on Sept. 14, 2019
• Diverse events spring 2020
• Exhibit runs June to August 2020
For more information on the Cleve Carney Art Gallery at the McAninch Arts Center on the COD campus at 425 Fawell Blvd., visit clevecarneygallery.org or call 630-942-3206.