Dates: April 12, 19, 26 and May 3, 10
Time: 6 – 7:30 pm ET
Admission $115 Patreon Members / $130 General Admission

PLEASE NOTE: All classes will also be recorded and archived for students who cannot make that time

Frida Kahlo--a disabled woman artist--is probably the most recognizable representative from the Modern Mexican art period. While she didn't consider herself a modernist or a surrealist, her pieces are fully immersed in expressive moments taken from her own life experiences, suffering and disability.

Frida Kahlo lived a challenging life, and she transformed her difficulties into unforgettable art. Raised in the aftermath of the Revolutionary Mexican movement, she clashed with her binary descent (colonial European and indigenous Mexican) and her father's influence on her life perspective. She also was engaged in a tumultuous relationship with famed muralist Diego Rivera, suffered a terrible accident and deteriorating health issues. She used all of this as inspiration to create wonderful intricate and very personal pieces. Her battle to become financially independent and a recognized creator is well known, as Frida had no secrets. She exposed it all in her art making. Considered one of Mexico’s greatest artists, her work and persona have made her into a feminist icon all over the world. Passionate protector of Mexican arts and identity, self taught, politically active, severely disabled; she was an outstanding life force on her own, making all her private life public, through her art. Frida Kahlo is and will always be a unique art continuum who reclaimed her own life story, personal challenging narrative and made it into a painting.

This 5-week class, taught by Mexico City-based artist and educator Teté Montero, will take Frida Kahlo and her narrative self portraits as inspiration and jumping off point. Students will be led in intentional art journaling as a process of self healing, culminating in the creation of their own portrait inspired by—and responding to--Kahlo's dynamic maximalist and unique primitive stylistic elements, rooted in her fascination of Mexican magical mysticism and her personal life and health challenges.

Over the course of the class, we will review her life story, look at her work and influences. Using our own experiences, we will reflect and transform the elements she used to create her iconic art to make them our own. We will elicit artistic mindfulness and self transformation with our creations.

This class will include illustrated lectures, art exercises, journaling and the developing a final project. A list of optional materials and suggestions will be sent via email, before the class start date.

Whether you are an experienced artist, or an art novice; no matter, as the process will be deeply playful, personal and fully creative.

Teté Montero is a Mexican end-of-life educator, death doula, unicorn enchantress, story teller and weaver, by choice. She is neurodivergent by neurology, a self appointed renaissance woman, a textile artist and teacher. She apprenticed under the care of master weaver Kenzo Jo in textile Saori art while in Japan. In addition, she has studied at University of Cambridge, Harvard University, The Hospice Association, Upaya Zen Center, and the Authentic Presence Organization. Her focus has been in medical studies, contemplative end of life care, medieval studies, socially engaged Buddhism and art. She currently runs a textile art studio in Mexico City with her rambunctious dog Kayi. She is Buddhist too!