I’ve been slow to share photos and write more about my trip to Mexico last month, mostly because enough time has now passed that it almost feels like it didn’t happen. It was such a brief trip that I mostly tried not to have expectations or make specific plans in advance about what to see.

I visited two art museums in Mexico City and that was pretty much it, but they were moving and inspiring experiences. The first was Museo Mural Diego Rivera which houses the work of its famous namesake. Unfortunately for us there was only a single piece of work on display during our visit, because the building was under repair (possibly because of earthquake damage), but it was a spectacular piece of work. Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in Almeda Park is a fifty foot fresco rich in symbolism and figures from Mexican history, including Rivera as a boy and Frida Kahlo.

View the entire mural and read more about it here.

The one place I felt I had to visit while in Mexico City was the house turned museum that once belonged to Frida Kahlo. It was a bit of an ordeal to get there across the city from where we were staying, but I was deeply moved to be in a place where this powerful artist once lived her life and made art. My favourite part of the visit was viewing the small collection of recently discovered items of clothing, support garments, and prosthetics. It was a strong reminder of her striking personal style, and struggles with debilitating health issues.

It felt like paying tribute when I took the above self-portrait of Boris and I in a mirror located in Frida Kahlo’s bedroom.

An unfinished self-portrait by Frida Kahlo.

Below are a few photos I took in her light-filled studio, which was my other favourite part of the visit. What a beautiful place it must have been for her to do her work.

The large and spectacular Día de Muertos alter was set up in the court yard, with a beautiful black & white photo dedicating it to the memory of Frida.

At the beginning of November I had the privilege of tagging along on Boris’ business trip to Mexico, with stops in Mérida and Mexico City. It was a very short five day trip but I managed to fit a lot in while visiting each city.

My friend Carlyn is staying in Mérida for a few months over the winter, and we spent a day walking all over the place, through museums and various markets, with a few stops for ice cream and food. We walked 15 kilometres over the course of the day and evening, because that’s just how we roll.

The photos in this post are pieces of embroidered clothing on display in the Museo de Arte Popular, and Museo Regional Antropologia. It’s a mix of cross-stitch and other embroidery techniques, with bright colours, and intricate details. I’m am inspired by these pieces, and it was a terrific introduction to Mexican textile work.

Look at all of those amazing stitches!

The pieces are rich in symbolism and meaning, not just decorative. In Mérida many women wear embroidered huipil as every day wear, and it was wonderful to see them as we walked around the city. It was an important connection to make between the museum artifacts and modern clothing.

This brief infusion of colour and energy from another culture is what is seeing me through the current round of rainy blah days in Vancouver. I also intend to incorporate ideas inspired by my experience in upcoming stitching projects.