Guadalajara’s most attractive art museum, the Instituto Cultural Cabañas, has added another supernova to its ever-active galaxy of presentations with “Frida y Yo” (Frida and I), which lasts until January 17.
The multi-media show is most definitely aimed at the younger generation but is attracting plenty of adults. On Wednesday, a large group of 9-year-old schoolchildren visited in the morning and filled the single, large “Frida y Yo” salon to bursting. But when the kids exited around 11 a.m. to take in the Institute’s huge courtyards, portals, gardens and chapel, all remaining visitors were adults, some from out of town.
They took advantage of the show’s five circulating guides who, though not pushy, are happy to shepherd you around the room. Since these knowledgeable attendants are geared to assist children, their Spanish is relatively easy for foreigners. And, because the show is hands-on, much of it doesn’t need verbal explanation. In addition, most modules (which focus, for example, on pets, illness, family, etc.) have explanatory placards in three languages: English, French and Spanish.
You won’t find any original Kahlo paintings in the show, or even any large reproductions. Interestingly, “The Frame,” used on the cover of the exhibition brochure, was the first work by a 20th century Mexican artist to be purchased by the Louvre, accomplished when Kahlo showed in Paris in 1939. This mixed media self portrait resides at Centre Pompidou, a sponsor of this show.
Children will undoubtedly find the exhibit engaging, as long as their attention span holds out, and this should be no problem since everything fits in one large salon and consists of just 14 modules. The adults present Wednesday all seemed game to get down and dirty — to push buttons, to assemble puzzles, to open drawers, to sit on a tiny chair and have their photos taken with Frida’s “pets,” and to lie on Frida’s “bed” and sketch themselves with markers while looking at a mirror suspended above the bed.
While the show is not, of course, as engaging for adults as it is for youngsters, it could be a good place to take visiting grandchildren, who will also enjoy seeing the rest of the Cabañas. Adults can also take in other exhibitions there, including “Vicente Rojo — Escrito, Pintado,” about the living, Mexican artist, originally from Barcelona. Also perenially attractive is the Orozco mural in the central chapel, currently being restored by a team of specialists from Mexico City, but still mostly visible.
To attract kids to the Kahlo show, the Cabañas is offering special deals: on Saturdays one paid adult can bring in four children free, while on Sundays, two children are free.
Other activities for children at the Cabañas are matinee movies Saturdays at noon in a salon named after Guadalajara’s famous filmmaker, Guillermo del Toro. The cost to enter is 45 pesos for one adult, which includes free entrance for two children.
Instituto Cultural Cabañas is a 10-minute walk east of Teatro Degollado through Plaza Tapatía. Tickets to enter cost 70 pesos; 45 pesos if you show “national” ID; 20 pesos for students and teachers with ID, for children under 12 and for seniors with ID, such as a drivers license. Free on Tuesdays. Open Tuesday to Sunday 10 a.m.–6 p.m. (33) 3668-1645, 3818-2800, hospiciocabanas.jalisco.gob.mx.