Episode 10: Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera in Detroit: The “Detroit Industry” Murals Manifesto - Part 1
In front of the Detroit Industry mural, Diego looks over Frida’s shoulder as she paints Self-Portrait on the Borderline between Mexico and the United States, c. 1932-33.
In this 2 part series, Stephanie Dueñas and Russell Shoemaker discuss Frida Kahlo’s and Diego Rivera’s time in Detroit, Michigan - a moment in time that proved to be a turning point in both of their artistic careers as well as their personal lives.
Episode 1: “Detroit Industry Murals Manifesto”, starts with Diego Rivera’s epic Detroit Industry Murals where a universal vision of equality was taken to new heights (literally). Even though Rivera’s commission came with controversy and criticism from the start due to his Communist beliefs, nevertheless Detroit Industry brilliantly combined Renaissance fresco with a modern and inspiring narrative of the working class. And even after 88 years, they still stand at the Detroit Institute of Arts as a reminder of a desperate and hopeless time when such a bold statement of unity brought inspiration to the workers of the Ford Motor Company yet it still resonates to this day.
Frida Kahlo is also introduced as she leaves Mexico for the first time, along Diego’s side, and gets to experience how the ‘American Dream’ involves individualism and Capitalism, among the modern and industrializing city of Detroit.
Our Art Pantry of the week is Fresco.
The song featured in this episode was Fall in your Fall by Kecap Tuyul. Consider supporting his work!
This week’s Art Assignment is: share your favorite mural! Be safe if you can physically travel to it or use Google maps - and share a pic or screenshot and tell us why you like it!
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South Western corner, Detroit Industry Murals, fresco, 1932-33.
North Wall, Detroit Industry Murals, fresco, 1932-33.
The Foundry (Detail) North Wall, Detroit Industry Murals, fresco, 1932-33.
Vaccination/Nativity scene featuring Dr. William Valentiner (Detail) North Wall, Detroit Industry Murals, fresco, 1932-33.
(Detail) West Wall, Detroit Industry Murals, fresco, 1932-33.
Furnace/Foundry (Detail) North Wall, Detroit Industry Murals, fresco, 1932-33.
Ford workers assembling V8 model (Detail) South Wall, Detroit Industry Murals, fresco, 1932-33.
Photo of Ford workers on the assembly line, Detroit, MI. c.1930s
Ford Model A Assembly c.1928-29 at the Highland Park factory
Stamping Press modeled after Aztec Goddess Coatlicue (Detail) South Wall, Detroit Industry Murals, fresco, 1932-33.
Statue of Aztec Goddess Coatlicue, 15th century. Discovered in Mexico City, 1790.
Ford workers building war planes (Detail) West Wall, Detroit Industry Murals, fresco, 1932-33.
Edsel Ford (left) and William Valentiner (right) appear in a cameo on the South Wall, Renaissance-style, Detroit Industry Murals, fresco, 1932-33.
Downtrodden workers punching in, below Ford and Valentiner’s cameo, South Wall, Detroit Industry Murals, fresco, 1932-33.
North Wall close-up, Detroit Industry Murals, fresco, 1932-33.
Stink-eyed Foreman (Detail) South Wall, Detroit Industry Murals, fresco, 1932-33.
Raised fists (Detail) North Wall, Detroit Industry Murals, fresco, 1932-33.
Birds-eye view of the East Wall, Detroit Industry Murals, fresco, 1932-33.
The Blasting Furnace (Detail) North Wall, Detroit Industry Murals, fresco, 1932-33.
4 Deities from the top of the North Wall: Red race (iron/ore) and Black race (diamond/coal) and the South Wall: White (limestone) race and Yellow race (sand), Detroit Industry Murals, fresco, 1932-33.
Diego cameo among the workers (Detail) North Wall, Detroit Industry Murals, fresco, 1932-33.
Ford Assembly Line close-up (Detail) North Wall, Detroit Industry Murals, fresco, 1932-33.
Henry Ford / Thomas Edison is listening (Detail) West Wall, Detroit Industry Murals, fresco, 1932-33.
Scientists concocting poisonous gases for war (Detail) North Wall, Detroit Industry Murals, fresco, 1932-33.
A single worker with a hammer and a Red Star glove (Detail) West Wall, Detroit Industry Murals, fresco, 1932-33.
Ford Hunger Massacre makes headlines in the Detroit Free Press, March 8th, 1932.
Unionization at Ford c. 1930s and ‘40s. Interviews by former Ford workers.
Ford Hunger Massacre: a sign reads “NEGRO, WHITE, UNITE!”, March 7th, 1932.
Ford Hunger Massacre, Detroit, MI. March 7th, 1932.
Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo with members of the Artists’ Union at a May Day march in Mexico City, 1929.
Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo at a Red Aid demonstration in Mexico City, 1931.
Left to right: Edsel Ford, Frida Kahlo, William Valentiner, Diego Rivera. c. 1932
DIA Garden Court, c. 1932-33
DIA Garden Court, South Wall - Detroit Industry Murals c. 1932-33
DIA Garden Court, North Wall - Detroit Industry Murals c. 1932-33
Click HERE to see a 360 degree panoramic view of the Detroit Industry Murals.
