Collection of my Dreams

I've been thinking of Frida and Diego a lot recently.

I hate to be so predictable but,

when I saw this photo (at Casa Azul) I teared up:

Contrary to popular belief or what I write on this blog, I don't normally cry at photos but this one really had a hold on me. You could see how tightly they were holding each other - like if they let go one would disappear (most likely Diego).

You know Frida would dress up in traditional Mexican costumes for Diego? I feel like she would have done anything to engross him, using her feminine and artistic wiles to keep his attention focused on her. It worked but only for a while.

I don't have a Diego Rivera but I do appreciate wearing traditional clothing of Spanish and Mexican decent. I wear my peineta,

my shawls

and Lucha Libre masks to honor the women of my family and also because they're pretty.

I cannot wait to see Moschino's collection next spring. It has all the trappings of a perfect Spanish wardrobe - whether I want to be muy masculino o muy feminina. Plus all the accessories for head and hair are making me weak in the knees.

This would be the perfect way to pay tribute to the matriarchs of my family and maybe Frida as well.

Day Dreaming in the Capital

I spent 8 hours walking around our fake Paris and it was a dream.

I had stikman to keep me company.

Roxy Paine was there to remind me that industrial

can also be organic (and so pretty to look at).

Doesn't this door remind you of that

other glorious capital, Mexico DF?

I know, me too.

'This is morality, this is eternity.'

And this is what Mark di Suvero created all by himself.

I almost spent half of my day at the National Gallery.

I've found that I have come to appreciate

Natural History museums in general

(and is this bird about to be impaled?).

The surprise of the day was how much I loved

the American History Museum.

They had peinetas,

letter openers of my dreams

(how easy would it be to crush those bones?),

and historical reproductions (um, I'm not sure how I feel about buying a Confederate-grey hat).

I am not an overly enthusiastic Wizard of Oz fan (I do love poppies though), but I thought this design was especially smart.

A day filled with countless (free) museums.

Thank You America and Thank You James Smithson.

What I Wore . . .

To volunteer to teach the little ones in Sunday School:

My precious peineta

and my favorite Vivienne Tam dress (I considered buying this dress again when I saw it on eBay, that's how much I love it).

Ever since my grandmother told me that she would wear a peineta (and mantilla) to church when she was younger I decided I would do the same.

(this isn't a picture of her, by the way)

I wanted to look properly Spanish (like mi abuelita)

or like Helena Christensen (I am of Latin and Danish decent like her, you know).

But alas, instead the only reaction I got was a female employee at Century 21 laughingly asking if I knew what was on my head.

Of course -- why else was I ducking when I walked down the stairs into the subway.