"5 Days of Artistic Works:" A Short Summary

A Visual Summary of the Artwork I created as part of this series.

Last week, I spent 5 Days finally publishing a whole body of artwork that I created this year, specifically during the Fall.  As I mentioned on the post "The Process of Letting go: The "5 Days of Artistic Works by Angely Martinez" Series", this was a creative period about letting go. Creating all these pieces was a liberating process and publishing them on my blog was liberating as well.  As I mentioned in one of the posts, I am still creating and I continue to do so as much as possible.  It is definitely a never ending process. Although only 9 projects were part of this series, I decided that I will continue publishing my artwork in 2014 and in the future on this platform that I have created for myself.

If you missed any post from my series "5 Days of Artistic Works by Angely Martinez," here are the links below.

Day 1: The Explosion of Ideas and Thoughts and A Shoe (Miniature)
Day 2:  A Collage
Day 3:  Bead Work
Day 4:  The Transformation of a Petal
Day 5:  Rojo Como La Rosa

For now, until next year on A+F by AM.

5 Days of Artistic Works: Day 4 - The Transformation of a Petal

Project 8. The Transformation of  a Petal

Everything has the ability to be transform into something else. The Transformation of a Petal is a piece about something I had already made and then, with my inspired thoughts, change into something beyond the initial possibilities. That is a very important part of creativity, letting the journey infuse you with imaginative ideas.  The piece was created in a process of a few days, as I figured out exactly how it would turn out to be. I wanted to make sure that every single part of the polymer clay (i.e. fimo) petal (the base) was completely covered, to the point you could not tell what it was before.

The Transformation of a Petal.  Polymer Clay, Plastic, Glass, Metal. © 2013 Angely Martinez. All Rights Reserved.

It is all in the details! Close up of the piece.

The series 5 Days of Artistic Works by Angely Martinez continues tomorrow, with 

Project 9! #artisticworksbyam

The artwork and all the photos of the artwork are the property of Angely Martinez.

© 2013 Angely Martinez. All Rights Reserved.

5 Days of Artistic Works: Day 3 - Bead Work

Projects 4-7: Bead Work

Something that I really enjoy about jewelry is randomly creating pieces with beads, or in other words, beading, almost like sewing without a needle.  None of the shapes of these projects were planned. Every single one came up as I was wiring the beads together. For this part, I created a series of 4 projects, the majority of them with only beads and wire.  Each one follows a color theme.  I created these works one after the other and also while creating tow of them at once. See the shapes and color themes I came up with below. The works speak for themselves.

Project 4. Black Butterfly. 

Project 5. Red

Project 6. Clouds

Project 7. Purple

The 5 Days of Artistic Works by Angely Martinez Series continues tomorrow, with 

Project 8. #artisticworksbyam

These artworks and all the photos of the artworks are the property of Angely Martinez.

© 2013 Angely Martinez. All Rights Reserved.

5 Days of Artistic Works: Day 2 - A Collage

Project 3. A Collage, 2013 

I made this piece after attending the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) in New York City on a Thursday night in November.  This project is inspired by their latest exhibition Fashion Jewelry: The Collection of Barbara Berger. In this exhibit, there are a variety of of jewelry works ranging in the materials of metal, glass, plastic, and mixed media.   This piece was definitely inspired by the mixed media ones (see Inspiration Board below made with Picasa 3) since they allowed me to use the things I already have to make it.  To put it together, I use mostly the technique of hand sewing and gloss varnish to glue some other  parts as well.  It took me three hours to complete this project after returning home that night. 

A Collage, 2013. Fabric, Plastic, Glass, Metal. © 2013 Angely Martinez. All Rights Reserved.

The jewelry pieces at the MAD Museum that inspired this project.

The 5 Days of Artistic Works by Angely Martinez Series continues tomorrow, with 

Projects 4-7. #artisticworksbyam

This artwork and all the photos of the artwork are the property of Angely Martinez.

© 2013 Angely Martinez. All Rights Reserved.

The Process of Letting go: The "5 Days of Artistic Works by Angely Martinez" Series

Photo and Artwork by Angely Martinez.

I usually write about things that focus on the bridge between art and fashion, but never about my own artwork.  The last few months have been a life changing time for me...Well, let's say, this whole year.

After several months of being unable to create absolutely nothing, I got back in touch with my artistic side earlier this fall after presenting my previous jewelry work at the same jewelry course I took a few years ago while at LIU.  A little bit of wire, listening to Lady Gaga's ARTPOP, The Reflektors, and other great music, plus going to museums and using materials I already have at home, lead me to create new pieces and to transform other objects.

During the process of creating these works, I realized it was all about one thing: letting go. It was all about letting go of my thoughts and allowing my mind to take me whichever way it could.  One piece lead to the other, and the other piece lead to something else.

Sometimes we get so cut up in one thing that we loose track of other things that are important to us. That is part of life, of growing up, but we cannot let it take the best of us. In many cases, it is in the most struggling stages of our lives when our creativity can take us places we never thought we would.  Like Brandon Stanton ("Humans of New York") said in an interview for TIME's 30 Under 30 series, it is all about the continuous process of "working" and not getting so cut up in having the best idea. Therefore it is truly the process of letting go, of starting something that will lead somewhere else.  This has been one of the toughest years I have ever faced (and I do not believe it is the last one), specially finding my way in the world and dealing with "the trials and tribulations" of life after college.

Reconnecting with art has greatly alleviated my worries, feelings of hopelessness, and the feeling of being stuck. Little by little, I am letting them go through the process of creating things to express myself.

For the first time ever, I will be sharing some of my new work on my blog and mostly to the public (although I publish a few little fun things now and then on Instagram); it is time to show it and to let go.

In the next 5 days, I will be publishing the works I have created this year as part of my new series, 5 Days of Artistic Works by Angely Martinez. Use the #artisticworksbyam to spread the word.

Stay Tuned...

Your turn: What are the ways in which you use your creativity? How has it help you during difficult times?

Artistic Minds: McQueen + Kahlo - Part 3

Artwork by Angely Martinez. Red Flower, 2011.  

Back in July of this year, I began the "Artistic Mind" Series with Frida Kahlo, and  then in August, I continued the series with Alexander McQueen and his fantastic work.  For the final installment of this writing piece, I want to show how these seemingly different artists have a lot of things in common, based on my own journey of discovering them.
___________________________________________________________________________________________

Always with the curiosity of understanding why I have been so attracted to the work of these two oppossite artists, I came up with different ideas on how they have a lot in common.

Both Alexander McQueen and Frida Kahlo expressed a form of personal pain through their own work. Elements of blood, torture, death, suffering, nature, violence, and beauty are very strongly present in their works.  Kahlo, had many health issues and emotional painful episodes throughout her life.  McQueen's upbringing as a child was a tough and a difficult one. He came from a modest background and faced a lot of bullying because of his sexual preferences.  Many artists use their own particular mediums of work to showcase their own lives, and they were definitely not the exception.

Every single piece showcases the complexities of their ideas and the different ways in which they saw the world around them.  Kahlo used painting to represent her personal experiences as a woman, her political and societal views. McQueen used fashion along with innovative technologies to create the greatest out-of-this-world pieces I have ever seen. From a young age, they both showed they were very talented.  Their work was very detail, showcasing their ability to bring something to life.  Kahlo has always being an influence in my own artwork, and McQueen has been a big fashion influence for me since his work was like artwork for the human body.

I fell in love with Ceramics while I was in college because it allowed me to bring things to life, to make something three dimensional, to make sculptures. This journey led me to create Ceramic shoes. Then, there's jewelry as well, where fimo and colorful things allow me to create pieces I never thought I would be able to create (I will post some of these in the near future). You may ask yourself, "Why did she add that photo to this post?." The reality is that the photo above showcases a representation of the influence both artists have had in my life so far.

Despite the fact that they both passed away in their 40s, McQueen and Kahlo left enough work to be remembered for many years to come.  They left a legacy in our society that continues to live on.

Like the flowers, they were gone too soon.

Part 1: Frida Kahlo
Part 2: Alexander McQueen

Let me know what you think in the comments below. For now, until next time in A+F by AM.

Gaga's "ARTPOP Pop Up:" A Combination of Art + Commerce

ARTPOP's Album Cover

Lady Gaga's latest music project, ARTPOP, was just released this past Monday, November 11th, 2013. To possibly give a bigger push of publicity and interactivity for the promotion of the album, she did a special party titled "artRAVE" on Sunday, Nov. 10th at the Brooklyn Navy Yard (read more here), and open two 3-Day pop up stores, one in NY and the other in LA.  Being the huge Mother Monster fan that I am, I knew I had to go to see it.

"Swine Mask" 

Located in the Meatpacking district of New York City, specifically in the luxury fashion store area, "ARTPOP Pop Up: A Lady Gaga Gallery," is an interesting and strategic partnership that blends the cross between "art and commerce" for sure. It showcased artistic works from Lady Gaga and other artists that have worked with her, and integrates other companies' products (Beats headphones and Just Dance) to celebrate one of the most anticipated albums of the year by the theatrical superstar. You can also read Zack O'Malley Greenburg's Forbes article analyzing the Pop Up store right this way. 

A few of the "Artpop" Lyrics

The pop up store/ art gallery was very simple. It had several lyrics from songs such as "Dope," "Artpop," and "Venus" (one of my favorites from the album), a Beats headphone/ photo opp section (check the slideshow below for my photo), a Just Dance area near the entrance of the store where attendees could dance to "Applause,"  posters of singles from the album, a small area to buy merchandise (i.e. t-shirts) and albums, a section to express your creativity with chalk, lost of music, and of course, some of her most notable outfits.

"Bone Dress": She wore this on the "Applause" music video

There were about 9 costumes in this small exhibit, and I have to say that I realized something when I closely saw them: they are actually very simple.  I think it is inspiring for other people because it shows that any of us can create something, in this way displaying our ideas visually. An "Applause" for Gaga for allowing the public to see up close some of her Out of This World stage outfits.  

Although I wish there were more things on display at the store (maybe because I went the last day), Lady Gaga is definitely pushing the boundaries in terms of marketing tactics to promote her newest product, ARTPOP. 

Check out more photos below!!! 

The gallery/ store opened between November 11th-13th.

Fact: 20 of the Limited Edition albums sold at the store contained A Golden Ticket,"...Like Willie Wonka" - as quoted from one of the store associates.  This ticket is for a Lady Gaga VIP concert, with Meet and Greet included.

Let me know what you think in the comments below!

An Art Workshop to Remember Our Love Ones and The Ones We Admire

This is the mini Altar I made! Photo by Mia Roman.

© 2013. Angely Martinez. All Rights Reserved.

This year's life and career explorations have allowed me to do things that I never thought I would do. However, I miss doing visually artistic work.  So the minute I heard about the Adult Mini Altar Workshop with Mia Roman, which took place on November 2nd, 2013, I could not wait to go and see what I would end up creating.

The Workshop was part of  the "Día de Los Muertos: El Barrio" presented by Viajero Borish at the Julia De Burgos Cultural Center.  This art installation's mission is to bring the community together to honor the love ones that are no longer in this world by adding objects to the altar.  This is the third workshop I attended with Mia Roman,  who is a fantastic artist, Frida Kahlo fan, and very proud of her Latin American roots.

When I first got to the workshop, which ironically was at the same building I went to high school years ago, I did not know exactly how I would decorate my box. I started with glittering a white plastic flower, then drawing wavy lines, and then adding more things.  It was a colorful journey of transforming a plain white box into a fun, complicated, and overly crazy piece that I never thought I would do.

At some point, it was as if all my creative thoughts exploded in the class.  At some point, I could not stop adding more and more objects, and transforming those small objects into something else.  I added more and more until I could not add anymore. Everything combined, turned the small white box into a beautiful altar. 

Everyone created beautiful boxes, some of them of their grandmothers and others of family members.  It was a collective environment in which everyone brought their own identity into what they did.  I had never done an art class about El Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Once again, I stepped out of my comfort zone.

To find out more information about Art by Mia Roman, you can check her website, and to purchase her work, you can check her Etsy Shop.

To find out more information on "Día De Los Muertos: El Barrio," check out Dia De Los Muertos Collective. This art installation/ exhibition will be opened until November 15th at the Julia De Burgos Cultural Center, 1680 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY.

Check out more photos below of the workshop! You can also check my Pinterest Board as well. 

Let me know what you think in the comments below. Until Next Time. A+F by AM.

All photos by Mia Roman

Artistic Minds: McQueen - Part 2

A few weeks ago, I released the first part of my Artistic Minds series in which I talked about Frida Kahlo's life and work (read here).  This week, I want to continued the series with the second part, about the late designer Alexander McQueen and his great contributions to the fashion world, and in turn, the art world, through his creations.

Alexander McQueen

Source: chinabambi.wordpress.com

Lee Alexander McQueen was born in London, UK on March 17th, 1969.  He came from a "working class family" and had five siblings.  His mother was a "social science" teacher while his father was a taxi driver. When he was 16 years old, he left school and worked in tailor shops in the Mayfair district in London. Deciding to pursue his career and love for clothes, he went on to work with Angels and Bermans, who are "theatrical costume designers."  From these early years, he earned great skills in making "perfectly tailored clothing." All the great works that he did there became a great influence later on in his own collections. 

After coming back to London from Milan, he went to study at the Central Saint Martin's College of Art & Design, and in 1992 earned his M.A. in fashion design.  Isabella Blow, who would later on become a closed friend of his, purchased his entire collection that was inspired by "Jack The Ripper" as part of his last project upon completion of his degree.  A few years later, he ended up working for Givenchy and created his own business, the House of Alexander McQueen.  McQueen won the "British Designer of the Year Award" 4 times in his career (3 of those while at Givenchy), and in 2003 the CFDA honored him with the "International Designer of the Year" award.  

He is known for creating well elaborate clothes and for producing highly theatrical runway shows. His last show before his unexpected death, Plato's Atlantis, became one of his most recognized fashion shows. He passed away in 2010 (ruled as a suicide), shortly after his mother's death.  

In 2011, the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) in New York City hosted the exhibit Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty in honor of his work. This exhibit became of of the most successful exhibitions by the museum to date.  His house is now under the direction of Sarah Burton. (For more info: biography.com)

"For me, what I do is an artistic expression which is channeled through me. Fashion is just the medium." --Alexander McQueen

Early Embrace of Technology

"Robot Paint Dress" is an iconic piece from the Spring/Summer  RTW 1999 Collection. This was the closing part of the show in which the two machines spray painted the dress while the model rotated "on a turntable."

Link to video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnA3XR5apQg

Fall/Winter 2009 Collection
This collection was full of reds, black, whites and a million prints.  The models usually featured black or red lipstick that went beyond the lips.  It was a very dark but romantic collection at the same time.  Hats seem to come from recycled materials as seen below.
source: http://in-so-mnia.blogspot.com

Fall/Winter 2009
Recyclable hat
Source: http://chichappens.wordpress.com


"I never look at other people's work. My mind has to be completely focused on my own illusions."

--Alexander McQueen

Fall/Winter 2009
"Crow Dress"
Although the idea of this dress is very dark, there's seems to be something so romantic about the silhouette of this dress.  This piece was featured in the "Romantic Gothic" section of Savage Beauty.
Source: Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty (2011)

Fall/Winter 2008-2009
This is a wedding dress.  It was also featured on Savage Beauty book and the exhibition at the MET.
It is just simply beautiful.
Source: www.weddinginspirasi.com

This is probably one of my favorite McQueen's pieces.  The fact that the dress gives the illusion is put together just by flowers is extraordinary and demonstrates all the effort that went into his work.

Source: Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty (2011)

"I want people to be afraid of the women I dress."
--Alexander McQueen

McQueen's pieces represented very dark and intimidating clothing that transforms women

 into very powerful figures, as seen above.

Source: listal.com

Photograph by Steven Meisel. Published in Vogue, May 2011.

Editorial Favorite: This macnificient dress is also featured on Savage Beauty
Source: vogue.com


"I find beauty in the grotesque, like most artists. I have to force people to look at things." 
--Alexander McQueen

Unforgettable shows:  This dress, made out of "red bugle beads" from the collection Joan (Autumn/Winter 1998-1999) is also another amazing piece from McQueen. The pieces gives the illusion of blood dripping down from the head to the floor, very striking and artistic at the same time.  

Soure: listal.com


Plato's Atlantis: His last collection

Source: blog.metmuseum.org

Source: walkthecatwalk.blogspot.com

Source: lovestiletto.com

Source: eugenehon.blogspot.com

Source: showstudio.com

Plato's Atlantis was McQueen's last collection shown in Fashion Week while he was alive.  The collection mixed the natural with the unnatural.  Butterfly and Snake prints were a big part of this fantastic show as well as 12 in. heels in the form of high heeled ballerina boots and alien-taking-over-your-feet pumps.
The show was an unforgettable piece of art.


"My collections have always been autobiographical, a lot to do with my own sexuality and coming to terms with the person I am - it was like exorcising my ghosts in the collections. They were to do with my childhood, the way I think about life and the way I was brought up to think about life."
 --Alexander McQueen



As a tribute to Alexander McQueen, check out my Pinterest Board "McQueen: The King of Artistic Fashion".

For more on Alexander McQueen, you can check the beautiful book Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty (2011) and VOGUEPEDIA's profile on the brand (here).

Please feel free to leave your comments below. Until next time. A+F by AM.

Now, Let's Talk About Punk: MET's "Punk: Chaos to Couture"

Photo by Michelle Falzarano

Photo by Spencer Platt for Getty Images. 

Source: google.com

Early in May of this year, The Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) celebrated a continued influence in the fashion industry to this day: punk.  When I heard about the exhibit "Punk: Chaos to Couture," an interest to see it sparked on me. And so, I went to see it.

Since the days that Vivienne Westwood brought into the high fashion world the Punk Subculture, punk has been reinterpreted throughout the 80s, 90s, and 00s.  Most pieces featured in the exhibit are from those time periods. "Punk: Chaos to Couture" definitely shows these reinterpretations.  Every single room goes from dark to light, and then the exhibit ends in a very dark room, with a mannequin wearing a Maison Martin Margiela dress (it seems like a half dress by the way), pointing a middle finger to the top, which gives you a sense of, I guess, punk attitude.

Several written pieces are spread around the exhibit. Here's a quote I got from one of the statements:

"The ethos of do-it-yourself  [D.I.Y.] is Punk's Greatest and most enduring influence on 

haute couture and ready-to-wear, and this exhibition examines four expressions of this 

spirit as originally interpreted by punks in the mid-to late 1970s to the present."

Suzanne DeChillo/The New York Times

Section: “DIY: Bricolage”

Source: nytimes.com

Vivienne Westwood (of coure), Dolce & Gabbana, Gareth Pugh, Maison Martin Margiela, Comme Des Garçons, Givenchy, Versace, and Alexander McQueen are among the selective few of designers that are part in the exhibit.  In the last room of the exhibit, Commes Des Garçons has eight pieces: four black and four in beige.  The beige pieces are incredibly interesting since they are more artistic than pieces you can actually wear, although I am sure some people would wear them and have done so. These pieces have attached sleeves hanging as details from, let's say, a dress, and lots of details that shows all the hard work that went into creating these masterpieces.

Source: galleristny.com

Gareth Pugh's pieces might be very recent, but his used of "plastic black garbage bags" is amazing.  Every single square piece creates the shape of a dress, making a very distinctive pattern.  It is so well constructed that you cannot even tell at first that it is made out of plastic bags.

Gareth Pugh's dresses made of "plastic garbage bags"

Source: www.msfabulous.com

The piece that I liked the most was Maison Martin Margiela's "Artisanal, Spring/Summer 2006" pearls jacket.  It looks so effortlessly and artistically constructed.  It is such a great interpretation of an actual jacket, and definitely follows the punk aesthetic.  This piece is in what I called "the recyclable materials" section of the exhibit.

Pieces by Maison Martin Margiela, from the Met's exhibit "Punk: Chaos to Couture." Photo © Lindsay Comstock - See more at: http://blog.wppionline.com/2013/05/the-punk-wedding/#sthash.MyDzMFGB.dpuf

Third piece to the right: the Maison Martin Margiela pearls jacket

Source: blog.wppionline.com

Source: rdujour.com

The exhibit ends with a pop-up mini shop where you can buy some punk-inspired souvenirs including postcards, art prints, shirts and black decorative spike pumps designed by Vivienne Westwood, and even Charlotte Olympia's "Punk Clutch", the one designed in collaboration with Tom Binns.

Every mannequin has a big, crazy wig, unifying the whole exhibit and giving it the finishing touches.  Punk for sure!

PUNK: Chaos to Couture will be on view until August 14th, 2013.

For more on this great exhibit, visit metmuseum.org.

Also, check the MET's Pinterest Board, PUNK: Chaos to Couture, right this way.

For now, until next time. A+F by AM.

P.S.: You cannot take photos since it is "an special exhibition," as I was told by museum staff.

Artistic Minds: Kahlo - Part 1

Art and Fashion have been very important things in my life growing up and still to this date.  I started drawing between the ages of 7-8 and I used to make clothes to my dolls from old fabric that I would find at home. We couldn't afford to buy additional clothes for my barbies, so I had to get creative. I definitely had fun making those tiny miniature pieces.  Then, I started learning about artists and designers and that is when the inspiration started to flow in.  There are two people whose work I truly admire: Frida Kahlo and Alexander McQueen.

From a very young, I fell in love with Frida Kahlo's work and story.  In the years when Lady Gaga became a huge star and her "Poker Face" and "Bad Romance" were everywhere, I fell in love with Alexander McQueen's work.  I was first introduced to Frida Kahlo around the age of 10 or 11 while surfing through the pages of an art textbook and Alexander McQueen around 19 or 20.

I always question how I like such seemingly opposite creative minds. I spent a lot of time trying to find meaning in what attracts me to their work and then it came to me. I realized that for some reason or another, I find so many similarities between them.  You might think: "This is so odd." But, I look at it from a different perspective.

In these series of three parts, first, I will give a little bit of background on both artists, and show and  describe examples of their work. Then, I will explain the connections I find within them to conclude this amazing series of writings. Stay Tuned.

Frida Kahlo

Source: www.tatianista.com

Frida Kahlo was born on July 6th, 1907 in Coyoacan, Mexico to her European Father (who was a photographer) and her Mexican Mother.  As a little girl, she suffered from Polio and in her later teenage years, suffered a dramatic accident on a public bus that caused her several health issues throughout her life, including a few miscarriages.  In the accident, a handrill went from one side of her hip to the other. As a result of spending so many months recovering in bed, she started painting during this period.  The accident changed her life completely. She spent most of her life in a bed and wore different corsets to support her back.   She married married Diego Rivera (well known "Mexican Muralist") in her early 20s and he encouraged her to continue painting.  Her tumultuous and on again-off again marriage to Rivera was also a significant part in her work.  At some point, Kahlo's fame overshadowed her husband's. She is known for painting self portraits of herself and other people that she met throughout her life.  Frida Kahlo was also a fashion icon.  She is known for wearing colorful Mexican cultural outfits, jewelry, and lots of flowers in her braided long black hair.  In recent years, she has been inspiration for several fashion editorial pieces. Although many consider her a "surrealist,"  she never saw herself as one.  Kahlo died in  the summer of 1954, at the age of 47.  Today, her "Casa Azul" ("Blue House" in Spanish), where she grew up and passed away, is a museum. (For more info: http://www.fridakahlo.com/)

"...I never painted dreams. I painted my own reality." --Frida Kahlo

"The Two Fridas": One of her most famous paintings, "The Two Fridas" symbolized her connections between her European and Mexican roots (I learned this from a documentary I saw years ago while doing reearch for a project I did about her: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROAH9LQecyc) 

Source: www.artquotes.net

"Self Portrait," 1940

The painting that started all: This is the 1st painting I ever saw from Frida Kahlo. It was so intriguing to me and I kept going back to see the page.

Source: www.abcgallery.com


"I paint self-portraits because I am so often alone, because I am the person I know best." --Frida Kahlo

"Abrazo Amoroso," 1949

References to Mother Nature and spiritualism can be seen in her paintings. 

This one is particularly very beautiful.

Source: http://listenrecovery.wordpress.com

"Henry Ford Hospital," 1932

This painting was created after Kahlo suffered a miscarriage while living in the US. Her inability to have a child was a very difficult source of suffering and sadness for her.  Kahlo was never able to have children.

Source: arthistory.about.com

"I am not sick. I am broken. But I am happy to be alive as long as I can paint."-- Frida Kahlo

"Moisés," 1945

A very complex and detailed painting, in here we can see references of human reproduction, cultural and religious symbols, politics, and society. This is one of my favorite works from her.

Source: http://www.wikipaintings.org/en/frida-kahlo/moses-1945

"Self Portrait on the Border," 1932

In this painting, she showcases how she sees the United States and how she sees Mexico.
For her, her country represents more nature and more real things while the US represents and artificial and industrialized world.  

Source: s30smijozeg.blogspot.com 

"Unos Cuantos Piquetitos," 1935

Perhaps one of Kahlo's most graphic paintings based on true life events. 

It was about the violent murder of a woman.

Source: http://pinturasepocas.blogspot.com

"Magnolias," 1945

Source: www.wikipaintings.org

"I paint flowers so they will not die." -- Frida Kahlo

"Tunas (Still Life with Prickly Pear Fruit)," 1938

Throughout her career, Kahlo did several paints about fruits and flowers.  This one in particular seems to show an extension of her painful experiences.

Source: http://www.wikipaintings.org

Check out my Pinterest Board "Frida Kahlo": http://pinterest.com/angelymartinez/frida-kahlo/

For now, until next time. Stay Tune for Artistic Minds: McQueen - Part 2.

Madonna's MDNA: An Epic Show, Full of Hard Work

Madonna seems to be very busy these days. Her 2012 "MDNA" Tour was one of the most epic shows in music history full of creativity, controversy, and lots of costumes.

And now, "Madonna: The MDNA Tour" is coming to TV!!

Madonna has been making different public appearances this year. First, we saw her attending the MET Gala in May with her punk inspired outfit.  Later on, she received the  Billboard's "Top Touring Artist Award" at The 2013 Billboard Music Awards (article) and premiered the "Madonna: The MDNA Tour" trailer.  Then, she made an inspiring speech at the "Chime for Change" concert, and most recently, attending a viewing party of the show this week in NYC.  All these appearances combined have helped in promoting the upcoming release of the film "MDNA," her highest grossing tour to date (yes, it topped her 2008 Sticky and Sweet Tour).

Since EPIX will be airing the show this weekend, and based on what I have seen, they have developed a 360-degree Marketing Strategy to raise awareness for the show.  Check the photos below.

Promotional Poster

Source: madonnarama.com

Source: madonnarama.com

Source: madonnarama.com

Source: facebook.com

This new take on the "cone bra"/ buister was designed by French fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier, who created her costumes for her controversial and legendary "The Blond Ambition Tour."
Source: madonnatribe.com

Madonna posed with her dancers on the red carpet for the premiere of the film
"Madonna: The MDNA Tour." Dolce & Gabbana and The Cinema Society hosted the event.
Source: guestofaguest.com

Madonna wore a very fashionably androgynous during the event.
Source: guestofaguest.com

All over the Town: Outdoor Advertising has been significantly used to get the word out there as well.
Source: tumblr.com

There's also the "MDNA For A Day Sweepstakes". Check the video below for details on how to enter:

EPIX's YouTube Channel has been adding videos almost everyday this week of the "MDNA Workshop," where dancers are shown auditioning for the show and learning different types of dance or art forms such as "slacklining,"  and short clips from the performances themselves, showing all the hard work that was put into this show.

Check out some of the "Madonna: MDNA Workshop" videos below:

"Slackliners"

Source: youtube.com

"Bone Breaking Dancers (Double-Jointed)"
Source: youtube.com

"Men in Pumps"
Source: youtube.com

TAIT Towers created and build the out of this world stage.  Here is the video from axs.tv about how they did it.

"Madonna: The MDNA Tour" premieres worldwide on EPIX this Saturday, June 22nd at 8pm EST.  EPIX is available on Verizon FiOS and on epixhd.com.

The DVD will be release on August 27th, 2013.

Feel free to leave your comments below.