Photo by Jonathan Furlong
Along with my art show “Fractured” in San Francisco, the crew and I painted a mural of Frida Kahlo in the Dogpatch near the gallery. I chose Frida because she was a phenomenal artist, but also because she used flowers and greenery as symbols of health and fertility in her work. Frida was unable to have children because of a bus accident when she was 18, and she was very aware of the fragility and value of health. I use flowers in my work to represent health and to urge environmental responsibility, so I saw a nice pairing between Frida and my Green Power factory. Frida is also an inspiration as a woman who remained outspoken despite sexist dismissals that she was merely “Diego Rivera’s wife who painted as a hobby.” Sexism remains a frustrating problem, but Frida’s stature as an artist shows that her outstanding art and voice have transcended and attitudes have evolved… let’s keep pushing forward!
-Shepard
