assignment #3-"real-life" writing

Diego Rivera Pan American Mural

Diego Rivera was a womanizer and revolutionist. He was born in Mexico but studied in Europe where he became renowned for his paintings. He was then invited to join the “Art In Action Program” hosted by the 1940 season of the Golden Gate International Exposition on Treasure Island in San Francisco by Timothy Pflueger. Timothy wanted Diego’s mural to be incorporated in the San Francisco Junior College Library; however, construction of the library was halted due to US’s entry into WWII and Pflueger’s death.

The “Pan American Unity” is an al fresco mural representing all of America—North America versus South America. Diego’s most powerful panel is the middle panel or panel number three. The Golden Gate Bridge in the top right corner symbolizes the bridge between two cultures – North and South. On the left side of the central figure is the Aztec goddess Coatlicue. She is the goddess of death and the earth. Coatlicue has her right hand fully extended in the air with four jade calluses representing wealth. Coatlicue believes when you work with the soil or earth you are wealthy she also depicts the South and ancestral side. The other half of this central figure depicts modernization and the North. The central figure is a auto plant stamping machine, which is most likely belongs to the Ford Motors Company. The auto plant stamping machine is the central figure to demonstrate the present. At the bottom of the panel Frida Kahlo his wife and Mexican artist has a paint brush and palette in hand ready to work on a new portrait. Behind Frida is Diego with Charlie Chaplin’s wife planting the “tree of life” showing the closeness of Pan Americanism. Possibly even depicting his love affair with Paulette behind Frida’s back. Above them is a wooden carving of a ram, which is the San Francisco City College’s mascot. On the bottom right corner of the panel Diego painted Timothy Pflueger. Timothy has his blue prints of the San Francisco City College Library in hand that was never built due to his sudden death. This panel informs the viewer of current events for the time period while incorporating the ancestral arts of the South.

The murals colors are all earthy tones. Diego makes his own paint through natural resources. Diego paints the South using more vibrant and traditional colors creating warmth. The North is painted with an industrial look and cold feeling. The cold feeling is due to the lack of light.

The first panel shows the beginning of Mexico City and how it was derived with the high mountains and volcanoes. Quetzalcoatl a high priest is in the upper left hand corner teaching the Indians. The Indians are utilizing the earth by making their own gold jewelry, sculpting, carving, and painting. A feather serpent is coming out of their hut and crossing the land. The serpent’s head which is made of stone lands in panel two. Panel two begins the incorporation of the past and present.