A fashion fiesta
Guests at the Art Museum's gala celebrating the Frida Kahlo exhibit dressed with the colorful Mexican artist in mind.
Frida Kahlo, one of the 20th century's visionary originals, was also among the art world's most creatively attired. She was partial to traditional Zapotec Indian garments created by Tehuantepec seamstresses, full skirts, vibrant colors, bold ornamentation, pre-Columbian jewelry. She festooned her raven braids with a tiara of flowers.
On Thursday night, the Philadelphia Museum of Art welcomed 500 revelers to dress "festive" for the Kahlo exhibition gala (the show opens to the public Wednesday). Many obliged. Banished was the black that shrouds most social affairs, replaced by a constellation of jewel tones dominated by ruby red.
This was, after all, Valentine's Day.
Sandy Cadwalader, in Oaxacan attire along with her good friend, Eye's Gallery owner Julia Zagar, donned a silk floral wreath in her hair.
"Napkin rings!" she announced, pleased with such ingenuity.
The Great Hall was canopied by rows of brilliant doily place mats, the West Entrance, too, and bathed in garnet light. The stairs played host to Jamie Rothstein's Mexican still lifes of tropical fruit and birds-of-paradise. A trio of Frida-inspired, towering puppets by Cindi Olsman greeted guests, as did El Mariachi Flores. Margaritas were a must, though some guests took their tequila straight. Kahlo would have approved.
Artist Lonnie Graham donned a gray serape while his wife, textile designer Christina Roberts, shimmered in a sequined Mexican skirt. The winning touch was bringing along their daughter, 7-year-old Mary Graham, enchanting in a floral Puebla blouse and full skirt. Later, Mary was seen swishing her skirt to the Cuban
son
ensemble Conjunto 23.
Ted Young garlanded his agile hands in Mexican silver. He wore a hat, a bolo, a sequined vest. Down his back tumbled a wooden mobile of exotic birds, his exit as felicitous as his entrance.
Young is an artist, too, showing that, like Kahlo, they make for the most sartorially spirited guests. Every party deserves more of them.
- Karen Heller
Tomorrow in Arts & Entertainment
A look at how painter Frida Kahlo evolved from Mexico's most famous female artist into a secular saint embraced by cultures all over the world.