36: Rosa Rolanda - from Broadway Dancer to Surrealist

We are back, we are wide-eyed, almost Bratz Dolls eyed (!) and South of the Border 🇲🇽 This time diving into the work of Rosa Rolanda, who metamorphosis-ized 🦋 from a famous Broadway dancer into a Surrealist late in life. Full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-CVdxpnwBc Along the way she crossed paths with figures like Man Ray. It's likely she even learned the photogram process from him, which she then made uniquely her own. Her photograms feel like intimate journal doodles crossed with the raw energy of punk zines from the early '90s.She also met her soon-to-be partner and collaborator, the Mexican artist Miguel Covarrubias—also known as 'El Chamaco.' Together, they became Mexico's first artistic power couple, predating even Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. Their groundbreaking work, the book "Island of Bali," was the first comprehensive account of Balinese culture for the Western world, detailing its art, music, dance, and rituals.But it's her paintings that have this incredible, haunting feeling of anemoia—a nostalgia for a time you've never known. This gives them a distinct '90s or early 2000s vibe. On the surface, they seem simple and illustrative, but on a second, third, or even fourth look, you start to peel back all these incredible visual and narrative layers."Topics include:Bratz Dolls and Crazy TownFrida Kahlo and Arte Popular at the Museum of Fine Arts in Bostonthe Museo de Arte ModernoCrystal Bridges Museum of American ArtSmart and Final yellowMarion Morgan’s Morgan DancersMan Ray’s photograms or Rayograms Rat Fink for some reasonMexico City’s first artist power couple Tina Modotti, Nickolas Muray, Frida Kahlo, Diego RiveraGwen Stefani's Harajuku Girls Miguel Covarribus and Rosa Rolanda’s Island of Bali book from 1937 Las Mañanitas scene from “El Rapto” starring Maria FelixThe 60th Venice Biennale “Foreigners Everywhere”LACMA’s 2012 exhibition “In Wonderland: The Surrealist Adventures of Women Artists in Mexico and the United States”And what Visual Art can learn from performative art like dance--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Support the show!Patreon ➫ http://patreon.com/artslicepod Merch ➫ https://artslicepod-shop.fourthwall.com/collections/all More Merch ➫ https://www.artslicepod.com/ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The featured song was “Cascades” from Kris Keogh’s new album Processed Harp Works, Volume 3 on the Japanese imprint - Muzan Editions.https://muzaneditions.bandcamp.com/album/processed-harp-works-volume-3  The album is amazing - It’s like drifting off in a meditative trance, being brought back to awareness, before drifting again. If you like artists like The Caretaker - you really need to spend time with these albums. Other tracks featured:Elvenheim - “At Night” https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Shamil_Elvenheim/momentumHolizna - “First Snow” https://holiznacc0.bandcamp.com/album/winter-lo-fi-2 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------CREDITS:Writing and Research by Stephanie Duenas and Russell ShoemakerEditing, Production and Sound Design by Russell ShoemakerLogo Design by Russell ShoemakerTheme by Russell Shoemaker and Betta Music ProEnding Theme by Russell Shoemaker and Underwood BeatsSocial Media by Stephanie Duenas and Russell ShoemakerNewsletter by Stephanie DuenasAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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