Catalina Timewalkers visited the Tucson Botanical Gardens.
On April 21 the Catalina Timewalkers, a chapter of Questers, visited the Tucson Botanical Gardens. The garden features the blockbuster exhibit: Frida Kahlo: Art, Garden, Life which is on tour. This exhibit examines Kahlo’s work, life and influence through the lens of the plants and nature that surrounded her. Tucson Botanical Gardens was selected as the only institution to receive this extraordinary exhibition designed by one of the world’s premier botanical gardens, the New York Botanical Garden. The centerpiece of Frida Kahlo: Art, Garden, Life is the recreation of the gardens that Frida Kahlo maintained in her home in Mexico City, La Casa Azul. Great care was taken to present the plants, colors and forms that were such an important source of inspiration to Kahlo. Included in the installation is the Meso-American-inspired pyramid that Diego Rivera built in the central courtyard of Casa Azul. This replica is used to showcase a diverse collection of cacti and succulents native to the deserts of Mexico and the southwestern United States. The Poetry Walk featured placards placed throughout the Gardens that present the poetry of Octavio Paz, a Kahlo contemporary, in Spanish and English. Included in the tour was The Two Fridas painted by the celebrated Mexican artist Humberto Spindola to re-create The Two Fridas, Kahlo’s double self-portrait, in the Aztec tradition of amate paper art. The group and their docent Jo also toured the Mexican Plant Gardens that focus on the native flora that would have been a part of Frida Kahlo’s surroundings in Central Mexico.
The Catalina Timewalkers welcomes new members. We meet on the third Friday from October through May. Exceptions are December and May when we meet on the second Friday of the month. The purpose of Questers is to stimulate the appreciation of antiques and collectibles through study and to encourage the restoration and preservation of historic landmarks. Call Sandi Newberry at 520-818-0199 if you are interesting in attending a meeting or want more information.