Frida Kahlo’s work is not for the light-hearted; after all, bleeding hearts and self-portraits do not make for stately dining rooms and school buildings. Even so, Kahlo drew fame from her willingness to bare her deepest emotions on canvas — everything from the depression stemming from a miscarriage to the fiery passion she felt for various affairs during her marriage — and for her untraditionally liberal aesthetic; a unibrow and suit was not exactly the typical garb of her female contemporaries.

This image has kept Kahlo in the public eye; she is still considered one of the most ardent of feminist figures in popular culture, over 60 years after her death. However, while her politics and dress kept her relevant in the art world of the time, Kahlo always felt she struggled to be taken seriously due to her Mexican heritage — something she was extremely proud of. This is why the Brandeis Latino Student Organization, chose to spotlight Kahlo to kick off its National Hispanic Heritage Month.

The meeting started with Latino snacks and music, invoking the tropical climates of Kahlo’s native Mexico, despite the currently dreary Massachusetts weather; I found the mango nectar and dulche de leche wafers particularly welcome reprieves after a week of monotonous dining hall grub.

After introducing the club’s board, one of its members, Angel Dël Amour ’19, gave a presentation on Frida Kahlo’s life and works. The presentation gave an easily digestible overview on Kahlo’s life, studded with pictures illustrative of her personality. While many know Kahlo as the artist with the flowers in her hair and a plethora of draping dresses, the presentation included a picture of a younger Kahlo — a family portrait including her before she became engulfed in the art world. In this image, Kahlo is dressed in a suit, hair tied back like that of a man. She is in stark contrast with her sisters and mother who are dressed in the traditional frilled dresses women were expected to fashion during Kahlo’s time. This image is representative of Frida Kahlo’s personality — a woman who could find humor in anything and could easily dance to the beat of her own drum, despite various critics and gender stereotypes.

The presentation continued, following Kahlo’s life, noting her time spent in America and her tempestuous relationship with fellow artist Diego Rivera, who met Kahlo while she was his student. Rivera, although married to Kahlo, retained his affinity for women — namely the nude models he painted, a fact that fueled much of the inner turmoil Kahlo’s work displays. As noted in the presentation, Rivera even had an affair with Kahlo’s sister, Cristina, a situation for which Kahlo never truly forgave either one.

The slideshow also incorporated an image of Frida Kahlo with Leon Trotsky, with whom Frida Kahlo had a brief affair while he hid in her home (aptly named La Casa Azul for its azure hue) while escaping Stalin. The slideshow was brief yet effective in educating those at the event about Frida Kahlo, perhaps on a deeper level than the mere fact that she was a famous artist with eye-catching eyebrows.

After the presentation, one board member passed out canvasses, giving those at the event a chance to express their own feelings in a way possibly evocative of Frida Kahlo’s own colorful, preternatural style. Kahlo’s work is characterized by bright colors and vibrant hues, which the club made easy to recreate with a vast supply of paints. One attendee, Rachel Snyderman ’20, crafted a strong-lined, radiant image of a woman, inspired by Kahlo’s affinity for portrait painting. However, the paintings as a whole ranged from depicting the evening sky to a yin-yang. But one thing was constant throughout the paintings: everyone was inspired by the eclectic, colorful work of such an artistic visionary.

Overall, the night was relaxed and enjoyable, an easy way to enjoy Latin culture as well as paint a bit to destress from the tiring week.