May 27, 2012
Professor Jaime Arredondo at the Keene Valley Library
It's amazing that even in small Adirondack villages and towns, we sometimes have the opportunity to experience lectures and art equal to those that folks flock to in cities like New York and colleges like NYU and the New School.

On this Monday evening in May, I have come upon one such event at the Keene Valley Library. It is titled: "Of Fire and Blood: Art and Mythology of Mexico."

Prof. Jaime Arredondo begins the evening by sharing with the audience some specifics about the history of Mexico to help us understand the culture and background of the three muralists he will be featuring. It is a refreshing talk with lots of slides and it makes me eager for more (which, of course, I can get later on with a little help from cyberspace).

Rivera, Siqueiros, and Orozco
Gods of the Modern World--Orozco mural at Dartmouth

Prof. Arredondo, an artist himself with a one-man show currently up at the Tazza Gallery in New York City, was born in Dallas, Texas. He is of Mexican and Native American descent and his ties to the Tejana culture of Texas are strong. His talk focuses on the genius of muralists Diego Rivera, Jose Clemente Orozco, and David Alfaro Siqueiros.

With an innate passion, he expresses to us how the Mexican muralist movement came out of an ex

The Wall Street Banquet by Diego Rivera
tremely rich and complex system of mythology that has existed for centuries in Mexico and how it has contributed to the cultural and political character of the Americas today.

The art history lesson is intense, yet compelling.

Afterwards, Arredondo draws the audience in further by asking, "Who do you like best and why?" His question challenges the audience to do some quick, hard thinking of our own. Some state their preference straightaway and tell us why but most of us find all three equally skilled and too difficult to rank.

Rockwell Kent's Cloverfields

When the lecture is over, it is the audience's turn to share some art history of the Adirondacks with the touring Professor. I hear folks encouraging him to make time to see Asgaard Farm in AuSable Forks, former home of American artist, writer, and political activist Rockwell Kent, and the Rockwell Kent exhibit at the art museum at SUNY Plattsburgh.

While driving home, I feel my head spinning with interesting tidbits, facts, images, and art. Arredondo touched on the Cosmic Race, Jim Crow Laws, LBJ, Rockefeller, Henry Ford, J.P. Morgan, Lenin, Trotsky, Marx, Engels, the Mayan calendar, and art...there was never a dull moment. It was an explosion of learning and more ART!

Man at the Crossroads

Though my notes are extensive, I'm not going to try to convey everything here. It would be far too long and I don't think I'd do it justice. I'll let the images speak for themselves and invite readers to do their own googling on Rivera (who presented Rockefeller Center with his short-lived but infamous "Man at the Crossroads" mural), Orozco (who had only one hand and whose works can be found in the library of Dartmouth College, among other venues), and Siqueiros (arguably the most political of the three and direct precursor to Jackson Pollock).

El Pueblo a la Universidad by David Alfaro Siqueiros

There is more in store at the Keene Valley Library this summer with Monday night lectures beginning on July 9 with ecologist, paleo-climatologist, Curt Stager, author of the book Deep Future: The Next 100,000 Years of Life on Earth.

For more information on arts and entertainment ahead in the Adirondacks click through to our Lake  Placid events page.

        --Kathleen Recchia has been enjoying the arts in the Adirondacks for about 20 years—both as observer and participant (acting, directing, and producing). She also enjoys cross-country skiing, juggling, and hosting visitors to the area at her bed & breakfast in Jay. 

Professor Jaime Arredondo at the Keene Valley Library
Rivera, Siqueiros, and Orozco
Gods of the Modern World--Orozco mural at Dartmouth
The Wall Street Banquet by Diego Rivera
Rockwell Kent's Cloverfields
Man at the Crossroads
El Pueblo a la Universidad by David Alfaro Siqueiros

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