I recently purchased this painting from Ilene Satala, the artist. Soon it will be framed and hanging in my home, but recently it adorned the Day of the Dead altar in honor of Ilene and Frida at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art. Ilene’s writing about this piece is below and its Spanish translation follows.
Frida’s Open Heart
“I love and celebrate the life of Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo. This painting captures her love of life and her vitality. She painted herself in all works of art because it was what she knew best. She is often seen as a very serious painter. However she had a whimsical, fun sense of humor.
I have been to her home in Mexico City many times and love her sense of vivid colors and bright personality. I painted this painting to represent her joy of living. A hummingbird is flying into her heart. The heart is filled with a beautiful sunrise over the ocean with the whole heart growing and blooming flowers.
My painting symbols represent the open heart we must all have to life. To be open to joy and happiness wherever we can find it. Our own hearts need to bloom with love and passion and this painting invites us all to celebrate life the way Frida Kahlo did.
Para Vida Frida!
You are my inspiration today and forever!”
Written by Ilene Satala
Original acrylic on canvas
The Spanish translation of Ilene’s writing is below and was provided by Raquel Aragon Kline of Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Corazón abierto de Frida
“Yo adoro y me encanta celebrar la vida de la artista mexicana, Frida Kahlo. Esta pintura captura su amor por la vida y su vitalidad. Ella se pintó a sí misma en todas las obras de arte, porque era lo que mejor conocía. Ella se ve a menudo como una pintora muy seria. Sin embargo, ella tenía un divertido y caprichoso sentido del humor.
He estado en su casa en Ciudad de México muchas veces y me encantan sus sentidos de colores vivos y su personalidad brillante. Pinté este cuadro para representar su alegría de vivir. Un colibrí está volando en su corazón. El corazón está lleno de un hermoso amanecer sobre el océano, con un corazón entero que crece y tiene las flores floreciendo.
Los símbolos de mi pintura representan el corazón abierto que todos debemos tener a la vida. Estar abierto a la alegría y la felicidad dondequiera que podemos encontrarla. Nuestros corazones deben florecer con amor y pasión y esta pintura nos invita a celebrar la vida de la manera en que Frida Kahlo lo hizo.
¡Para Vida Frida!
¡Tú eres mi inspiración hoy y siempre! “
Escrito por Ilene Satala
Acrílico original sobre lienzo
