By Garrett Cook (MFA 2014)
Friday, May 31, I landed in Mexico City and grabbed a taxi to what has now become my home for the month. As soon as I exited, Bradley Narduzzi (an American artist and my downstairs neighbor) greeted me with my keys and showed me my new apartment. Before I even got a chance to settle in, he escorted me downstairs to his apartment where I was poured a shot of Mexican moonshine and greeted by his two enormous hairless Mexican dogs, Azteca and Talis. Within minutes we were walking down the street to visit his friend Victor Castellanos (another artist) who lives around the corner. I was in Mexico City for all of two hours, and I already felt welcome.
Bradley with his two dogs in front of one of his paintings. |
This has mostly been my diet. |
This is a side street at 1:00pm on a weekday. |
The Zocalo and City Cathedral. |
Of course, the beauty of the Centro Historico is that there are museums everywhere. Just in this district alone there are the expansive Aztec ruins known as Templo Mayor with an accompanying museum, The Munal National Art Museum of Mexico City, as well as The Museo de la Cuidad, the City Cathedral, and many, many more.
Templo Mayor |
An unfinished work by Frida Kahlo |
Frida Kahlo’s kitchen |
The museum even had a temporary exhibit showing the braces and supports Kahlo wore to maintain her image despite her childhood polio and late teenage bus accident.
Bradley was kind enough to lend me an extra bicycle he had, and it has certainly made exploring the city a bit easier–though slightly terrifying at times!
Oh, right, I’m also here to paint! Luckily, inspiration comes in spades here. Not only are there countless museums and sights to see and glorious architecture all around, but just walking along the streets and into nearby shops, I’ve found myself immersed in a completely different culture. Despite the amazing architecture and the awe-inspiring crowds I’m finding myself more drawn to individuals. So many people here are just brimming with character, and it is truly exciting. I don’t have a dedicated studio per se, but I make do:
View from my roof |