Exhibition honours artist Frida Kahlo

The Honorary Consul for Mexico in Queensland Tony Hogarth will open an exhibition in Redcliffe this week, honouring the late Mexican born visual artist Frida Kahlo.

The exhibition will feature the work of almost 30 young students from Redcliffe’s Art So Lively Art Academy.

It’s the brainchild of award-winning artist Gabrielle Turnbull, who opened the academy 11 years ago with the dream of passing on her love, knowledge and understanding of visual art to adult and young students.

From the age of 13, when she won her first art prize in open competition, Turnbull’s life has been consumed by the creative painting process.

Her love of the arts was reinforced when, as an adult, she read the life story of Frida Kahlo - her trials and tribulations and how with great difficulty, she overcame them.

Kahlo’s life’s battle, so inspired Turnbull that she decided to honour the now long passed Mexican artist, by conducting a series of portraiture classes with her young students, using Kahlo, as the portraiture subject.

She was astounded by the enthusiasm, shown by the youngsters as they learned about Kahlo, and the portraiture results produced by the students who are aged between seven and 15 years.

“Many of these works would be proudly hung by mature adult artists,” Turnbull says.

“I want the community to view and appreciate these young people’s excellent standard of work.”

Turnbull is also about to publish a book entitled I Spy….Arti-Facts. The book comprises more than 30 published articles on art and artists written by her during a three-year period. One of the articles, Determination and Belief is a tribute to Kahlo.

The Honorary Consul for Mexico in Queensland Tony Hogarth has agreed to open the exhibition.

Where: The Art So Lively Art Academy, Comino’s Arcade, Sutton St, Redcliffe.

When: Thursday March 20

Time: 6.30pm for 7pm

Phone: 0477 002 545.