I was just lucky that day back in December of 2006 when I stopped by to visit my friend Randy who works as one of Seattle's best picture framers. He was getting set to work on a painting by a friend of his and I just fell in love with it on first look. "Is there any way it is for sale?" I asked. "I'll call my friend and see," he told me.
After a brief phone call, Randy relayed some good news and some bad news. Yes, his friend would be willing to sell it to me but I should know it would not be available for some time as it was being prepped for shipping to Washington D.C. where it would hang in the Smithsonian Institution's National Portrait Gallery.
Randy's friend was well-known painter Mexican artist Alfredo Arreguin and the work I saw that day was his 1998 portrait of fellow painters Frida Kahlo and her husband, Diego Rivera. Here is the jpeg Alfredo sent me after my check cleared. :) Until yesterday it was all I had to remember the piece by.
Frida Y Diego hung in the National Portrait Gallery from May 2007 until February of this year and last month finally made its way back home to Seattle where Mr. Arreguin lives with his lovely wife Susie, also a very accomplished artist. I had the pleasure of visiting their home yesterday to pick up the painting and hear a little of their 35 year love story.
Like everyone, I enjoy beautiful things around me, but I will treasure my new acquisition even more having stood with the artist on the spot where it was created. In case you are wondering, as I was, it took Alfredo just nine weeks to paint it, despite the painstakingly detailed mosaic and the very large canvas. I waited a year and a half to get it home and hung and here's what it looks like above the doorway to my living room.....
For my Western Washington readers, the Linda Hodges Gallery on First Avenue in Seattle is showing some of Alfredo's work through the month of May. Click here to see some images.
Congratulations on a beautiful piece of art!
Posted by: LiLa | May 08, 2008 at 05:16 AM
wow, bean. good job!!
Posted by: dee | May 08, 2008 at 07:00 AM
pink walls? how gay
Posted by: gerald | May 08, 2008 at 07:18 AM
Of all the pictures I've seen of your house through the years, I have been very impressed with your taste. But what I still can't wrap my head around is the pink walls. Seriously, what gives?
Posted by: Kings Fan | May 08, 2008 at 07:38 AM
Fantastic piece of art made even better by the time you were able to spend with the artist.
Posted by: Diane | May 08, 2008 at 07:53 AM
Once again a reminder that art is very interpretive and pink walls are to be left for the vagina
Posted by: db | May 08, 2008 at 08:18 AM
I'm seething with jealousy...I'm Mexican, I should have the painting.
Posted by: lucha | May 08, 2008 at 08:21 AM
Great Painting, congrats on the purchase. Maybe you can show us more of your art collection?
Posted by: Sketchbook by chris | May 08, 2008 at 08:37 AM
at what point do you add on just to have more wall space for your artwork?
Posted by: Tammy | May 08, 2008 at 08:39 AM
Seriously, I'm not someone who appreciates fine art, but damn - that is a beautiful painting! And the rest of his work is amazing as well.
So when do you post pics of the OJ Simpson picture? ;-)
Posted by: John E | May 08, 2008 at 08:51 AM
what a fantastic piece. I love it!!
Posted by: cathy g | May 08, 2008 at 09:06 AM
very cool, congratulations! and i admire your "patron of the arts" status - you're practically a medici!
also love the pink wall!!!!
Posted by: mel | May 08, 2008 at 09:12 AM
That painting was made for your pink wall! Wow, that is beautiful!
Posted by: Gina | May 08, 2008 at 09:45 AM
wow and congratulations. your patience is amazing, i would have given up after he said i had to wait. all of your art is so interesting, it's such a treat to catch glimpses of the interior of your home.
so when are you going to offer tours of your museum/home/farm/torture basement? ;)
Posted by: alisa | May 08, 2008 at 09:46 AM
This is an awesome painting... you're a lucky man!!
Posted by: K | May 08, 2008 at 10:14 AM
thanks, bean. i printed this out on a color printer and now i have the poor man's version of a gorgeous painting. it makes my work desk feel a little more like a home.
Posted by: darolyn | May 08, 2008 at 11:31 AM
Oh, Bean. I'm sure the painting is lovely but I can't enjoy it because it is surrounded by horrifyingly florescent pink walls. Why do you insist that you are not gay? Poor Donna is just your beard.
Posted by: s | May 08, 2008 at 12:12 PM
It looks amazing in that spot, no wonder you were willing to wait for it. No poster from Spencer Gifts would have done that space justice, congrats
Posted by: Muhlyssa | May 08, 2008 at 12:36 PM
I LOVE your new painting! Frida Kahlo is one of my favorite artists and I'm so envious of you! That is just beautiful! Talk about being at the right place at the right time........
me =)
Posted by: me! | May 08, 2008 at 12:52 PM
Glad to see you didn't hang it in the barn.
Posted by: TandJ | May 08, 2008 at 01:41 PM
my arm aches just thinking about working on that mosaic detail....
very cool that you got to spend time with the artist....
fancy house, bean. the moldings are gorgeous. and the pink has moxie it but burns my retinas a little... ;)
Posted by: dana | May 08, 2008 at 01:46 PM
What's with your claw hand around Alfredo Arreguin's shoulder? He looks frightened.
Posted by: Gail | May 08, 2008 at 02:05 PM
A far cry from the Madonna posters, indeed.
Posted by: kimmy | May 08, 2008 at 03:36 PM
Blah blah blah Smithsonian art cakes...
Who won 3,000th post? ;)
Posted by: Vic Rattler | May 08, 2008 at 04:08 PM
I was in Washington D.C. over the summer visiting family and stopped by the Smithsonian Portrait Gallery (the best of the Smithsonian museums, in my opinion) and I fell in love with this piece. Having never bought art before, my husband and I wondered how one would attain such a beautiful piece of work. Now I know (right place, right time, and a lot of money). You are very lucky to own such a piece. You have great taste.
Posted by: Brenda | May 08, 2008 at 04:41 PM
The perfect spot for the painting. The ceiling detail, the chandelier..., beautiful.
Bean, you are a giant.
Posted by: Janet | May 08, 2008 at 05:39 PM
When I got to the part where you were asking if the painting was for sale, first thought that popped into my head was that weird picture you have on your wall of the monkey with the dunce cap. So, where's the story on THAT scary piece of "art"???
(P.S. - Pink walls? Really??? Even I would never have pink walls, and I'm a woman!)
Posted by: Stacey | May 08, 2008 at 06:59 PM
way better than OJ's weiner.
Posted by: Shae | May 08, 2008 at 09:55 PM
What a fantastic acquisition. Congratulations, Bean, both on the painting and the quality time spent with the artist.
Posted by: LA | May 09, 2008 at 02:09 PM
Ok, this officially pulled me out of lurking to comment: I love that painting, and I love those pink walls and the white trim and the chandelier. Then again, I'm the crazy broad who has an orange hallway, a yellow living room and a bright red kitchen.
Posted by: Jen | May 10, 2008 at 06:37 PM
the one on the site that I saw and liked was $18K.
I guess I have expensive taste for just a little piece of culture.
Best,
Jes
Posted by: jes | May 14, 2008 at 08:51 PM
You might like to add this artwork to your collection:
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/mediamonkey/2008/06/bbc_gnews_goes_for_a_er_long_l.html
Posted by: George Costanza | June 08, 2008 at 05:55 PM
Hello Bean,
I love the painting of Frida and Diego. I love Frida, so avant garde, so colorful and original... from her hair, brows, clothing style....etc.
Such a tragic love story too....
anyway, congrats on the new piece and i love it on the pink wall with the crystal fixture. I noticed the stand up lamp too. Great taste!
xoxo
Jade Paris
Posted by: JADE PARIS | June 13, 2008 at 12:26 PM