GARGEE RANADE

AUDIO SCRIPT

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HOST INTRO: Brooklyn is now home to an immersive exhibit dedicated to the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. The installation highlights Frida’s life as both an artist and an icon. It was created by designers from Barcelona, Spain. WFUV’s Gargee Ranade went to experience the rich audiovisual celebration of the beloved artist.

​Barry Garber, CEO of Garber International Management Consultants: "Even if you know nothing when you come in the door, you will leave having a very, very, full-on experience of encountering one of the most interesting women of the 20th century."

Host: That was Barry Garber. He is the CEO of Garber International Management Consultants (IMC) and oversees the exhibit. He says that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Barry Garber: "Learning about her life and experiencing some of it through this show, you then are in an even better place to discover her and experience her art."

Host: While many are familiar with Frida Kahlo’s art, this installation takes moments from the artist’s life and underscores how they colored her work. 

Barry Garber: "Anyone who knows about her knows that she experienced at a very young age a very tragic accident that really changed the direction of her life both as a woman and an artist."
Host: He’s talking about the bus accident that Frida endured as a young woman and how that traumatic event impacted her work. It’s this level of vulnerability in her art that makes her a timeless figure and a role model to many women of all ages.

​​Angela Di Corpo, Head of Marketing and PR: "She’s very relevant today, especially in what she stood for, especially what she fought for."

Host: That was Angela Di Corpo. She is the Head of Marketing and PR at the Frida Kahlo Exhibition. Walking through the show, you’ll notice more than just artwork. The space features seven transformational areas, including a space that gives visitors an intimate glimpse into Frida’s life.

Angela Di Corpo: "So the immersive room, which is very traditional in the exhibition world, really showcases private pictures that we were given from the Frida Kahlo Corporation and from Frida's family."

Host: Upon leaving the immersive space, the visitor is greeted by the magical realm of virtual reality. Where Frida’s art moves past you creating a feeling of awe.

Barry Garber: "You go in, and for about eight or nine minutes you sit in a chair, and really it's like you are sitting in a chair and taking flight; they’ve created a virtual experience that really lets you believe that you are leaving the earth and going into a netherworld."

Host: While developing the exhibit may have been arduous, Angela told me that the real task was finding the right space to fit the equipment and technology. 

Angela Di Corpo: "Every city, our big challenge is finding a space where we can fit 20,000 square feet. Where we can fit our projectors, which need twenty feet in height, I think it's really finding the venue that is our biggest challenge, AND then it takes us about two weeks to put it together."
Host: Even in its early days, the exhibit is already making an impact on visitors. 

​​Haley Ortiz: "We learnt a lot about her life, and it was a great experience when watching the images around the room, and it was just beautiful."

Host: That’s Haley Ortiz. For her, being able to bear witness to Frida as both an artist and a person separate from her art was incredibly meaningful. 

Haley Ortiz: "Her personal life and with her miscarriages and well how she and how she couldn't have children, and I feel that's not very talked about very often."

Host: The exhibit will be open Wednesdays through Sundays in Dumbo, Brooklyn, until the end of the year. Tickets can be found on their website, fridakahlo.com. With WFUV News, I’m Gargee Ranade.​

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