THE ART AND POLITICS OF DIEGO RIVERA

The Govanhill Baths Community Trust was the location of this lecture of the iconic Mexican Painter and Muralist Diego Rivera.
Firstly there was an Introduction by Fatima Uygun on the nature of Art and Class , a brilliant piece of historical and cultural analysis with the added perception that all revolutions from the grassroots have always had the dimension of Artists articulating the currents of the time , which is why Art must belong to the People and not be co-opted by the establishment or commodifying commercial interests.

Colin Poole gave an in depth  biographical  account underlying the philosophical and intellectual currents that gave rise to Riveras art in revolutionary Mexico of the early 20th century.

 This link details an exchange of letters between Rivera and Rockefeller after a Mural to be made at the Rockefeller Centre was de-commissioned , notable in this exchange of letters is the compromise suggestion by Rivera to save the Mural which was not taken up.

The video below features music by Robbie Robertson and some of the painting and murals of Rivera.


You can get a more detailed history of Riveras politics and political relationships in the 30s and 40s in this link.

THE SEIGE at the TRON

You would think all thespians would welcome and relish the prospect of oppressed victims getting the chance to tell their own story in their own words, but apparently not the vile , sectarian , contemptible charlatan Maureen Lipman.But , as Al-Raee says in this article  
says  "The most sad thing about the people who are saying that the play is advocating for terrorism is that none of them came and saw the play," says Al-Raee. "They don't actually understand what they are talking about.".

 From the website of The Freedom Theatre established by a combination of Jewish and Palestinian
 Artists the mission of this admirable social civilian project is "The Freedom Theatre is developing a vibrant and creative artistic community in the northern part of the West Bank. While emphasizing professionalism and innovation, the aim of the theatre is also to empower youth and women in the community and to explore the potential of arts as an important catalyst for social change."
 The Board of The Freedom Theatre contains , according to clowns like Lipman , such terrorist advocates as Noam Chomsky and Judith Butler.

You can see the trailer for this highly passionate and humane play in this video


This review from The Herald newspaper gives a sense of the profound impression the play makes on a fair audience

"As performed by an all male cast of six, there is an impassioned partisan rawness to what follows, as we flit between the siege itself and the men's lives afterwards far from their homeland. The latter is told simply and directly without contrition, and when the tour guide takes a selfie with the audience, it's as if the entire world is captured in its light"