You may remember local writer and street artist Theodore Carter by his guerilla art installation #100DucksDC. His newest venture “Night of 1,000 Fridas” is set to launch tonight—an expansive, global tribute to the visionary Mexican artist.
Carter recruited more than 250 collaborators from approximately 15 countries, asking people to draw a picture of Frida Kahlo (or something representative of Kahlo) and display their artwork in public or anywhere visitors can view it for free.
While it is happening all around the world, participants who place art in the D.C. are eligible for $600 in prize money thanks to a grant from the Awesome Foundation. Those slated to take part include Takoma Park Mayor Kate Stewart, Former NFL quarterback and artist Todd Marinovich, D.C.-area crochet artist Stacy Cantrell, and At-large Councilmember David Grosso.
https://twitter.com/JennyAshMaher/status/1088785365576704000
The one and only, Frida Kahlo. My crochet homage for #1KFridas tomorrow ♡ Freehand crochet, no pattern ♡ #crochet #FridaKahlo pic.twitter.com/dhO3pnUUI6
— Crochetverse (@crochetverse) January 24, 2019
https://twitter.com/cmdgrosso/status/1088881439125450754
Thanks to the fabulous Adams Morgan Clean Team and @AdMoBID for helping get Fridas up in UnityPark. Get there early or go by now to see 100 Fridas of ANight of #1KFridas before the wind takes them away. @AdamsMorganNews @hector_huezo @dcist pic.twitter.com/0gZsVgtg3d
— Nancy Shia (@nancy_shia) January 25, 2019
#BusboysTakoma is celebrating a Night of 1,000 Fridas! Frida was an amazing artist who led an inspiring life and created art unapologetically. Stop by and see the pieces we have until Monday! #1KFridas pic.twitter.com/w5IcuCyo0F
— Busboys and Poets (@busboysandpoets) January 25, 2019
I love seeing the DC community embrace the art and spirit of #FridaKahlo. Here's my contribution, pre-coloring #1kfridas #wip #illustration
Thanks @theodorecarter2 for getting the community together pic.twitter.com/kSHiWC5wj5
— megan learn (@meganplearn) January 25, 2019
Why Frida Kahlo? Carter gives six reasons that range from “to see if we can” to “1,000 public images of a bisexual Latina communist revolutionary could do the world some good right now.”
A number of art spaces and restaurants in the District are participating, hosting events like live painting and performance art. Many of them are centered in Petworth and Takoma Park, but Frida fans can also find works near The Line hotel and sPACYcLOUd in Adams Morgan and at Politics and Prose in Chevy Chase.
Carter’s interest in guerilla art grew out of an effort to promote his 2012 book, “The Life Story of a Chilean Sea Blob,” admired the way it made people react. “The people who stopped—that interested me,” he told DCist in 2017. “I was watching this and realized those are my people. Those are the people I want to write things and do things for.”
Carter recently published another book, a collection of short stories titled, “Frida Sex Dream and Other Unnerving Disruptions.”
Find more information about Night of 1,000 Fridas and a full set of D.C.-area locations here.
