At 9:20 AM I stood below one of the largest Mexican flags in the country, right in the middle of the Zócalo (main plaza) in the Centro Histórico. There I waited for Luis, the art teacher who was taking his classes on a field trip to see the murals at the Museum that is the former Colegio San Ildefonso. As soon as Luis appeared, we walked back to where the busload of 80 students was sitting outside of the museum. Considering the ride from school took about an hour and a half and the students then had to wait another half hour inside of the museum before the tour began, they were extremely well behaved. There was a change in plans, however, as the guides didn’t spend time showing the murals, instead leading us through the temporary exhibit on the Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta.Everything happens for a reason, and this tour turned out to be a fantastic experience.
Legoretta, born in Mexico City in 1931, has enjoyed a 50-year career and on display was a selection of 72 projects in 16 exhibition halls. All illustrated Legorreta's genuine passion for his profession and his profound love for Mexican life and culture. As was my experience, even those who do not recognize his name will recognize his work, many of which were completed abroad, including housing at the University of Illinois Chicago. Legoretta used colors to emphasize different planes, manipulating light to make changes at different times of the day, and is known for his use of water, walls and light-filled spaces.
After the tour the students took part in a workshop to design their own space using foam sheets and a cardboard base. I was quite impressed with how unique each looked and the creativity and effort the students applied to the project.
Besides learning about Legoretta’s architectural prowess, I hope that the students noticed some of his quotes posted on walls throughout the exhibit. One reads, "In the midst of everything, awards and recognition, the true satisfaction of the architect is to go to a building and see that the people are happy. What good is it if you created something that doesn't work?" Legoretta believed in designing his buildings and living his life with passion.
Additional information about this exhibit can be found at: http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/miami/15710.html
