DiscoverArt Slice - A Palatable Serving of Art History37: Miguel Covarrubias & Rosa Rolanda with Veka Duncan
37: Miguel Covarrubias & Rosa Rolanda with Veka Duncan

37: Miguel Covarrubias & Rosa Rolanda with Veka Duncan

Update: 2025-11-13
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This week we are zooming out . . . wayyy out . . . further . . .further . . .Okay now zoom innnn. . . . to a world without borders through the eyes of artist, illustrator, set-designer, archeologist, and art historian Miguel Covarrubias. And to help us out on this journey, the amazing Veka Duncan @vekaduncan has joined us. 

WATCH THE VIDEO VERSION HERE: https://youtu.be/BOJ13HZA3Bs

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Miguel aka El Chamaco, is the other half of that Mexican artist power couple, not named Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera, from our last episode with Rosa Rolanda: https://youtu.be/w-CVdxpnwBc 


Some may know him from his Harlem Renaissance series, his Broadway set designs, his groundbreaking book on Bali, or even his covers for Vanity Fair and/or The New Yorker.


You Texans may know his monumental 1954 glass mosaic mural, "Genesis, the Gift of Life," outside of the Dallas Museum of Art where Miguel reinterprets the story of genesis through a Mesoamerican and Native-American symbols and mythologies.


Miguel’s work touched on so many subjects; traveling to so many continents, really observing and getting to know the people, their culture and surrounding environments. 


His groundbreaking archaeological research was revered, his caricatured cultural icons duked it out in his “Impossible Interviews” series, he painted massive murals that highlight all of the people, flora, and fauna that make up our home planet, always blending humor, science, and a real love for everything that makes us human.  


Like Rosa Rolanda’s work, it’s unbelievable that his work still feels so contemporary despite being made almost a century ago. 


Topics Include: Tomax and Xamot at Costco, Anthony Bourdain blowing up the 90s glam culinary scene, Cracking your teacher’s skull, Palacio de Cultura Banamex, Harlem Renaissance, Impossible interviews, Animal bucket lists, Empanadas with tentacles


Support us on Patreon! - Patreon.com/artslicepod


MUSIC INCLUDES:

“Keep up the momentum, friend” by Chris Zabriske - https://chriszabriskie.bandcamp.com/album/i-made-this-while-you-were-asleep

“2013 Toyota Corolla” by 2003 Toyota Corolla - https://hanahata.bandcamp.com/album/2013-toyota-corolla  

“You’re Magic” by Soft and Furious - https://chezmonplaisir.bandcamp.com/album/bae 



CREDITS:

Writing and Research by Stephanie Duenas and Russell Shoemaker

Editing, Production and Sound Design by Russell Shoemaker

Logo Design by Russell Shoemaker

Theme by Russell Shoemaker and Betta Music Pro

Ending Theme by Russell Shoemaker and Underwood Beats

Social Media by Stephanie Duenas and Russell Shoemaker

Newsletter by Stephanie Duenas



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37: Miguel Covarrubias & Rosa Rolanda with Veka Duncan

37: Miguel Covarrubias & Rosa Rolanda with Veka Duncan

Stephanie Dueñas & Russell Shoemaker / Art Slice