Diego Rivera was arguably one of the greatest and most renowned Mexican and World wide artists of the 20th Century.  For at least sixty years, Dolores (“Lola”) Olmedo did not have the slightest doubt about who the greatest painter of the twentieth century was. While in the USSR in the 1950s, Diego Rivera often sent Dolores Olmedo love letters and notes, one of which he translated into a mural that spans the entire ceiling of his studio that she had specifically constructed for him on her estate in Acapulco. Following his surgery, and treatment for prostate cancer in late 1955 in the USSR, Olmedo invited him to recuperate at her Acapulco vacation estate, House of the Winds, which she had purchased in 1951. In the 18 short months before his death he had created 5 large murals, 24 sunset paintings, and numerous lithographs of Dolores’s children. These priceless works of art were his way of showing his lifelong friend and patron just how much he appreciated her generosity, friendship and love at that time and throughout the years.

Now 7 years after Dolores’ passing the private estate is being offered for sale by the family. Never before has there been such a unique opportunity to own Diego Rivera Murals, no to mention on such a magnificent private property which overlooks the famous La Quebrada cliffs on the Pacific side in Acapulco.

The facade of Exekatlkalli (House of the Winds) features the rarest of murals created by Mexico’s most important and influential artist and muralist of the Twentieth Century, Diego Rivera. Rare and unique because they all relay unique messages that relate to the naming of the estate~ House Of The Winds. Rare because they are the last ones he completed before his death in 1957. And rare because they are the only Diego Rivera murals to exist on privately owned land in the entire world. House of the Winds not only possesses the facade murals, which draw thousands of art enthusiasts from around the globe each year, but also three additional murals located in the maestro’s studio – two gracing the exterior patio and one covering the entire ceiling of his studio. These registered historic landmarks were created in 18 months from 1955 to 1957, in which time Rivera also painted 24 the famous stunning sunset scenes and produced numerous lithographs of Dolores Olmedo’s children. Sitting in the magnificent room where Diego painted and enjoyed his days with his dear friend Dolores, you can feel the history still lives in this home and the studio.

ABOUT DIEGO RIVERA

Diego was a leader in the Mexican mural movement believing art should serve the working people, not just the wealthy and so he became interested in frescos where he took the art outdoors where everyone could enjoy them. Diego represented the working class people, painting murals on public buildings with narratives of the story and history of his native country.

One of his first Murals in Mexico was a work at the National Preparatory School in 1922, at which time Frida Kahlo was a student there. He went on to paint a series of frescos for the Ministry of Education, and one at the National Agriculture School. He worked in a modernist artistic style and is best known for his powerful, politically charged public murals painted on the architecture and walls of Mexico and the United States. He is one of “Los Tress Grandes” of Mexican modernism, along with Josè Clemente Orzoco and David Alfaro Siqueiros creating artwork with revolutionary, politically leftist themes.  Diego was both talented and politically controversial, refusing to separate his political message from his work. He was more socialist while Siqueiros was an open communist.

ABOUT DOLORES OLMEDO

Savvy businesswoman, art collector and socialite are synonymous with the name Dolores Olmedo Patiño. She was a loving mother who raised four wonderful children, as well as a great philanthropist who loved her native country.

Dolores was born in 1908 in Chilpancingo, Guerrero, Mexico to Maria Patiño Suarez who was a professor and Manuel Olmedo Mayagoitia, a businessman. She would go on to become an educated woman who, not only amassed the largest collection of pre-Columbian artifacts, but also turned a brick factory, on the edge of extinction, into the largest construction firm in Latin America. This in itself was an incredible accomplishment during the 1940s for a young Mexican woman: A time when men ruled and women in the workforce were virtually unheard of. This experience was perhaps what made her a respected no-nonsense businesswoman who always went after what she wanted and, more often than not, got it.

Dolores Olmedos first marriage was to Howard S. Phillips, a naturalized Briton who decided to remain in Mexico after reporting on the Mexican Revolution. This marriage – her longest – produced three sons and one daughter. Her four children each went on to achieve success in their own right; Alfredo Phillips Olmedo was appointed Mexican Ambassador to both Canada and Japan, served in Congress, and was Chief Executive of the North American Development Bank; Eduardo Phillips Olmedo is a prominent cybernetic engineer and project manager who worked for Kodak, Renault & American Motors Company and is credited for creating the computer systems and networks for the Mexican Finance Ministry; Irene Phillips Olmedo is a talented professional and highly regarded celebrity in México City;  Carlos Phillips Olmedo currently handles the historical and cultural landmark museums (Casa Azul, The Anahuacalli, and La Noria) bequeathed by his mother to the People of Mexico.
“Casa Azul” (The Blue House) in Coyoacán is now a museum dedicated to artist Frida Kahlo. It is the home where she was born, where she spent her whole life – with her family and then with husband, Diego Rivera – and eventually died in.

“The Anahuacalli Museo” (Mexico City Valley House) was the home in which Diego Rivera lived in Mexico City. It was transformed into a tribute/museum to the artist in 1963 by Dolores Olmedo and opened to the public in 1964. His vision was to create a “City of the Arts” in a pyramid shaped structure with an atmosphere where music, theatre, crafts and dance could be enjoyed by everyone. “La Noria” (The Well) in Xochimilco is a spectacular 16th Century monastery where Dolores Olmedo resided and eventually restored and created the Museo Dolores Olmedo. This historic property is home to the largest collection of original works by Diego Rivera – 143 pieces including 24 sunset paintings created from his favorite chair as he gazed out over the Pacific Ocean from the living room of House of the Winds in Acapulco. A bronze likeness of Rivera greets La Noria’s worldwide visitors. Immaculate grounds are roamed by graceful peacocks as do eighteen Xoloitzcuintle – the beloved rare hairless breed that Dolores Olmedo was very fond of. Giving La Noria to the people of Mexico was an extremely generous gift to Mexico, and to visitors worldwide, as the artwork and artifacts it houses span more than 400 years of history and worth hundreds of millions of dollars. This generosity was perhaps a life quest that was set into motion when her mother, Maria Patiño Suarez told her daughter, “Share all that you have with other people”.

Despite the focus on her social status, along with her philanthropy work, art and artifact collections, and business dealings, one can hardly mention Dolores Olmedo without mentioning Diego Rivera as well. Perhaps it is because her museum houses the largest Diego Rivera collection (with thousands of smaller items such as letters, notes, etc. not on display yet) – or the fact that Rivera named her “Custodian of his Art” upon his death. Or maybe it’s because he adorned her Acapulco estate, House of the Winds, with five grand murals while he was her houseguest from 1955 to 1957. Whatever the reason, the two had become life-long friends after a meeting when she was 12 years old.

Just when Diego Rivera returned from U.S.S.R. in 1956 and being already in Acapulco, he portrayed on the studio the letter that he sent to Lola who was in Europe:  “From the land of peace the artist toad flew through the clouds to deliver its palette and its heart to its beloved”.  The letter to Lola Olmedo is represented on the ceiling of the studio by a dove; the land of peace is represented by the hammer and sickle (U.S.S.R.); there is a plane, fish, the toad (symbol of Diego Rivera) and the heart (Dolores Olmedo) with four stars (her children).

“House of The Winds” estate has a total of 9,746 square feet of living space between the home and studio. The estate is host to Diego Rivera Studio Acapulco, a freestanding building within the compound. The pool and grounds are dense with tropical foliage, huge windows, magnificent vistas, and spectacular decks overlooking the Pacific Ocean, La Quebrada cliff diving platform, and the yacht club harbor hosting the Acapulco Marina.

This property is a cultural landmark and represents a unique opportunity to acquire major Diego Rivera murals. To learn more about this unique offering please visit (bi lingual website) www.houseofthewinds.com or contact Heidi Wosak of Century 21 Sun & Sand. heidiwosak@century21penasco.com