Secretaría de Educación Pública

Located in the Historic Center near the Zócalo, the Secretaría de Educación Pública was once a former convent building dating from 1639. It is known for the large series of murals painted by Diego Rivera between 1923 and 1928. Diego and his assistants painted 235 fresco panels on an area of 15,000 square feet. There is also an amazing mural painted by David Alfaro Siqueiros located on the staircase near the República de Brasil entrance. It is free and open 9am - 6pm Mon - Fri. I went there with Ariana, our friend Bruno and Olivia.

The main patio area when you enter. Olivia was twirling around.

All three floors are Rivera's work. The ground floor of this patio is dedicated to the glorification of labor.

Tortilla makers

The other side of the patio area. The ground floor of this area features panels depicting popular fiestas.

The Day of the Dead panel.



The first floor walls have monochrome grisailles depicting artistic, scientific and intellectual labor. Grisaille is a French term for paintings done entirely in monochrome, usually shades of gray. Here is one of the panels on that floor.

While on this floor, Olivia noticed this really cool moth. Nice find Olivia!

There was a staircase that had more murals but it was blocked off with barred doors. I was still able to photograph some of it. It is a series of landscapes depicting different regions of Mexico.

The top floor is devoted to workers' heroes, such as Zapata.

The other side is influenced by revolutionary songs. There was a panel titled "The Arsenal" where the artist Frida Kahlo is handing out guns to revolutionaries.

Close up of Rivera's signature. Notice the hammer and sickle symbol which is associated with Communism. He joined the Communist Party in the early 1920s.

In another wing, there was this large mural by R. Anguiano.

Going through a doorway, we entered an auditorium. There was this really nice work on one of the walls. I don't know who did it.

This was the other side of this area.

There was a large mural painted by R. Montenegro Pinto.

Ariana and Bruno thought that was it but I knew there was a Siqueiros mural here somewhere. I wasn't about to leave until we saw it. We eventually found it. It was in another wing of the whole building.

It is titled, "Patriots and Parricides" and it was absolutely breathtaking. I took several shots.

Me completely ecstatic. Thanks Ariana for taking this photo.

Olivia on the other side.

One more view with Bruno in the foreground.



 On our way leaving, we saw a man working on restoring one of the Diego murals. He works for Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH.) An organization that restores historic buildings, among other things.

Next blog: Teotihuacan