The Living Arts and Science Center Presents: Community Schools Art Project for Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) James Burgett, Altar, Photograph Create a Vinyl Ofrenda Banner for Day of the Dead to teach your students about Culture, Art, and more! Have your students create a 2D outdoor ofrenda banner for our annual Day of the Dead community art project at the Living Arts and Science Center! This group classroom project is a great way to incorporate art and culture into your curriculum as your students explore the rich history and imagery that is the Mexican holiday Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Your students ofrenda banner will be displayed outdoors as part of the celebration during our
Festival Del Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead Festival) on Friday, November 1 st from 5:00 9:00pm at the Living Arts and Science Center. James Burgett, El Festival Del Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead Festival) at LASC 2011 Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) With its origins based in ancient Mesoamerican culture and Catholicism, Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a time of joyous celebration when the souls of past loved ones are remembered. Through the creation of an ofrenda or altar, the departed are enticed to return to earth for one day each year. On November 1 st, known as the Night of the Angels, the souls of children are welcomed back. The following day of November 2 nd, All Souls Day, all others spirits are encouraged to visit Earth again. This is accomplished through the construction of an ofrenda or altar that presents earthly favorites of food, drink, and cherished objects to the souls of the departed. This year s project involves your students creating a 2D group ofrenda banner for a famous historical figure. You will be able to integrate research, writing, history and culture through your participation in this community art project and introduce this colorful Mexican celebration through cross disciplinary studies. The following is a lose guide on how to integrate this community art project into your classroom. Please adjust it to fit the grade you teach and/or your students needs.
Papel Picado Steps for creating an ofrenda banner (Community Art Project): Begin by introducing a brief overview of the Mexican holiday to your students. This information can easily be found at a variety of web sites. The following link provided by the Mexic Arte Museum in Austin, Texas is truly a great resource for information about the origins of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) as well as explanations about practices and imagery used to celebrate this Mexican holiday: http://www.mexic artemuseum.org/educationall#resources or http://www.mexicartemuseum.org/images/uploads/education/day_of_dead_guide.pdf. You can also find this information on the LASC s web site under classroom resources or at the following link: http://www.lasclex.org/index.php/teachers groups/classroomresources/educational activities. Dia de los Muertos: Young People's Ofrenda 3:42 video length http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5vs3rcyayg This is a great short video about a collaborative exhibition between the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and a Los Angeles charter school based on ofrendas created by high school students for Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Day of the Dead 3:48 video length http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsbr_tkn08w
A short documentary on Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) symbolism and celebration practices. Imagery and Symbolism of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Monarch Butterflies Expose your students to the different imagery and symbolism used to celebrate Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Marigolds: Reminiscent of the sun, marigolds strong fragrance is used to attract the souls of the departed to return. Candles: Candles are used to light the way for returning souls. Calacas: Whimsical skeleton figures in different poses, often satirical, originating in the work of artist/illustrator Jose Guadalupe Posada. Calavera Poem: A form of satire, a calvera poem is an imaginary obituary of a living person done in a humorous manner. Calaveras: Skulls that represent death. Bread: Bread of the dead or pan de muertos is used to adorn ofrendas or altars to entice souls to return and is often made in the shape of skull and cross bones. Papel Picado: Paper cuts, usually created with tissue paper, used to decorate public places and ofrendas and are symbolic of the fleeting quality of life. Monarch Butterflies: The monarch butterfly is a symbol of returning soul. Incense (copali): The fragrance of incense is used to draw the spirits to return. Sugar Skulls: Representing the sweetness of life. Food, Toys, Favorite Items: Placed at an ofrenda or altar to attract the souls of the departed. Photographs: Ofrendas feature photographs of the loved one being honored. In urban areas, political heroes and other public figures are included.
Ofrenda: An altar created to encourage the souls of the departed to return to earth during the Mexican holiday Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). This is done by presenting favorite items of the deceased such as food, drink, and other cherished objects. Sugar Skull Marigold Select a historical figure to honor After you have introduced your students to the colorful history and celebration practices of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), students collectively should decide on a historical figure that they would like to honor with the creation of their ofrenda banner. This is a great opportunity to have your students conduct research. Students should gather information about their selected historical figure they can use to create an ofrenda banner such as distinct personal items (example: Abraham Lincoln s stovepipe hat). Abraham Lincoln
Adan Utrera, Altar for El Festival Del Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead Festival) at LASC 2012 Community Art Project overview: With vinyl banner materials provided by the LASC*, students will create a 2D outdoor group ofrenda banner to honor the life of a famous historical figure. Students will draw and paint directly on the banner materials provided, imagery that best represents their selected historical figure, while incorporating traditional symbols associated with Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Students will glue together their individually created vinyl pieces upon a vinyl banner base to complete their ofrenda that will be displayed outdoors during our Festival Del Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead Festival) on Friday, November 1 st from 5:00 9:00pm at the Living Arts and Science Center. *Banner materials donated by Signs Now in Lexington, KY:
Robert Morgan, Danse Macabre Exhibition 2012 Ofrenda imagery suggestions: Create a calaca or whimsical skeleton figure in different poses of the selected historical figure your students are honoring. Paint objects that will best represent the historical person (example: Abraham Lincoln s stovepipe hat). Include traditional imagery used to celebrate Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) including marigolds, candles, calacas, calaveras, papel picado, sugar skulls, monarch butterflies, bread of the dead, and incense. Incorporate writings about or by the historical figure, or create a calavera poem. Have students included other recognizable historical figures that may be connected to or associated with the famous individual being honored.
How to participate in the LASC s Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Community Art Project: To receive banner materials and participate in this year s community art project please contact Gallery Director Jeffrey Nichols by email jnichols@lasclex.org or phone at (859)252 5222. The following calendar will give you important dates for participating in the LASC s community art project and have your students banner displayed outdoors as part of the celebration during our Festival Del Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead Festival) on Friday, November 1 st from 5:00 9:00pm at the Living Arts and Science Center. The Living Arts and Science Center 362 North Martin Luther King Blvd. Lexington, KY 40508 Calendar October 14th 28th:*Completed ofrenda banners can be dropped off at the LASC for display during our Day of the Dead celebration Friday, November 1 November 1st: Day of the Dead Festival at LASC from 5:00pm 9:00pm November 4th November 15th: Retrieve your ofrenda banners! *Teachers are responsible for picking up their banners. *We will also attempt to pick up and drop off ofrenda banners at schools with more than one class participating. Art to inspire your students: Use the following artists and art to inspire your students in the creation of their ofrenda group banner. Artist Red Grooms (b. 1937): American pop artist Red Grooms is known for his colorful vinyl and mixed media installations and constructions that depict the hectic nature of modern urban life.
Red Grooms, Coney Island Red Grooms, Easter Parade
Red Grooms, The Alley Red Grooms, Snows Down
Red Grooms, No Gas Artist Diego Rivera (1886 1957): Diego Rivera was a Mexican painter recognized for his large scale political frescos and murals that helped introduce Mexican art to the world. He was the husband of artist Freda Kahlo. Diego Rivera, Pre Hispanic History
This detail is from the central section of Diego Rivera's Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in Alameda Park. Artist Freda Kahlo (1907 1954): Freda Kahlo was a Mexican artist who painted naïve, surrealist, self portraits that included imagery and symbolism from Mexican indigenous traditions. She was the wife of muralist Diego Rivera. Freda Kahlo, Self portrait on the Borderline between Mexico and the United States
Freda Kahlo, Four Inhabitants of Mexico City 1938 Artist/Illustrator Jose Guadalupe Posada (1852 1913): Jose Guadalupe Posada was a Mexican illustrator who made popular the calacas or whimsical skeleton figures used in celebrating Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Famous Calavera illustration by Jose Guadalupe Posada
Famous Calavera illustration by Jose Guadalupe Posada Vintage Circus and Side Show Banners 20 th Century Side Show Banner
20 th Century Side Show Banner 20 th Century Side Show Banner
20 th Century Circus Poster 20 th Century Circus Poster
20 th Century Circus Poster How to create an ofrenda banner with your students: Altar for El Festival Del Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead Festival) at LASC 2011
The following is just one approach to creating a classroom ofrenda banner for display during the LASC s Festival Del Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead Festival) on Friday, November 1 st from 5:00 9:00pm at the Living Arts and Science Center. Please adjust to fit the grade you teaching and to meet your students needs. Items needed to create an ofrenda banner: 1. Banner material. Banner material can be obtained from the LASC by contacting Gallery Director Jeffrey Nichols by email at jnichols@lasclex.org or by phone at (859) 252 5222. 2. Pencils 3. Scissors 4. Erasers 5. Black Sharpies 6. Paint brushes 7. Acrylic paints in a variety of colors 8. Strong Stick DAP Adhesive A 5 oz tube costs about $4.00. After your students have selected a historical figure and completed their research, start a list of possible imagery that could be used to represent that individual in an ofrenda. See the example list below for an ofrenda dedicated to Abraham Lincoln. Possible ofrenda imagery for Abraham Lincoln 1. Stovepipe hat 2. State of Illinois 3. State of Kentucky 4. Log cabin 5. Mary Todd 6. Union Solder 7. Copy of the Emancipation Proclamation 8. Penny 9. Beard 10. Frederick Douglass 11. Ax 12. Writings of Lincoln Traditional Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) imagery to incorporate in the Lincoln ofrenda 1. Marigolds 2. Papel picado 3. Calaca or whimsical skeleton of Lincoln
4. Monarch Butterflies 5. Pan de muertos or bread of the dead 6. Sugar skulls 7. Calaveras or skulls Now assign individual students and/or groups to create the different components needed to produce the ofrenda. One group will need to make the main altar or base for which all the ofrenda pieces will be glued upon. You will use the largest piece of banner material provided (36 x 27 ) to create the altar base. This can be done in perspective or not. Allow students to interpret the best way to depict their altar base. The example below shows a two tiered altar in one point perspective. That means all the vanishing lines converge at one point. Have students paint the altar with colors that they choose. Example of one point perspective
Example: Altar base in one point perspective with black sharpie outline for Abraham Lincoln ofrenda. The smaller pieces that you received can be used to create all the different imagery that will comprise the classroom ofrenda. Students will first sketch on the smaller banner pieces the imagery they are trying to create using pencils and erasers. After their drawings are completed, they can use a black sharpie to outline their image. Example: Imagery component with black sharpie outline (Abraham Lincoln s stovepipe hat)
Use acrylic paints to finish creating the imagery on the vinyl material. After pieces have dried, students can use scissors to cut off the extra banner material. Example: Painted and trimmed component for Abraham Lincoln ofrenda (stove pipe hat) Example: Components for Abraham Lincoln ofrenda, both traditional Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) imagery (papel picado, monarch butterfly, sugar skull, marigold) and items that would represent Abraham Lincoln (ax, log cabin, state of Illinois and Kentucky).
Example: Abraham Lincoln as a calaca or whimsical skeleton
Example: Finished Abraham Lincoln vinyl ofrenda banner I would recommend using Strong Stik DAP instant grab adhesive to attach your students imagery to the ofrenda base. It cleans up with water and is VOC compliant. You can purchase a 5 oz tube at Home Depot for about $4.00. One tube should be adequate for this project. Follow
the directions on tube for best results and assist students if needed. It s important to allow the adhesive to dry 24 hours before moving the ofrenda. This will make sure that the smaller pieces are fully adhered to the altar base. The LASC will install grommets to display your students banner during our festival. Thank you for participating this year s community art project. If you have any question please feel free to contact Gallery Director Jeffrey Nichols by email at jnichols@lasclex.org or by phone at (859) 252 5222. Thank You for participating!