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EDUCATION
Cultural Arts Workshops
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Frida Kahlo Inspired Symbolic Self-Portraits
• 2nd - Adult (suggested)
​Frida Kahlo was a self-taught painter, best known for her self-portraits. At eighteen years old, Kahlo was seriously injured in a bus accident. She had to recover in bed for more than a year. During this time, Frida began to pass the time by painting still life and self-portraits. Frida was Inspired by her country's popular culture. Her paintings are in a native folk art style and often had strong autobiographical elements, mixed with realism with fantasy. In addition to belonging to the post-revolutionary
Mexicayotl movement, which sought to define a Mexican identity, Frida Kahlo's paintings have been described as a Surrealism or Magical Realisim.
Papel Picado and Papel Flores
• Kinder - 5th (suggested)
Papel Picado is a decorative Mexican art craft made by cutting elaborate designs into sheets of tissue paper. They can also be made by folding tissue paper and using small, sharp scissors. Common themes include birds, floral designs, and skeletons. Papel picados are commonly displayed for Fiestas and religious occasions.
Papel Flores were first predominantly used in churches or home alters. When votive candles began being used in churches, the flowers were barred because they posed a fire hazard. Eventually paper flowers became more secular and were made more elegant and colorful.
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Our Papel Picados and Flores are made simply with tissue paper and scissors.
Ojos de Dios/Ojos Portals
• 1st-6th, Community/Adult (suggested)
A God's Eye (in Spanish, Ojo de Dios) is a spiritual and votive object made by weaving a design out of yarn upon a wooden cross. Often several colors are used. They are commonly found in Mexican and Mexican American communities, among both Indigenous and Catholic peoples. The spiritual eye of the Ojos de Dios is thought by some believers to have the power to see and understand things unknown to the physical eye.
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Our craft can be easy for young children as well as complex for older teens and adults.
Alebrijes
• Community/Adult (suggested)
Jump into the dream world by painting your own guardian creature who is as unique as you are. Just like the Alebrijes from Coco the movie!
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​Alebrijes are brightly colored Mexican folkart sculptures of fantastical (fantasy/mythical) creatures. The first alebrijes, along with use of the term, originated with Pedro Linares. In the 1930s, Linares fell very ill and while he was in bed, unconscious, Linares dreamt of a strange place resembling a forest. There, he saw trees, animals, rocks, clouds that suddenly turned into something strange, some kind of animals, but, unknown animals. He saw a donkey with butterfly wings, a rooster with bull horns, a lion with an eagle head, and all of them were shouting one word, "Alebrijes". Upon recovery, he began recreating the creatures he saw in cardboard and papier-mâché and called them Alebrijes. Our craft is made with Crayola Model Magic Clay.
Flower Pot Painting
• Kinder - Adult (suggested)
Come paint beautiful pots for your plants inside and out! This workshop is great at connecting with the plants world in an artistic way.
Watercolors
• 1st - 12th (suggested)
Enjoy the calming and inspirational craft that is watercolor painting. Learn about water color painting. This workshop is usually paired with images of petroglyphs from the southwest.
Ojos de Dios/Ojos Portals
• 1st-6th, Community/Adult (suggested)
A God's Eye (in Spanish, Ojo de Dios) is a spiritual and votive object made by weaving a design out of yarn upon a wooden cross. Often several colors are used. They are commonly found in Mexican and Mexican American communities, among both Indigenous and Catholic peoples. The spiritual eye of the Ojos de Dios is thought by some believers to have the power to see and understand things unknown to the physical eye.
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Our craft can be easy for young children as well as complex for older teens and adults.
Festival of Bones/La Catrina
• 2nd - 8th (suggested)
​"La Catrina” has become the referential image of Death in Mexico. It is common to see her embodied as part of the celebrations of Day of the Dead throughout the country; she has become a motive for the creation of handcrafts made from clay or other materials, her representations may vary, as well as the hat." – J.G. Posada
Learn about the Mexican Holiday Dia de los Muertos, how they think about skeletons and skulls, and learn about Catrina and why she is so popular during this Holiday. Our Craft is all about dressing our little skeletons with cloth, yarns, clay and other embellishments.
Jaguar Masks
• Kinder - 6th (suggested)
Jaguars are important to many cultures in Mexico, representing valor, ferocity, and power. The significance of the jaguar in Mayan culture is noticeable in their art, literature, and architecture. In fact, hunting a jaguar was a rite of passage from childhood to adulthood for children. Stories tell of the jaguar as a shapeshifting being, accompanying Mayan priests or Shamans.
Jaguar masks originated with the Mayan people located in the Yucatan peninsula. In the beginnings of the Mayan civilization, the Mayans adopted basic principles for their religion from the Olmec population and from Teotihuacan. The Mayans have always treasured their tribal mask; the one we will be making is the jaguar mask, which had many elaborate designs carved in, each carving having its own significance.
Fiesta Maracas
• Kinder -12 (suggested)
Participate in the most beloved and historically significant activity or decorating fun home made Maracas.
South American Weaving
• 1st - 12th (suggested)
In this weavings workshop, every thread is a bridge connecting the past and the present, a vibrant celebration of craftsmanship, culture, and the enduring beauty of traditions woven into the fabric of life. Make small weaved together blankets using methods passed down from Latin cultures.
Catrina Masks
• 1st - 12th (suggested)
​"La Catrina” has become the referential image of Death in Mexico. It is common to see her embodied as part of the celebrations of Day of the Dead throughout the country; she has become a motive for the creation of handcrafts made from clay or other materials, her representations may vary, as well as the hat." – J.G. Posada
Learn about the Mexican Holiday Dia de Los Muertos and create your own Catrina mask to wear for Dia de Los Muertos.
Calaveras
• K - 12th, Community/Adult (suggested)
A calavera is a representation of a human skull. The term is most often applied to edible or decorative skulls made from either sugar or clay which are used in the Mexican celebration of the Day of the Dead and the Roman Catholic holiday All Souls' Day. Calavera can also refer to any artistic representations of skulls, such as the lithographs of José Guadalupe Posada. The most widely known calaveras are created with cane sugar and are decorated with items such as colored foil, icing, beads, and feathers. Our craft is made with little sugar skulls made with puffy paint or colored icing. Embellishments include sequins, little jewels and sparkles.
Chicos Nichos
• 1st - 12th (suggested)
In Mexican and South American cultures, small, decorated boxes called “Nichos” are commonly found in homes and public places, displayed on walls or pedestals. Made from wood or tin and often painted with bright colors, they provide a stage-like setting for an object or collection of objects that have great significance. Most commonly functioning as an altar for a religious icon, a Nicho can also serve as a memorial to a loved one or as a reminder of an important event.
Themes for our Nichos are Saints, Corazons, Superheros, or Frida Kahlo or Pocket Alters.