Our art students have spent the past few weeks exploring Día de los Muertos, a Mexican holiday that celebrates and honors loved ones who have passed. Their artwork will soon become part of an ofrenda in the Freeman East hallway. These traditional remembrance altars often include photographs, flowers, candles, and meaningful offerings, each chosen to honor someone special. Students have been learning about the traditions behind the celebration while creating their own colorful contributions.
Kindergartners and first graders explored the calavera, or decorative skull, through monoprinting. They created vibrant, one-of-a-kind prints, cut them into skull shapes, and brought each face to life with collaged paper flowers, butterflies, colorful hearts, and tiny white teeth. They also began making festive papel picado banners, carefully coloring and cutting out skulls and pumpkins.
Second and third graders gave the sugar skull motif a softer touch. Their charming felt plushies feature colorful eyes, tiny beads, decorative stitching, and carefully sewn edges. Each was assembled and stuffed by hand, requiring patience, coordination, and pride in the smallest details.
Fourth and fifth graders are creating Catrina figures, inspired by the elegantly dressed skeletons associated with Mexican culture. They shaped their figures using pipe cleaners, foil, and papier-mâché, then fashioned flowing dresses from fabrics and ribbons. Faces, wire hands, and paper flowers will complete these imaginative sculptures.
Sixth graders completed striking wire sculptures inspired by British-Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare, whose sweeping, colorful forms explore movement and cultural identity. Their imaginative sculptures combine twisting shapes, vibrant painted surfaces, and intricate patterns.
Together, these projects offer a lovely glimpse of the care, creativity, and cultural discovery happening in our art classroom.
