Remembering Trey

Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a Latin American Holiday traditionally observed on Nov. 1 and 2.  Dia de los Muertos is a lighthearted and joyful tribute to the memory of family and friends that have passed away. It is about remembering and celebrating the lives of loved ones.

Each year at TTE third graders participate in this beautiful custom by creating a Calavera (Sugar Skull) in memory of a loved one or pet.   Students celebrate the live's of their remembered love ones through the creation and decoration of their Calavera using symbols that are unique to those they are celebrating. As a teacher it warms my heart to have a student truly take this project to heart and create a work that reflects real life.

I was deeply touched by Rylan's Tribute to Trey.  Trey was a lively boy with a bright smile and golden curls.  Rylan and Trey were in day care and Pre-K together before they were both in Kindergarten here at Timber Trail Elementary.  Rylan's Calavera was created to honor and celebrate the life of his friend. Choosing to honor Trey shows how he valued and celebrated their friendship through art. Rylan tried to capture Trey's spirit and zest for life.  The colors and symbols he chose were specific to represent his relationship with his good friend.

Calavera (Sugar Skull) Created in Memory of Trey 

Rylan's Writing Explaining His Calavera

Trey and Rylan

Trey and Rylan - Friends for Life and Longer

Dia de los Muertos

Dia de los Muertos

Dia de los Muertos is a beautiful  Latin American holiday that celebrates the life of loved ones who have passed away.  At TTE third grade students create Sugar Skulls (Calaveras) in honor of somebody important to them who has passed. Students were also given the option to to remember a friend or loved one who lives far away as well as beloved pets who have passed.

Students choose who they would like to remember for the project and then create their Calaveras out of white clay. 

Clay Calaveras before being decorated

Once clay is hardened students create their designs to represent the lives of their chosen loved one using a limited pallet as well as traditional and student created symbols.  "Sugar" is applied using a special paste and clear glitter.

Finished Calaveras, decorated and sugared

Students created a backing out of different colored mat-board complete with a name plate for display. They finished the project by writing about their who they chose to remember. 

Below are some close-up pictures of various Calaveras that were created by 3rd Grade students

Dia de los Muertos

Dia de los Muertos

Dia de los Muertos is a beautiful  Latin American holiday that celebrates the life of loved ones who have passed away.  At TTE third grade students create Sugar Skulls (Calaveras) in honor of somebody important to them who has passed. Students were also given the option to to remember a friend or loved one who lives far away as well as beloved pets who have passed.

Students choose who they would like to remember for the project and then create their Calaveras out of white clay. 

Clay Calaveras before being decorated

Once clay is hardened students create their designs to represent the lives of their chosen loved one using a limited pallet as well as traditional and student created symbols.  "Sugar" is applied using a special paste and clear glitter.

Finished Calaveras, decorated and sugared

Students created a backing out of different colored mat-board complete with a name plate for display. They finished the project by writing about their who they chose to remember. 

Below are some close-up pictures of various Calaveras that were created by 3rd Grade students

Dia de Los Muertos at TTE

In celebration of the wonderful Latin American Dia de los Muertos holiday, third grade TTE students created a Calaveras (Sugar Skulls) in memory of specific loved ones or pets who have passed away or live far away. Students studied the traditions surrounding Dia de los Muertos in order to gain understanding of the importance of this beautiful tradition.  They chose someone to remember and created a Calaveras using both traditional and student created symbolism that represents their chosen subject.  

Below are some of the fantastic Calaveras created by our talented third grade students. 

Please join is in remembering these very important loved ones and pets.

 

Local Artist - Daniel Gonzales

Today concludes the traditional Dia de los Muertos celebration.  In honor of this, I would like to introduce a good artist friend of mine who paints Dia de los Muertos inspired art.

Daniel Gonzales, former Rock Canyon High School painting teacher, recently had an Art Show at  the Outnumbered Gallery in Littleton.  His work is amazing. This show was inspired by his Mexican heritage and his love for Dia de los Muertos.  Most of the art in the show had the skeleton theme that is popular in Dia de los Muertos.  If you get a chance to visit the Gallery and check out his work...you will not be disappointed.  Below are some pictures I took at the show.

 Daniel with his painting "Stargazers."

 Daniel and I at his show (notice how small I am - ha ha)

 "The Virgin Mary"

 "Stargazers" - my favorite painting by Daniel.

 Detail (up close zoom in) of "Stargazers"

 Calavera

"Nocturne"

Dia de los Muertos Mural

During our Dia de los Muertos unit, third graders studied the work of local artist (and former Rock Canyon painting teacher) Daniel Gonzales. Below is a time-lapse video of Daniel Gonzales painting a mural with a Dia de los Muertos theme over the course of three days.  This mural was part of an art festival in Littleton called the "Imagined Wall Festival." Local artists were chosen to paint a mural on a wall downtown Littleton in order to beautify the area.  Daniels actual mural is on the outside wall of Rienke Brothers costume shop in Littleton. You can see the actual mural by driving down Main Street in Littleton.

Dia de los Muertos Cultural Workshop

Museo de las Americas Presents our

Dia de los Muertos 

Cultural Arts Workshop

During this hour long workshop, students will embark on a cultural journey to discover the meaning and mysteries embedded in this ancient celebration.  Students will explore a traditional Altar and decorate their own sugar skull to honor their ancestors as an act of remembrance. Our workshop will supplement any lesson since it not only aligns with academic Social Studies Standards but also Visual Arts Standards. This workshop is ONLY $5.00 per student and can be implemented in English or Spanish. Museo can come to your school (off-site fee will apply) or you can bring your students to the Museo and include an Exhibit Tour to create a full cultural experience. This workshop is only offered during October and Early November, book soon!

Interested in our Dia de los Muertos Workshop?

Visit our website at www.museo.org 

under the Education Link or contact 

Korrine Salas Young at 

workshops@museo.org or 

303.571.4401 ext.28

Day of the Dead Sugar Skulls

Day of the Dead Skulls

I LOVE these!!
We began by researching Dia De Los Muertos (The Day of the Dead) and it's purpose in Latin American Culture.  Students began by drawing a skull.  We talked about how to decorate the skulls with symbolic imagery (organic images, curved lines, flowers,etc.) and about the symmetry in the skull.

When they were done drawing in the skull, third graders used colored sharpies in a limited color palate, leaving the background white. After, they cut out the skull students painted their skulls with glue and  used special glitter to "sugar" our skulls.  We would have used real sugar, but no one thought it was a good idea to invite ants into the artroom, so we used special glitter that looks like sugar The results were stunning!  Below are just a sample of what is currently on display in Town Square. 

Museo de las Americas Santa Fe First Friday Art Walk

Dia de Los Muertos

The Museo de las Americas is having a belated Dia de Los Muertos celebration this coming Friday for the First Friday Art Walk on Santa Fe. Third graders learned all about the significance of the Sugar Skulls in the Dia de los Muertos festivities.  If you've never had the opportunity to visit the Santa Fe First Friday Art Walk, this would be a great opportunity to check it out.  Below you will find the information about the special activities the museum will be having in honor of Dia de los Muertos. The museum is located at 861 Santa Fe Drive, Denver, Colorado 80204