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Hands on-Mexican Arts and Crafts
Workshops offered by teaching artist
Nelda Reyes.
“Corn
Husk - Hojas de maíz”
In these Hands-on
workshops, participants learn how ancient cultures are inspired by nature to make their arts and crafts
as well as the importance of corn in Mexican native cultures. Workshop #1 “Corn Husk Figurines ”: Participants craft their own figurine made out of corn husk
and decorate them. They can choose to make Aztec gods or their own doll creation. Workshop
#2 “Corn Husk Flowers”: Participants craft their own flowers made out of corn husk and decorate them.
Seasonal Marigold flowers are made for Day of the Death celebrations and altars and Poinsettias for Nativity and Christmas
Seasons. Workshop #3 “Corn Husk Puppets”: Participants craft their own puppets made out of corn husk and decorate
them. Participants can choose to make a finger or a pencil puppet of their own creation.
Why
corn?...For the Aztec or Mexica cosmogony, corn is the element that sustains the world and the essence of all creation;
it was of corn that the first gods were made of and after them all the world as we know it right now. Many native cultures
around the world share this connection with this malleable element. Materials fot these workshops include corn husks,
corn silks, rice, craft sticks and non-toxic acrylic paint.
“Sugar Skulls- Calaveritas de azúcar” In
this seasonal hands-on workshop, students will learn about the Day of the Death celebration and its traditions
, includying the meaning of altars and the special place sugar skulls
have in honoring our ancestors. Participants will
mold and paint their own edible sugar skull with edible color paste and named it after
some ancestor or beloved person.
Why sugar?...Throughout Mexico, Day of the Death is a celebration of joyfull remembrance the sugar
reminds us of joy. Sugar skulls are supposed to be eaten by live and deceased: it is believed that if a
skull is put on the altar, the death’s sould will come and eat it, if you offer it to a beloved person, then they are
supposed to eat it too!
“My Piñata-Mi Piñata” In this hands-on workshop, students will learn
about the Mexican Piñata tradition, its meaning and its role in other Mexican celebrations. Participants
will craft their own piñata in the traditional form, with cardboard and
glue made out of flour and water and decorate them with color paper shaped in various forms. Finally they
will learn the traditional piñata song and lyrics.
Specific
approach to the subject can be done depending on the season: Why is the Piñata used for the Posadas
and what is its meaning?, Why the Piñata used to celebrate birthdays? And why on May
5th and September 16th?
“Sugar Christmas
Ornaments- Adornos Navideños de Azúcar”
In this seasonal hands-on
workshop, students will learn about the Mexican Christmans celebration and traditions , includying the
meaning of the trees and nativity scenes. Participants will paint their own edible sugar
ornament and get it ready to hang up on their christmans trees or put in their Nativity scenes.
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