Dia de los Muertos -2105

Dia de los Muertos—the Day of the Dead—is a holiday celebrated on November 1. Although marked throughout Latin America, Dia de los Muertos is most strongly associated with Mexico, where the tradition originated.
Our Climax Springs Art and Spanish classes have teamed up to study and experience this cultural holiday experience. In October, we visited the Mattie Rhodes Center in Kansas City and immersed ourselves in the altars, the candy skulls, the stories and the tin ornaments.

Learning about the altars

Each altar is family or person specific and each has a unique story

Creating tin ornaments

Working collaboratively

The most familiar symbol of Dia de los Muertos may be the calacas and calaveras (skeletons and skulls), which appear everywhere during the holiday: in candied sweets, as parade masks, as dolls. Calacas and calaveras are almost always portrayed as enjoying life, often in fancy clothes and entertaining situations.

Authentic learning, first hand

Mr. Harris goes to Chicago

For the first time, my wife surprised me with a trip to Chicago for my birthday.  I have always wanted to go and, BLAM, my wife drops one of the best gifts an art teacher could get, in my lap.

Chicago

I have only seen many of these artworks in books or on the net.  I can not express to my students and fellow art educators how important it is to see them in person.  I take the Nelson Atkins Museum in Kansas City for granted since I have visited it a bazillion times.  It was so refreshing seeing all of this culture first hand.  CS students, it is my goal for us to visit Chicago in the next 4 years.  Get ready.

 Bunky Echo–Hawk, a Native American artist and poet who is known for his acrylic paintings about Native American topics and hip hop culture.

  

The Willis Tower.....aka, The Sears Tower

Look ma, no floor