The Day of the Dead El Dia de los Muertos: Art and History

Day of the Dead: Souls of the dead can return to the world of the living Practiced on November 1 st and 2 nd Graves are decorated Special foods are eaten Ofrendas built to honor the dead

Mictecacihuatl “Lady of the Dead” Blend of two cultures: Mesoamerican culture and Spanish European Culture Aztecs honored the souls of the dead: Leaving food, burning incense, making an ofrenda Spanish catholic practices: Dance of Death with skeleton, celebrated on All Saints Day and All Soul’s Day on November 1 st and 2nd

Ofrendas Offerings to the souls of family members Decorated with papel picado, photos, cherished objects, marigolds, and skeletons Food and drink are left out for the dead

Sugar skulls Calaveras de azúcar Catrinas Papel picado

Sugar skulls Calaveras de azúcar Offerings at graves Used as decoration Candy for children

Calaveras: Calavera is Spanish for Skeleton. Can be used to describe an image of a skeleton used during Day of the Dead Mexican Artist, Jose Guadalupe Posada popularized skeleton images Create a uniquely Mexican style of art

Papel picado (pierced paper) Used in outdoor celebrations including Day of the Dead

Dias De Los Muertos Processionals Processionals to honor the dead Celebrated in Tucson on the weekend closest to November 1 and November 2 nd

Day of the Dead Video

X-acto Knife Safety ALWAYS get permission to use any sharp tools.  NEVER play with these tools  Taking on out of the classroom is ILLEGAL and considered a weapon in school  Check that the blade is secure and tight  Keep them capped when not in use  Protect table with cardboard when cutting  ALWAYS cut away from fingers  Hold like a pencil for best control

IF YOU GET A CUT  Hold cut tightly closed  Tell teacher immediately  Wash with running water  Pinch closed with a paper towel  See teacher for band-aid or pass to nurse X-acto Knife Safety

Beginning Objectives: Papel Picado  Students will learn about Dia de los Muertos history and tradition. They will learn about the folk art of Mexico associated with the Day of the Dead.  Students will learn about the materials and designs used to create papel picado banners.  Students will design and create their own Mexican papel picado banners. They will develop solutions to design problem sthrough the use of line, form, combinations of color, symmetry, repetition and variation of pattern.

Creating a Papel Picado  Two thumbnails in your sketchbook  Favorite Design on copy paper as a template  Leave about an inch at top to use to hang  Choose five pieces of colored paper  Staple them together  Graphite transfer template to colored paper  Hold X-acto knife like a pencil  Cut smallest pieces first  Move from the center out

Prepare Papel Picado to Hang  Lay Designs face down  Fold top portion down to create a string fold  Cut string 4 feet longer than length of banner  Place glue on both sides of string fold  Place string into the crease  Press 2 sides together to adhere paper to paper  Choose good color combinations  Leave 2-3 inches between each sheet

Paper Quilling Objectives  Students will learn about Dia de los Muertos history and tradition. They will learn about the folk art of Mexico associated with the Day of the Dead.  Students will learn about the materials and designs used to create a paper quilling project.  Students will design and create a calavera using the paper quilling techniques discussed in class.

Calavera Paper Quilling 1.The background piece will be 12 x18 black construction paper 2.Must include at least three basic shapes 3.Deal with the negative space in an interesting way 4.Use color to enhance your design through contrast and color choice

Examples of Calavera in Paper Quilling

Beautiful Bones  Create a drawing of some portion of a skeleton.  Use pen and ink to add shading to that skeleton.  Cut this out using an Xacto knife.  Create a background on black construction paper using oil pastels.  Paste the bones to the oil pastel background.

Examples of Project in Different Media

Inspiration

Presentation © Art History with Dr. Laura. For educational use only. More resources for teachers and students of art history available at ArtHistoryClassroom.wordpress.com. The Day of the Dead El Dia de los Muertos: Art and History