Each fall, Rooftop's Art Program hosts a Family Art Nite. Families are invited to school to come for an evening of making art and community fun. A lite supper is usually served and all take part in a specially designed art project that ties in with the year's "Art Is . . . " curriculum focus.
For the 2008-2009 school year, the curriculum theme was "Art Is . . . Shaping Memory." Given the autumn season, Family Art Nite focused on the art of the Latin American holiday, Dia de los Meurtos. Led by Rooftop Alumni Art Coordinator, Aiko Cuneo, and current Clay Coordinator, Lilli Lanier, Rooftop families learned to fold and cut Papel Picado. They also used wire form bases and Model Magic clay to make Meurtos figurines honoring departed loved ones. Finally, tiny "offrendra" tables were made, onto which miniatures of the loved ones favorite items were included.
My son and I created a figure and offerings table to honor my grandfather. We crafted his figure to be fishing (a favorite pasttime) and he was catching a huge fish. (Hopefully, it will bring him better luck fishing in the afterlife than he usually had on earth!) On his little table, we included his morning coffee and newspaper and a plate of his favorite food, fried oysters.
Families laughed and shared memories of loved ones. Families new to Rooftop met new friends and returning families reconnected with the community. The evening culminated with hot chocolate and traditional Pan Meurto.
An altar of the figures and offrendras was created in a stairwell in the school building, and was further decorated with flowers and butterflies by our Kindergarten classes and our students at Recess Yard Art. The papel picado was strung from the ceiling and gently caught the breeze from the doorway. It was a lovely sight to behold!
No comments:
Post a Comment