Día de los Día de los MuertosMuertosDay of the DeadDay of the Dead

What is Day of the What is Day of the Dead?Dead?

• Day of the Dead is celebrated in Mexico Day of the Dead is celebrated in Mexico and in certain parts of the United States and in certain parts of the United States and Latin America. and Latin America.

• The holiday focuses on gatherings of family The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. friends and family members who have died.

• The celebration occurs on November 1The celebration occurs on November 1stst and 2and 2ndnd in connection with the Catholic in connection with the Catholic holidays of All Saints' Day (November 1) holidays of All Saints' Day (November 1) and All Souls' Day (November 2). and All Souls' Day (November 2).

How do people How do people celebrate?celebrate?

• People visit the People visit the cemetery where their cemetery where their loved ones are loved ones are buried. buried.

• They decorate They decorate gravesites and gravesites and homes with marigold homes with marigold flowers and candlesflowers and candles– The candles help to The candles help to

lead the souls of the lead the souls of the dead back to their dead back to their families. families.

How do people How do people celebrate?celebrate?

• Toys are brought for dead Toys are brought for dead children and children and food and liquor for adults. .

• Celebrators sit on picnic Celebrators sit on picnic blankets next to gravesites and blankets next to gravesites and eat the favorite food of their eat the favorite food of their loved ones. loved ones.

How do people How do people celebrate?celebrate?

• Families build altars Families build altars in their homes, in their homes, dedicating them to dedicating them to the dead. the dead.

• They surround these They surround these altars with flowers, altars with flowers, food and pictures of food and pictures of the deceased. They the deceased. They light candles and light candles and place them next to place them next to the altar.the altar.

How do people How do people celebrate?celebrate?

• People don wooden skull masks called People don wooden skull masks called calacascalacas and dance in honor of their deceased and dance in honor of their deceased relatives. The wooden skulls are also placed relatives. The wooden skulls are also placed on altars that are dedicated to the dead. on altars that are dedicated to the dead.

• A relative or friend eats sugar skulls made A relative or friend eats sugar skulls made with the names of the deceased on the with the names of the deceased on the forehead as tribute. forehead as tribute.

Day of the Day of the DeadDead

Traditional Art Work, Traditional Art Work, Crafts, and DecorationsCrafts, and Decorations

Sugar SkullsSugar Skulls

What are Sugar Skulls?What are Sugar Skulls?

• Called "calaveras de azúcar" in Spanish, these sugary sweets are sold everywhere on the days and weeks leading up to Day of the Dead.

• Market stalls are lined with rows and rows of colorful skulls, created from sugar and decorated with multi-colored icing, shiny foil, sequins and glitter.

Sugar SkullsSugar Skulls• These festive treats are also made at

home. Sugar skulls are given as gifts to both the living and the dead, often with the name of the recipient written on the skull's forehead in icing.

• When they are offered to the dead, they are placed lovingly on an altar for the deceased along with other ofrenda, such as the person's favorite foods and drinks when they were alive.

Sugar SkullsSugar Skulls

• Keeping with the true spirit of Day of the Dead, sugar skulls are not creepy or morbid.

• Instead, they are happy, vibrant candies that are often smiling or laughing. The bright colors and sparkly decorations on the sugar skulls are cheerful enough to clear away any fear or concern about what they stand for.

Sugar SkullsSugar Skulls

• There is a lot of room for creativity when it comes to making and decorating sugar skulls.

• To start with, designs and patterns are added with icing made of eye-popping colors like bright yellow, hot pink, neon blue, vivid orange and glowing green in various combinations.

Sugar SkullsSugar Skulls

• They can be decorated with glitter, beads, rhinestones, feathers, and anything else that can stick to the icing.

Día de los Día de los Muertos Muertos Inspired Inspired ArtworkArtwork

How can we create How can we create sculptures that relate?sculptures that relate?

• Take inspiration from some of the Take inspiration from some of the images shownimages shown

• Create a closed form pinch potCreate a closed form pinch pot• Shape the closed form pinch pot Shape the closed form pinch pot

into the desired shape of a skull into the desired shape of a skull (human or animal)(human or animal)

• CarveCarve in designs that are in designs that are reminiscent of Day of the Deadreminiscent of Day of the Dead

But what is a closed But what is a closed form pinch pot?form pinch pot?

• Good question!Good question!• A closed form pinch pot is two A closed form pinch pot is two

pinch pots scored and slipped pinch pots scored and slipped together to create a hollow formtogether to create a hollow form

• Remember a hollow sculpture will Remember a hollow sculpture will explode in the kilnexplode in the kiln

• YOU MUST HAVE 1 HOLE FOR AIR YOU MUST HAVE 1 HOLE FOR AIR TO ESCAPE.TO ESCAPE.

TodayToday

• Take a skull handoutTake a skull handout• Using colored pencil (and Sharpie Using colored pencil (and Sharpie

Marker) create a design. Use this Marker) create a design. Use this as inspiration for your project.as inspiration for your project.

• Think about making intricate, Think about making intricate, thoughtful, and creative designs.thoughtful, and creative designs.