CALL TO ARTISTS
Submissions of visual art are now being accepted for the Phinney Center Gallery annual Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) show, Celebrating our Ancestors.
Artwork entered should be related to the theme. The deadline for artwork entries is September 26, 2008.
Click here for the prosepctus, or visit the center at 6532 Phinney Ave N. in Seattle to pick up a hard copy. |
Four pre-festival classes offered:
AZUCAR! SUGAR SKULLS
CALAVERAS MASKS
& CENTERPIECES
SHADOW BOX SHRINES
PAPEL PICADO
Articles from the Phinney Ridge Review about the classes and their teachers:
Beth Sims Makes Skulls Of Sugar
Paper Cutting And Shadow Box Classes Offered
|
Día de los Muertos Celebration
November 7, 2008 
Join the traditional Mexican celebration of life and death at the PNA’s Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) parade and festival on Friday, November 7. Start with the candlelight procession, which begins at 75th and Phinney at 6:30 p.m. and make your way to the Phinney Neighborhood Center, 6532 Phinney Ave N. where you can participate in the community altar and enjoy live music, hot chocolate, craft activities, and more. Call (206) 783-2244 for more information.
In Mexico, El Día de los Muertos is a festive and family-centered event, traditionally held on Nov. 1st (Day of the Little Angels) and 2nd (Day of the Dead or all Soul’s Day in Christian tradition). Día de los Muertos celebrations emphasize life and death as part of the same cycle and regard death on friendly and intimate terms. According to beliefs rooted in pre-Columbian traditions, on Dia de los  Muertos, the veil between life and death is at its thinnest and the dead can be lured back to us through the scent of marigolds and the temptation of offerings of favorite food and drink. In certain parts of Mexico, an important facet of this celebration is the oferenda, or personal altar, built both in family homes and/or over the graves of loved ones. Traditionally, photographs of the dead at are the altar center, around which are placed offerings of food, drink, candles, flowers, sugar skulls, and personal mementoes. All these items are presented in beautiful displays to honor the returning souls.
Thanks to grants from the City of Seattle Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs and the Washington State Arts Commission which have enabled the continuation of this important traditional celebration.
|
|
AZUCAR! SUGAR SKULLS
FAMILY CRAFTING BONANZA
(All ages)
Beth Sims
Sat 10 am-noon
10/18
To register call 206-783-2244
Sweet treats and goodies are an important decorative element of many Day of The Dead altars. Students will work with local artist Beth Sims to create a variety of (non-edible) sugar skull-themed craft projects including ofrenda crosses, hanging ornaments, plaques and refrigerator magnets. Appropriate for all ages. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. All materials included in class fee.
Room 5 - Blue Bldg
Fee: $20/student
CALAVERAS MASKS
& CENTERPIECES
Beth Sims
(Ages 11 and up)
Sat 1-3pm
10/18
To register call 206-783-2244
Working with artist and teacher Beth Sims, students will learn to use a variety of materials and techniques to embellish masks and life size skulls to create their own unique and enduring Dias de Muertos famly heirlooms. All materials included in class fee. Appropriate for ages 11 and up. Class space is very limited so sign up early!
Room 5 - Blue Bldg
$30/student
|
|
Beth Sims Makes Skulls Of Sugar 
Article from Phinney Ridge Review, Fall 2008
By: Jeanie Sedgely
Enticing the dearly departed back for a day of tribute and festivities is not a new concept for Beth Sims. Not only has she been celebrating Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) for years, it was the motif of her 20th wedding anniversary party! The handmade decorations and artifacts at her party, which was held at the Phinney Neighborhood Center, caught the eye of PNA staff and she was invited to teach two new workshops for the annual event.
Beth, an artist and elementary school teacher, will teach Azucar ("sugar" in Spansh) – the art of crafting life-sized sugar skulls, and Calaveras Masks & Centerpieces. Preparing altars with food, flowers and decorations is believed to help make it attractive for the spirits of the dead to come home for a day, she says. Beth describes Día de los Muertos as a “family reunion” that is gaining more attention in the United States.
In addition to creating placards and artifacts for the altars, Beth is enthusiastic about the opportunity to share the rich history of these ancient customs. Día de los Muertos festivals now coincide with Catholicism’s All Saints Day (Nov.1) and All Souls Day (Nov. 2), but its origins date back thousands of years. Día de los Muertos rituals are a means of teaching about North and South American culture, she says, while celebrating the lives of people who came before.
Beth’s two-hour workshops are scheduled for Oct. 18. Class fees include all materials and families are welcome.
|
|
SHADOW BOX SHRINES
Beatriz Goodpasture
(Ages 12 – Adult)
Sat 11 am-noon
10/25
To register call 206-783-2244
Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead is an important event honoring one’s ancestors. Learn about this Mexican custom while creating your personal shadow box shrine. Beatriz is a Master Papercutter, serving on the board of the Guild of American Papercutters. Her work is displayed on mexicanpapercrafts.com. Appropriate for ages 12 - adult. All materials included in class fee.
Room 6 Blue Bldg
$25/student
|
PAPEL PICADO
(Tissue Paper Banners)
Beatriz Goodpasture
(Ages 6-Adult)
Sat 9:30 -10:30 am
10/25
To register call 206-783-2244
The Mexican craft of papel picado is used to celebrate many occasions, including the Day of the Dead. Students will create three basic patterns and take home an enramada (string of tissue paper banners). Beatriz has taught the art of papel picado for the past 16 years and is considered a Master Papercutter. Her work is displayed on line here. Children 6-11 must be accompanied by adult and able to use scissors. All materials included in class fee.
Room 6 Blue Bldg
$15/ individual
$20/ adult & child 6-11
|
|
Paper Cutting And Shadow Box Classes Offered
Article from Phinney Ridge Review,Fall 2008
By: Laura Genoves
This year’s Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) at the PNA is sure to be on the cutting edge. Paper- cutting artist Beatriz Diaz Goodpasture shares her design skills by presenting two paper craft classes at the Phinney Neighborhood Center: Papel Picado is Saturday, October 25 from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. and Shadow Box Shrines follows at 11 a.m. to noon the same day.
One class teaches participants how to create a unique tissue paper banner, also known as papel picado. Papel picado, which literally translates to punched paper, is an ancient pre-Columbian folk art, reinterpreted with designs that reflect modern life. All supplies are provided for both of the classes and students ages six and up will learn three styles of papel picado designs and leave with their own colorful banner to decorate their home.
Additionally, Ms. Goodpasture offers a class on assembling a personal shadow box shrine with students choosing their own colors and designs. The shadow box shrine allows Day of the Dead celebrants to honor their own loved ones who have passed on. All supplies are included in the cost of the class.
Beatriz Goodpasture has been a paper artisan for over 16 years, and is a Board Member of the Guild of American Papercutters. Her students have been of various ages and in many parts of the country including Texas and Minnesota. Originally hailing from Los Angeles, Goodpasture was raised in the era when parents encouraged their children to assimilate to mainstream American culture. She learned to speak “book” Spanish in a classroom instead of from her parents, and discovered the art of papel picado from a Latina co-worker. Currently she sends her custom made papel picado around the country for parties, weddings and other special occasions. Her website is www.mexicanpapercrafts.com.
|
|
