Sugar Skulls?!? I can hear, "What are you teaching your students, Ms. Burns?!?!"
Well... every Halloween, I try to dress up to teach my students more about art, and art form or an artist. This year I am an Mexican artefact!!!
In the Art 20 curriculum, one of the standards is "Artists and craftspeople use the possibilities and limitations of different materials to develop imagery." And in the Art 11 curriculum, two standards combined state: "Artefacts can describe and record traditions and events." With that said, let me explain to you about Sugar Skulls.
SUGAR SKULL TRADITION
The following was taken from the mexicansugarskull.com "Sugar art was brought to the New World by Italian missionaries in the 17th century. Mexico, abundant in sugar production and too poor to buy fancy imported church decorations, learned quickly from the friars how to make sugar figures of angels, sheep.
Sugar Skulls date back to the Colonial Period of the 18th century. Sugar Skull art reflects the folk art style of big happy smiles, colourful icing and sparkly tin and glittery adornments. Sugar Skulls are labor intensive and made in small batches. Unfortunately, these wonderful artisans are disappearing and fabricated imported candy skulls are taking their place."
WHY ARE SUGAR SKULLS CREATED?
The Mexican Day of the Dead... Dia de los Muertos... is celebrated on October 31st. Click below to read more about the ceremony.
Well... every Halloween, I try to dress up to teach my students more about art, and art form or an artist. This year I am an Mexican artefact!!!
In the Art 20 curriculum, one of the standards is "Artists and craftspeople use the possibilities and limitations of different materials to develop imagery." And in the Art 11 curriculum, two standards combined state: "Artefacts can describe and record traditions and events." With that said, let me explain to you about Sugar Skulls.
SUGAR SKULL TRADITION
The following was taken from the mexicansugarskull.com "Sugar art was brought to the New World by Italian missionaries in the 17th century. Mexico, abundant in sugar production and too poor to buy fancy imported church decorations, learned quickly from the friars how to make sugar figures of angels, sheep.
Sugar Skulls date back to the Colonial Period of the 18th century. Sugar Skull art reflects the folk art style of big happy smiles, colourful icing and sparkly tin and glittery adornments. Sugar Skulls are labor intensive and made in small batches. Unfortunately, these wonderful artisans are disappearing and fabricated imported candy skulls are taking their place."
WHY ARE SUGAR SKULLS CREATED?
The Mexican Day of the Dead... Dia de los Muertos... is celebrated on October 31st. Click below to read more about the ceremony.
dayofthedeadinfosheet.pdf |
The relatives create Sugar Skulls for loved ones that have departed. It is a time for families to remember loved ones that have passed on.
SUGAR SKULLS IN ART TODAY
Sugar Skulls are no longer just a Mexican artefact, but now becoming a worldwide phenomenon. Sugar Skulls can be seen in a variety of Art forms. And in the same tradition of honouring loved ones who have passed on, people are getting tattoos of Sugar Skulls on their skin, with the person's name.
SUGAR SKULLS IN ART TODAY
Sugar Skulls are no longer just a Mexican artefact, but now becoming a worldwide phenomenon. Sugar Skulls can be seen in a variety of Art forms. And in the same tradition of honouring loved ones who have passed on, people are getting tattoos of Sugar Skulls on their skin, with the person's name.
Here are some more 'modern' art versions of this artefact: