Burroughs Elementary
National Museum of Mexican Art: Nuestras Historias Artist Residency
During my time at the NMMA as their Art Residency Coordinator, I had the privilege of working with many CPS Teachers and Students in leading an eight session long artist residency that surveyed Mexican & Mexican-American Art History from the NMMA’s Permanent Collection, Nuestras Historias. Part of this residency I worked along with a CPS Teacher in creating hands on workshops of a specific art technique to bring arts integration into the classroom.
1st Grade
The young artists of Burroughs were introduced to the traditional Mexican art form called Ex-Votos, metal plates which artisans paint dedications and prayers for their saint or divinity, often with a depiction of a scenery and a prayer at the bottom. Young artists were were asked what hopes and dreams they could wish for themselves using the format of the Ex-voto using felt. The young artists utilized worksheets and booklets to conceptualize what wishes and hopes they had for their family, community or themselves. Throughout the weeks artists cut, pasted and drew many components of their felted Ex-Voto, using a variety of textures and material. Many wished for another sibling in their family, to be a famous girl gymnast, and to fly to the moon! Young artists were encouraged to dream big for their own future.
