Arbol de la Vida Clay Sculptures with Marianne Sadowski

Drawing on symbols from their own lives, the children will learn to construct their own personal tree of life out of clay. There will be paints, sequins, and beads to further personalize El Arbolito de la Vida. Marianne Sadowski is an artist and art teacher who was born in Mexico City and now lives in Los Angeles, with her husband and two sons. She completed her Masters in Painting in Mexico City and has exhibited her art throughout Mexico and the US. She has been teaching art for over 15 years in schools, museums and cultural centers. Currently she works for the LA County Museum of Art (LACMA) and City Arts Resources (CARS).

Broken Pottery Mosaic with Dewey Tafoya

Have you noticed the beautiful colors and types of broken pottery on the Self Help Graphics’ Virgen grotto?  We have much more broken pottery to use in creating your own outdoor vase.  Learn to adhere broken dishes and tiles to a clay pot, than seal the pieces to create a beautiful home for a plant.  Dewey Tafoya a native of Boyle Heights and graduate of UCLA, has been coming to Self Help Graphics since he was a kid. In the last 5 or more years, Dewey has been a dedicated volunteer for Dia de los Muertos, teaching Paper Mache and mask decorating.  Bring a plant pot to this worksohp.

Zine Making with Becky Cortez

A "Zine" is an abbreviation of the word "Magazine" and is usually created in a small circulation for self-publishing purposes. Using the collage style of cutting images and words from magazines, the children will create pages incorporating nature themes. The children's zines will be photocopied for exchanging and collecting. Becky Cortez, a native of Texas is an elementary school teacher in a progressive Los Angeles magnet school. She is currently in a Master's Degree program, yet has always made time to lead children's art workshops at Self Help Graphics for the last 4 years. Bring magazines to share and cut, also bring your favorite scissors.

Create a Bark Cloth Painting with Ofelia Esparza

By using items found around the house–learn how to create a bark-like cloth painting. This technique is meant to replicate the Amatle bark paintings of the Mayans. The Amatle tree's snake-like massive roots grow downward from the limbs, powerfully latching onto other trees, cliffs and buildings with a strangulation hold. The impressive and beautiful bark of the Amatle, according to legend was used to dress the Goddesses. Ofelia Esparza is a Master Altar Maker and visual artist from East Los Angeles. Her family's intergenerational knowledge of traditional Mexican art making and the preservation of those skills in the United States, have made them the subject of studies, books, lectures and documentaries.

Nature Painting with Antonio Rael

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Antonio Rael's paintings with a bold style of bright colors and black outlines, have been featured on concert posters, magazine covers and the merchandising of Latino Pop. His charming designs and themes capture his Latino heritage through its symbolism, spirituality and mysticism. Antonio has led children's art workshops for over 13 years and loves the creativity and energy that kids bring. Join Antonio for a unique afternoon of inspiration, imagination and sharing. To see Antonio's work go to www.latinopopshop.com