George Washington High School CAPE Community Class 2023
Spotlight on CAPE’s George Washington High School Community Class 2023 – (provided in English and Spanish) – these works and more will be exhibited at the CAPE Gallery as part of Perspective(s): 2023 CAPE After School Exhibition Tues. April 11 – Wed. May 3
The partners of the Community Class for adults associated with George Washington High School have been focused on designing sculptures of Catrinas, traditional representations that personify death in Mexico for the celebration of the day of the dead. Aracely has interpreted her Catrina based on Frida Kahlo, while another participant, Yolanda, has created more traditional versions. The preferred materials are wire, cardboard, kraft paper, and engrudo (a glue paste used in Mexico, made with all-purpose flour and water).
Working in her art studio at home, Aracely looks to her children for advice on the progress of her sculpture. She says that her children are her “best critics, they tell me the truth.” So with their advice “I can say that I exceeded my own expectations,” she says.
Aracely with her Catrina inspired by Frida Kahlo
Yolanda says that it was at the insistence of her daughter that she enrolled in the CAPE class. “My daughter Mayerly wanted me to learn and then teach her how to create the artworks. Now we work together and she tells me how to improve. We work as mom and daughter, or as friends and family, learning together.”
Aracely says that in the last 5 years that she has participated in CAPE classes, “what I have learned is that nothing is impossible.” She stresses the advice given to her by her art teacher Mirtes Zwierzynski, that “in art there are no mistakes.” Reflecting on this, she says “great artists may not be happy with their works of art because they see some error in it, but in the eyes of others it is perfect.”
Mayerley and Yolanda with their Catrinas
Close-up of Catrinas
During the years of the pandemic, the chulitas of the Community Class have been able to gather together (albeit virtually) beyond their family circle. In these difficult times, Aracely and Yolanda invite everyone to put their problems aside, and join CAPE Community Classes to develop skills not previously recognized by themselves: to paint, draw, create, and share.
This class is offered by the artists Mirtes Zwierzynski and Natalia Villa, with the participation of the school coordinator Palmira Perez.
Click here for more information about the Exhibition and Events at the CAPE Gallery.
En Español:
Las compañeras de la clase comunitaria para adultos asociados a George Washington High School han estado enfocadas en diseñar esculturas en forma de Catrinas, representaciones tradicionales que personifican a la muerte en México para la celebración del día de muertos. Aracely ha interpretado a su Catrina en base a Frida Kahlo, mientras otra participante, Yolanda, ha creado versiones más tradicionales. Los materiales preferidos son el alambre, el cartón, el papel kraft, y el engrudo (un pegamento que se usa en México, hecho con harina de todo uso y agua).
Al trabajar en su taller de arte en casa, Aracely busca a sus hijos para que le den consejos sobre el progreso de su escultura. Cuenta que sus hijos son sus “mejores críticos, ellos me dicen la verdad.” Así con sus consejos “puedo decir que superé mis propias expectativas,” dice.
Aracely
Yolanda, cuenta que fué por insistencia de su hija que se inscribió a la clase de CAPE. “Mi hija Mayerly quería que yo aprendiera para luego enseñarle a ella como hacer los trabajos. Ahora trabajamos juntas y ella me dice como mejorar. Trabajamos como hija y mamá, o como amigas y familia, aprendiendo juntas.”
Mayerly y Yolanda
Aracely cuenta que en los últimos 5 años que ella ha participado en clases de CAPE, “lo que he aprendido es que nada es imposible.” Recalca el consejo que le dió su maestra de arte Mirtes Zwierzynski, que “en el arte no hay errores.” En reflexión a esto dice “los grandes artistas tal vez no estén contentos con sus obras de arte porque le ven algún error, pero para los ojos de los demás es perfecto.”
Durante los años de la pandemia, las chulitas de la clase comunitaria han podido convivir (aunque sea virtualmente) más allá de su círculo familiar. En estos tiempos difíciles, Aracely y Yolanda invitan a todos a hacer sus problemas a un lado, y unirse a clases comunitarias de CAPE para desarrollar habilidades no antes reconocidas por sí mismas: pintar, dibujar, crear, y compartir.
Esta clase es ofrecida por las artistas Mirtes Zwierzynski y Natalia Villa, con la participación de la coordinadora escolar Palmira Perez.
