What's Happening CHAC Gallery Nov. 2020

November 6th, 2020

CHAC Community,
We have enjoyed getting to see you at the virtual Dia de Los Muertos Celebration Series! Special thank you to all of our volunteers, artists and partners (Latino Cultural Arts Center-Denver, Corky Gonzales Library, Metro State University Chicano/a/x Studies and Journey Through Our Heritage, History Colorado, Fiesta Colorado and Colorado Folk Arts Council).

Read below for Upcoming Events, Family Activities and Featured Artist!

Image Below: Dia de Los Muertos Altar 2020 by History Colorado, CHAC Gallery and Latino Cultural Arts Center-Denver.

Virtual Upcoming Events

November 21st from 1:00pm-2:00pm Frida Kahlo Class~Self Portrait with Artist Vanessa Fresquez

Participants can create their self-portrait in a variety of ways. The formal way of creating a self-portrait is to use a mirror as a reference when drawing oneself or they can also work from a picture when drawing. Younger students can draw themselves as they imagine in their self-portrait. Participants will be encouraged to draw their self-portrait interacting with their symbolic imagery. Once they have drawn their composition, they can color it in using materials of their own choosing.

December 5th, 11am-12pm Make Traditional Mexican Holiday Foods
December 12th, 11am-12pm Make Fiesta Bread and more
December 19th, 11am-12pm Cooking Wild Game

Community Events

November 20, 2020 11am-12pm Healing Community Through Tradition and Understanding Critical Indigenous Studies (A part of MSU JTOH and American Indigenous Business Leaders~ Native American Heritage Month)

***Location: Link(s) will be posted at www.chacgallery.org.

Frida Kahlo
Frida Kahlo was a self-taught painter, best known for her self-portraits. At eighteen years old, Kahlo was seriously injured in a bus accident. She had to recover in bed for more than a year. During this time, Frida began to pass the time by painting still life and self-portraits. Frida was Inspired by her country's popular culture. Her paintings are in a native folk art style and often had strong autobiographical elements, mixed with realism with fantasy. In addition to belonging to the post-revolutionary Mexicayotl movement, which sought to define a Mexican identity, Frida Kahlo's paintings have been described as a Surrealist or Magical Realism.

FAMILY ACTIVITIES

Instructions for Papel Picado Banners

1. Cut enough colored tissue paper rectangles for each participant to make two papal picados.
2. Iron the tissue paper so that it lays flat.
3. Have them fold a small fold on the longer side about ½ -3/4 inch to hold the string for hanging.
4. Then have them fold the paper in half from the long side with the folded top on the outside
5. Fold again in half and then one more time
6. Cut out shapes without having the shapes touch one another on all four sides.
7. Let them open the banner to reveal the final piece
8. Iron the finished open banners and lay the finished banners side by side.
9. Put the string though the folded tops of each banner and glue down the folds.
10. See below for another method.

Instructions for tissue paper Flores

1. Cut enough colored tissue paper squares plus extra for each participant to make one flower. Each flower requires six sheets for small ones and eight for large ones. Iron them flat.
2. Have each person make accordion folds with all the sheets at once.
3. Pass out pipe cleaners and scissors to each person.
4. Wrap the pipe cleaner around the center of the folded papers.
5. Cut both side edges of the folded tissues in a half circle or triangle shape for petals
6. Slowly pull the top of one tissue to the center. Do this for each tissue under the first.
7. Repeat on the other side.
8. Fluff the tissue paper Flor to look pretty.

Featured Artist Angela Ramirez

Angela has always had an interest in costumes or regalia whether used in ceremonies or in theater. Her goal has been to incorporate colored pencil drawings in her paintings. She loves the softness of colored pencil with the starkness of acrylic. Angela aims to make things that reflect her background and her experience. Art has been her lifelong passion. She has a BA from Metropolitan State University with an emphasis in Crafts.

Paintings by Angela Ramirez, Are You Trying to Impress Me, Zootsuit Couple, I Wear My Hat of Memories, I Weep A Gallon of Tears.

CHAC Gallery

CHAC Gallery & Cultural Center was founded in 1978 by a group of visual and performing artists. The organization was established as a place where Chicano/Latino artists were provided with a venue to explore visual and performance art and promote and preserve the Chicano/Latino culture through the expression of the arts.