The second graders at Marshall Elementary were lucky enough to take a field trip on the Wednesday before Halloween and Day of the Dead to go decorate sugar skulls and owls! They were taken to GalerÍa de la Raza on 24th Street in the Mission District. The kids were so excited that they got to take part in a cultural tradition that so many of them are familiar with, and they also loved getting to walk through the city.
Galeria de la Raza was founded in 1970 and it is a community based art non-profit organization that strives to bring attention to Chicano/Latino art and artists. The gallery is also a champion for exploring contemporary issues in art, culture and civic society, and intercultural dialogue. When the kids first got there, they were given a bit of background history on the art of sugar skulls and from there the real fun began! The kids chose whether they wanted to decorate a skull or an owl and from there they got to go crazy with all the paint, feathers, glitter, and decorative items! For some of them, the trip was even more special because their moms were there acting as chaperones so it was a special experience they got to share with their parents.
