CHAC
Chicano Humanities and Arts Council
School, Children and Senior Citizen Programs
CHAC Programs
The following programs are designed for school groups, community groups, and senior citizen groups and are held at the gallery or at your venue. Suggested ages are listed for school groups, however all workshops can be tailored for any ages, including adults!
Activities are geared for individual as well as group participation and build self-esteem, social skills, cultural awareness and pride. These workshops are tailored to meet current Colorado State standards, from visual arts to history. Workshops are one hour long for a cost of $4.00 per child or a minimum of $50.00 per class.
For more information or to schedule your workshop or gallery tour,
contact Julie Marino, Education Coordinator at 303-571-0440 (office) 303-521-0653 (mobile) or
Crystal O’Brien at 303-571-0440 (office)director@chacweb.
Color My World*
Ages Preschool through 1st grade
Give your students a culturally based opportunity to learn that by using observation skills, imagination and art materials anyone can be an artist! In this workshop students will explore the world of color by hearing the ancient Mayan/Aztec legend of how the world got it color. They will talk about your favorite color and how it makes them feel. They will learn and recognize color names in both English and Spanish, and invent their own colors as they make a colorful oil pastel painting.
State Standards: Visual Arts, Social Studies, World Language, Reading, Writing, and Communication
* An SCFD funded collaboration between CHAC and VSA-Access Gallery
The Festival of Bones*
Ages 4 years old to 12th grade, adults of all ages
Skulls have become an increasingly popular image in American pop culture, coinciding with the rise in popularity of the ancient Mexican Holiday, Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Learn the history and meaning of the celebration and how it differs from Halloween. See what skulls and skeletons mean to the Mexican culture, give your opinion of what they currently mean to American culture. Students will decorate their own traditional Mexican sugar skull while enjoying festive Mexican music.
State Standards: World Language, Social Studies, Music, Visual Arts, Reading, Writing, and Communication
* An SCFD funded collaboration between CHAC and VSA-Access Gallery
God’s Eye ^
Ages 1st to 12th grade, adults of all ages
The God’s eye is an ancient symbol made by the Huichol Indians of Mexico. It is made by weaving brightly colored yarn on a simple frame of crossed sticks. The central eye is made of a single color when a child is born and more yarn, in different colors, is added each year until the child turns five. The weaving is hung over the child’s bed to insure God watches over them and keeps them healthy. Originally, "God's Eyes" were made to be placed on an altar so that the gods could watch over the praying people and protect them. They are now more often sold in markets, reminding us that God looks with love on people everywhere.
State Standards: Visual Arts, Social Studies
^ A collaboration between CHAC and Cultural Interpretations
Aztec Masks
Ages 1st to 8th grade
For centuries, people have enjoyed hiding behind masks to conceal their identity or to be transformed into another character. This phenomenon exists in virtually every culture around the world. Find out about the Aztec empire. Come learn the history behind the remarkable masks made by Mexico’s ancient Aztecs. Then, imagine how you would look if you were an Aztec king or queen. Students will create their own magnificent mask.
State Standards: Visual Arts, Social Studies, World Language, Reading, Writing, and Communication
Catrina ^
Ages 1st to 12th grade, adults of all ages
Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) the popular Mexican holiday is fast becoming a widespread celebration in the Denver area. Skeletons sporting daily life costumes are well-liked images used during in these celebrations. Hear the legend of Catrina, the fanciest skeleton figure of them all. Discover the history behind the flamboyance. Students will see high fashion images of past and present and discuss their preferences. They will dress their own Catrina or Catrin.
State Standards: Visual Arts, Social Studies, World Language
^ A collaboration between CHAC and Cultural Interpretations, LLC
Juego de Lotería- Mexican Bingo
Ages 1st to 12th grade, adults of all ages
Play the authentic game of Juego de Lotería-Mexican Bingo. Students will have a fun English/Spanish experience learning to play authentic Mexican Bingo. They will explore the meanings behind the artwork on the cards and see what these meanings reveal about Mexican culture. They will be exposed to concepts designers use to create themed works of art. Students will choose their favorite Lotería card to use as inspiration to create their own, themed work of art.
State Standards: Visual Arts, Social Studies, World Language, Reading, Writing, and Communication
Capirotada- A Delicious Artistic Treat
Ages 2nd to 8th grade
Students will realize that good food and good art can be made using ingredients close at hand!
Capirotada, (Mexican Bread Pudding), is one of Mexico’s favorite, time-honored desserts. Tracing its roots to the Roman Empire, this delicious desert tradition made its way to the new world during the Spanish Inquisition. Learn its history and see how you can create this mouth-watering comfort food from combining ordinary ingredients found in your own kitchen. Then, consider everyday things that make living your life “sweet”. Put those “ingredients” together in a collage. Everyone will receive Capirotada recipe to try at home.
State Standards: Visual Arts, Social Studies, World Language
Carnaval!
Ages 2nd to 12th grade, adults of all ages
Celebrate Carnival, Latin style! From Mexico to the Caribbean, from Spanish speaking South America to Brazil, you will see the colorful ways this festival is celebrated. Students will learn about the meaning behind the celebration, its history and style and make a carnival mask to take home.
State Standards: Visual Arts, Social Studies
Mexican Sun
Ages: 3rd – 12th grade, adults of all ages
The sun is a popular cultural motif that has its roots in ancient Mexican culture. What would your sun look like if you personified it into your own work of art? Students will hear ancient legends of the sun, learn the meaning of the sun images to ancient Mexican cultures, and create their own sun wall plaque in clay.
State Standards: Visual Arts, Social Studies
When Gold Became Tin ^
Ages: 4th – 12th grade, adults of all ages
Once the Spaniards came to the new world their search for gold became an obsession. The Indians of the area were master goldsmiths and created many art objects in this valuable metal. Learn the history Mexican metalsmithing and how this craft evolved into the now famous Mexican Tin work.
State Standards: Visual Arts, Social Studies
^ A collaboration between CHAC and Cultural Interpretations
Santos
Ages: 3rd – 12th grade, adults of all ages
Learn the history of making Santos from New Mexico. See natural pigments that make the actual paint in this led by one of CHAC's master Santeros artist members. Paint your own retablo to take home.
State Standards: Visual Arts, Social Studies
$5.00
Ages: 4th – 12th grade, adults of all ages
Become a Piñata maker! Piñatas have been used in Latin American countries, to celebrate birthdays and other festive occasions, since the 16th century. Learn about the Asian origin of the Piñata, and the original Mexican method of creating one. Make your own Piñata in this two part workshop.
State Standards: Visual Arts, Social Studies
There will be an additional charge for this two part workshop.
Paper Comes From Trees
Ages: 3rd – 8th grade
Amate bark paper does come from trees! This beautiful paper has a long history in Mexico and is made by the Otomi Indians. Learn how the paper is made and see some of the beautiful paintings created on it. Students will have an opportunity to create their own “bark” painting.
State Standards: Visual Arts, Social Studies
Me, Myself and Frida*
Ages: 1st – 12th grade
What better opportunity is there for older students to explore and record aspects of themselves and their life experiences, than creating their own self portrait or journal page, inspired by Frida Kahlo! The self expression of Frida, known for chronicling her striking life experiences in stunning self portraits and reflective writings, is admired the world over. Give your students a time for self discovery and exploration of ways to capture their life experiences. Visual and language arts are used in this workshop to encourage students to create a self portrait in collage, drawing, and/or writing. There will be time for sharing discoveries.
State Standards: Visual Arts, Social Studies, Reading, Writing, and Communication
* An SCFD funded collaboration between CHAC and VSA-Access Gallery
Dance, Sing, and Make Music +
Ages: Kindergarten to 8th grade
Move to nature sounds of the morning, play instruments, dance and sing to cultural dances.
+ A Rita Flores de Wallace workshop
The following Workshops are offered for Children with Disabilities as an SCFD collaborative project between CHAC & VSA arts-Access Gallery
ALL ABOUT ME - From VSA’s Start with the Arts Program
Ages Preschool-1st grade
Start with the Arts utilizes student’s skills to learn to express thoughts and feelings about things that are special and meaningful about them, developing a sense of self awareness and personal confidence. The All About Me workshop gives young children the opportunity to explore and discover new means of expressing themselves. Young children can sometimes have difficulty putting their ideas, thoughts and feeling into words but can learn to express themselves through the arts. Through this activity, students will play with cultural music, movement and use the visual arts to learn and discover about themselves. They will gain confidence in sharing their ideas about themselves as and their art work and learn about collage and texture.
State Standards: Visual Arts, Music, Physical Education
SHAPES & LINES IN MOTION - From VSA’s Arts for All Program
Ages Preschool-3rd grade
Arts for All utilizes art tools designed so that participants with limited movement or lack of fine motor skills can be successful in using what mobility they have to create, paint, draw, print, and more. The tools incorporate the use of one’s wheelchair, walker, arms, or legs as part of the creative process. Individuals can make cultural prints, draw with chalk, or use pogo paint poles, all while working on mobility skills and coordination, creativity, expression, and self esteem. The theme of this workshop is lines and shapes. Students will perform a “dance” that uses lines and shapes, create their own prints, and paint a collaborative mural.
State Standards: Visual Arts, Dance, Music, Mathematics standards are embedded into the program.
EXPRESS DIVERSITY CREATIVE INVENTIONS - From VSA’s Express Diversity Program
Ages 2nd-12th grade
Express diversity: Creative Inventions utilizes student’s skills of problem solving and critical thinking to create inventions for those who face challenges and obstacles while increasing sensitivity toward people with varying levels of abilities. Students will look at technology from the standpoint of problem solving, through the activity designed to help them discover how experimenting and adapting have served to find solutions to problems. They will discover problem-solving techniques, discuss cultural barriers, identify adaptations and assistive technology that support people with disabilities, and create an imaginative solution to a fictitious problem experienced by a person with a disability.
State Standards: Visual Arts, Science, Social Studies