Carver High School Students Showcase Day of the Dead Artwork at Lawndale Art Center

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Carver High School students Jennifer Ramírez, Cynthia Coronado and Lauren Jones pose with their pieces and the artwork of fellow students.

The [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]Lawndale Art Center invited [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]Carver High School to take part in its annual Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) student art exhibit. The exhibition will run through November 8.

The [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]Day of the Dead exhibition has been a staple event for 27 years. Every year, the Lawndale Art Center invites the community to create Día de los Muertos exhibits.

Art lovers can view more than 240 retablos by Houston artists, some of whom are well known. Every artist expresses his or her perspective on the Mexican holiday honoring deceased loved ones.

According to Christine Jelson West, the exhibition commemorates the Mexican holiday. She is executive director at the art center.

“The exhibition has grown into a multi-day festival,” said West. “The events reach out to diverse populations in Houston. And the exhibition helps keep the traditions of this vibrant Mexican holiday. The event that celebrates family, life and community has grown in huge popularity.”

Lawndale encourages teachers to educate students about important aspects of Mexican culture. As students learn about the culture, they also study related art practices. Lawndale also offers schools the opportunity to display their work. In past years, students have submitted projects such as sugar skulls and papel picado. Larger pieces have included papier-mâché skeletons and altars known as ofrendas.

The student exhibition isn’t a competition. But the student show has become so popular the art center can’t accept all the ideas teachers submit. The artworks on exhibit represent all grade levels, from kindergarten through high school. Folks can view the student exhibition in the center’s Cavnar and Horton galleries. Carver High School is one of 25 schools in the Houston area with artwork in the exhibition.

“Our thanks goes out to the students and teachers,” said West. “They devoted the time to learn about Día de los Muertos and Mexican folklife traditions. We are grateful to the teachers who inspire so much creativity in these bright young artists.”

Dr. Michaelann Kelley also thanked the Lawndale Art Center. Kelley serves as the program director for visual art in Aldine ISD.

“Not only is this exhibition a learning opportunity for students,” said Kelley. “But it is also a great opportunity to showcase the inventiveness of the exhibits by students. I am grateful to the Lawndale Art Center for promoting our wonderful art students.”

The Carver High School students created their “Tres Amigas y Compañía” project. Laura Luna is the students’ art teacher.

Students Whose Artwork is Featured

Kaylah Anderson
Dionna Breaux
Kimberly Chandias-Rodríguez
Cynthia Coronado
José García
Jameara Holcomb
Kenya Jones
Lauren Jones
Jacob Ledesma
Shanell Moore
Jennifer Ramírez
Jennifer Reyes
Idris Wallace

The Lawndale Art Center, 4912 Main Street (Houston 77002), is open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 12-5 p.m.

Below are close-up images of three large canvases. Coronado, L. Jones and Ramírez created these pieces.