Masks and “Calaveras”
Yamilex Robles
“Mariposas” “Flying Away”
Project exhibited at the Cole Art Center Gallery
Nacogdoches, Texas
November 2013-January 2014
Presentation
Addressing the topic of death with a group of teenagers is without a doubt a challenge. They’re so full of life that death, albeit a real lingering presence, seems to function as an after thought. Under these circumstances, their response to such delicate subject is as much uncertain as it is unpredictable. It requires for one to be attentive to their individual or collective attitudes and reactions to such matter. Can their dealing with such a theme be labeled? Death immemorial? Death as a myth? Death as taboo? Death as symbol? Stereotypical death? Unjust painful death? Death trivialized? Death just because?! We now have the opportunity to experience through the eyes of a group of art students from Lufkin High School a representation of such intricate subject in the context of a ritualistic celebration: Día de los muertos. Using Papier Mâché, negative castings, clay, acrylics, and their imagination —sadly, real life experiences in some particular cases— they have created this series of masks and verbalized their feelings through Calaveras* or personal lyrical poems.
There is the possibility that some of these students will become part of a new generation of artist. They have already found within themselves the ability to represent, reinvent, and to offer their own intimate perspective on a tradition. This marks an action of reciprocity, a relationship with culture that will allow them to grow and display through their work the continuous, although not always evident, dialogue that exist in our ever-changing society. These masks and Calaveras are a testament to the latter and Alex, Alaira, Alex W., Carina, Claire, Destyni, Hannah, Harry, Hillary, Hute, Leslie, Molly, Ramón, Raúl, Sydney, and Yamilex, are the voice through which change is articulated.
Dr. José Neftalí Recinos and Dr. Gabriela Miranda-Recinos
MASKS
Alex Wallace Leslie Spainhour
“The Beekeeper” “Time”
Raul Guillen Destini Goforth Dickens
“Beautiful Death” “To the Mouse”
Alex Dupre Ramon Hernandez “Psyche” “Wrath” 
Hillary Bowman Harry Sims
“Rainbow in the Dark” “Hate, Dead and Alive”
Sydney
“Death by toilets”
Hute Armstrong Julian Williams
“Death and the Ufologist” “Thoughts”
Molly Walkins Alaira Smoczyk
“Answers in the Stars” “Reborn”
Carina De La Cruz Hannah DeJesus
“Laugh at me, I’m scared…” “Cookies”
Photographs courtesy of Denise Stringer-Davis
*The word “calavera” means “skull” in Spanish but “calaveras” are also a type of ditty poem written at the season of “El Día de Los Muertos” or “The Day of the Dead” celebrations in Mexico which run from October 31st through November 2nd. Calaveras are imaginary obituaries announcing fake deaths of people or to poke fun at people who are very much alive. In fact, it is an honor to receive a calavera from a friend. However, the newspapers often publish calaveras about political figures that are very amusing but not always very flattering. (http://mexicobob.blogspot.com/2008/10/calaveras.html
ISKALIA 