Bobcat Stories

Ann Dunbar, the first art teacher at Bosque School, established the celebration of Día de los Muertos in the early years of the school’s history. Ann had a special relationship with a village in Mexico where she learned many of the traditions of Día de los Muertos, and traveled there every year. On Monday, November 3, as it has for many years, Bosque School gathered together to honor both the lives of those we have lost and to celebrate the living.

One of those traditions is a musical celebration, which for years was led by legendary marimba maestro Steve Chavez, who passed away this summer. Chavez was very active in the University of New Mexico's music community and throughout Albuquerque. He was a teacher, mentor, and inspiration to many. He collected marimbas, traveling regularly to Chiapas, Mexico, to search for new instruments. A versatile and consummate performer, he has appeared in various roles, including as an extra on the Albuquerque-based shows “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul.” Along with his musical partner, John Bartlit, he came to play his marimbas at Bosque School every year. Photos and videos show him always smiling and inviting Bosque School students to join him and to play his beautiful instruments. This year, John Bartlit was joined by Hovey Corbin, borrowed for the celebration from Albuquerque Academy, where he is the band director.

Traditionally, Día de los Muertos is a day to honor a loved one’s life. At Bosque School, participation has expanded to include the entire community. This year, the Spanish Honor Society gave a presentation on the history of Día de los Muertos during Morning Meeting and lunch time on November 3. All Bosque School art students created artwork inspired by the day's celebratory themes. The altars the students built are works of art in themselves, decorated with paper flowers, marigolds, and photographs of former students and teachers who have passed away. The whole community was invited to add images or tokens that represent their friends and family — such as favorite foods, images, or symbolic tokens of people they love and miss. To keep the theme of sweetness, the traditional pan de muerto — a sweet bread sprinkled with sesame seeds and colorful sugar, often braided like a challah — was served.

In the past, art teacher Alaura Nellos used the Día de los Muertos project to help students learn about an ancestor, creating opportunities to ask their parents and grandparents questions about their family history. Using a celebratory tone, bright colors, flowers, and symbols of life alongside symbols of death (such as the ubiquitous skeleton), students might honor their ancestors' professions, such as a baker, rancher, or miner. One year, two students made a little bench for two different grandparents who had never met, and the students imagined what it would be like if they knew each other. Because many of us have experienced loss in our families, we must be very sensitive when creating art for loved ones who’ve passed away. It takes courage to face our own strong feelings, and our students can approach the activity from a spectrum of personal to more abstract connections.

The middle school created more traditional art projects. Seventh graders made and decorated sugar skulls, which symbolize giving their loved ones something sweet.  The 6th-grade students learned a printmaking technique — an intaglio process using styrofoam — to produce prints of skulls, called calavera. The 8th-grade students created wire sculptures to honor a person, animal, group, or cause.

Under the midday sun, at lunchtime on November 3, Budagher Hall was alive with students eating their lunches and sweet pan de muerto, listening to marimba music, admiring the gorgeous ofrenda, and feeling the spirits of our loved ones.