-PDBM/FXT ics. Decorating sugar skulls, he thought, would make a great, non-athletic activity. Judging from the response of the children, Noriega was right. Crittenden student Francisco Rivera worked diligently, his eyes wide in a stare of concentration as he applied swirls of colored frosting and shiny sequins to his sugar skull. He is familiar with Dia de los Muertos because his family has celebrated the holiday in the past. But, Francisco said, he was unaware of much of the history of the holiday, which can be traced back thousands of years to pre-Columbian rituals. Francisco said he likes hearing stories about his grandfather — whom he barely knew — at his family’s Dia de los Muertos celebrations. He also said the sugar skull decorating activity was a bit more fun than what he usually does in his school’s after school program. Janaiya Davis, another Crittenden student, said she had heard of Dia de los Muertos before, but had never celebrated it. Like Francisco, Janaiya showed a great deal of interest in decorating her sugar skull. “It’s interesting,” she said, reflecting on the concept of celebrating the dead in such a colorful way. It’s “way different” than the way she remembers her family dealing with the death of a loved one, she said. These are precisely the kinds of reactions Rob-O said he hoped he might see from the children. “Dia de los Muertos is actually a celebration of life,” he said, explaining that he wanted the children to understand there are different ways of marking the passing of a loved one than the ways to which they may be accustomed. “It’s a joyous way of remembering
MICHELLE LE
Above: Artist Rob-O said this piece was inspired by ancient Aztec art called “Faces of Life.” Right: Inspired by Rob-O’s mother, this 35-pound skull is called “PACHAMAMA.”
someone who has passed on,” he said. “Not at all negative. It’s just a real positive vibe.” Rob-O also emphasized that if the children have a passion for the arts, and if they work hard at it, there is a chance they could eventually make a living through art. After working with the medium for more than three years, he said he is making a living as an artist. “It isn’t easy. But you can survive on your passion if you stick with it,” he said. V
MICHELLE LE
Jeordy Arellano, left, and Josue Ibarra work on their sugar skulls. October 26, 2012 ■ Mountain View Voice ■ MountainViewOnline.com ■
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