Their mythical hybrid creatures were scary, odd, and even a little silly. And they were 100% directly from the imaginations of first-graders to desk-size three-dimensional beings before they were smooshed back into balls of clay and put away.
Rosie Haugen’s West Oakview art class spent a class period recently sculpting Dia de los Muertos Alebrije animal figures with modeling clay. The traditionally wood and festively painted sculptures have significance to the annual Mexican Day of the Dead, observed on Tuesday, Nov. 2.
“Mine is a starfish with cat ears and a human head,” said Asa Wright.
“I just sculpted a lizard body with a chicken head and a fox’s tail,” said Jozy Morter. “And look, the head comes off.”
“This is a horse butterfly rabbit,” explained Kaitlyn DeVowe.
Jayvius Serena’s creature looked like a grasshopper-frog mix with possibly a crab claw growing from its head. What was it? “I don’t know, but look at its big smile,” he told a visitor.
“It’s a tricky medium, so anytime I can get the materials out it’s a great chance for them to work with it,” Haugen said.
