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2022 Festival de Calaveras
We're excited to invite you to the 2022 Festival de Calaveras celebrating Dia de Los Muertos and Hispanic Heritage Month in conjunction with the Association of Latino Faculty, Staff, and Students at CSUSB!
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art invited the campus and the community to sign up to decorate a Calavera. All completed Calaveras will be showcased in a virtual Festival de Calaveras exhibition, opening on October 29 on RAFFMA’s website and social media. Calaveras will then be auctioned during the Association of Latino Faculty, Staff, and Students Día de los Muertos celebration on October 29th to raise money for ALFSS student scholarships.
All proceeds from the auction will go directly to ALFSS Student Scholarships.
Tati Camacho
It’s not easy Being green (green elegance)
"Even when you’re feeling down you can still be extravagant and fabulous. Slay with your green elegance!"
Atzin Sanchez
Brainy
"It’s got lots of shapes with different colors. My inspiration was to use lots of colors to look similar to parts of the brain."
Jerry Martin
Summer Blue
"I wanted to invoke the feelings of my childhood, running through sunflower fields during summers."
Dustin Cobarrubias
Tomorrow All Over Again
"Balancing the good & bad of life while keeping the presentation to wear your best face. We keep moving forward."
Yvonne Zaragoza
La llorona: Ay mis Aretes!
"My contemporanes and I agreed that Unmatched jewelry is still beautiful and wavering of a match. Often it is left unpaired, broke, incomplete and yet we have hope of wearing the set, once again. For this festival, we awaken La Llorona, to cry out one last time for her match, before she is laid to rest. Ay mis Aretes! iAy mis pendientes iAy mis Anos!"
Chris Duran
Spur
"Life can feel too structured at times. Busy schedules and planned out days can make things dull. It’s important to remember how invigorating doing things spur of the moment can be. The soul needs uncertainty."
Tom Fontanes
Taino (Available at live auction)
"Customized skull mosaic. The skull was antiqued with stain. The finished piece was stained."
Tati Camacho
Love through the storm
"Rainbows come after a storm, they represent hope and love. When times are tough love reminds us of the calm after the storm. Love at times can bring hope."
Richard Cutler
A warrior (Available at live auction)
"Inspired by was paint and indigenous warriors and the beauty of their regalia."
Melissa Nollorna and Richard Cutler
Partnered in Red
"A collaborative piece, drawing inspiration from the dark red base."
Haskell Vandalart
the Art is Under Paint
"There are complete works of art that aren’t true to yourself. Under this piece lies an entire work of art that isn’t me."
Catherine Erickson
Las Manos de Mi Abuelita
"With every stitch my grandmother created beautiful things filled with love. Being able to touch and hold quilts she made, by hand, for me brings me close to her even when she’s been gone for over 20 years. Her worn and beautiful hands taught me there is wonder in the imperfections and love in every stitch. My Calavera is meant to evoke the look of hand sewn embroidery and applique."
Richard Cutler
Xochiquetzal
"Inspired by the Mayan goddess of Beauty, sexual love and household arts. Her name translates to “Precious feather flower”"
Hyacinth Acorncap
Juniper’s Dream
"Made to invoke the imagination to a hie you stumble upon something mythical. Dedicated to @juniperfoxx"
Michelle Aguirre-Sedillo
Crown of Protection (Available at live auction)
"The colorful flowers are representative of how I use art to protect my mental well-being. My art is my crown that protects me from not having to share things that are more easily represented in my art."
LaTia Harris
Crimson Fire
"Ignite the fire within yourself to find the strength you never knew you had."
Maria Munoz
Have A Nice Life
"They say the key is to live like you were dying. I hope you live to the fullest. One day, you can look back and say “I lived”"
R.E.L.B. (Ruth Landeros-Buffa)
Carino
"This is my homage to family no longer with us. Be not afraid to love. Love Is to be cherished and not wasted. Leave your mark on something/someone you are passionate about. Everyone I know will go away. But in the end, there is always love. Love never dies…"
Deborah Desire Vizcarra
Luchador Michoacano
"This calavera was created in honor of my great grandpa (Jose). At one point of life, he struggled and went through pain to provide a better future for my great grandma, grandpa and his 15 siblings when came (immigrated) to the United States. He died (2020) at the age of 99 and at that age he was still working on his two feet without any help. The flower represents the brilliant brain he had, his eyes I’ve seen as if they could poke you looking into them. His mouth is bright because the words and stories he said were like music in our ears. The skull is black to represent the pain, blood and sweat he went through to live a beautiful life with generations to carry his story."
Grace Schmidt
Jaguar Warrior (Available at live auction)
"According to Aztec beliefs, the Jaguar Warrior represented the Aztec god Tezcatlipoca who was the god of the night sky. In Nahuatl, the Aztec language, the jaguar was called ocelotl. Aztecs believed that wearing the skin of a jaguar would give them the strength of that animal. The main purpose of the Jaguar Warriors was to capture as many prisoners as possible for the gladiatorial sacrifice."
Annabella Ostorga
Las flores eternas/The Eternal Flowers (Available at live auction)
"Inspired by Frida Kahlo’s art and how her quote “pinto flores asi no mueren” (“I paint flowers so they will not die”). I love the brightness of flowers to help light up any room but know that fresh flowers can only last so long. So, this is my way of making those flowers last forever."
Sibyl Sage Kraemer
Unicorn Explosion
"A unicorn came into the house and exploded all the glitter everywhere!"
Sebastian Rivera
AB 2183
"Red skull with U.F.W symbol & the letters AB on the left eye socket & 2185 on the right."
Yasmin Colores
Nunca Te Olvidare
"The calavera represents the two-day celebration of Dia de los Muertos. Families set up altars containing marigold flowers, favorite foods and photos of loved ones who have passed. This is done to remember loved ones by sharing a meal with them. My calavera has friends and family members making their way up to the altar. The altar is surrounded by marigold flowers and has tamales, bread, candles, and drinks. I chose eyelashes to represent a mother who has passed down this tradition to many generations."
Aleksandra Ksiezak & Bram Stynen
Octopus king (Available at live auction)
"Burials at sea were common during the age of sail, and often without a funeral service. The spirits of the dead mariners became trapped in the liminal space, “Betwixt and Between”, with nowhere to go. All alone, in the dark, these lost souls would often return to haunt their shipmates, and thus ghosts permeated sailors’ stories for centuries. Drawing inspiration from Minoan pottery, the “octopus King” brings together, in a whimsical way, the ghoulish legends of maritime folklore and the barnacled remains of those who once roamed the seas, and now rest in the deep, slowly becoming one with their sunken graves."
Rosanne Aranda-Kofmehl
Growth
"This calavera is a reflection of emotional growth, personal growth, and physical growth. It features my bearded dragon, Helios, as he naps happily amongst some plants from my garden. I will leave it open to interpretation and hope that it speaks to someone and brings them as much joy as it brought me making it."
Tania Pantoja
Bad and Beady
"Representing LA love and Coyote pride! Bad & Beady is my first attempt at beading!"
Mayra Cisneros
Eternal Life
"Skull represents life and death, beauty and vitality. A “red” rose that symbolizes obstacles or enemies have been defeated “new life”. Purple rose, a representation of “the value of pinions”. Yellow rose, a symbol of “I love you and care for you”. Overall, a great combination to declare “immoratlity”"
Amanda Mendez
Frida Kahlo
"Frida Kahlo was a famous Mexican painter who was known for herself portraits and works inspired by the nature and artifacts of Mexico."
Annette Ramirez
Underwater Beauty (Available at live auction)
"My calavera is depicted as someone drowning in such an awful death but as the years go by, she becomes so beautiful and colorful just like her soul was here on earth."
Hailey Vargas
Ruby
"A tribute to my late grandmother. I wanted to incorporate catholic elements as well as a hauntingly beautiful design while working on my calavera. My grandmother was raised Catholic before converting to Christianity as she raised her family be kind, caring, and compassionate in life and to those around us. The materials used are puffy paint, a veil, pearl strings. Gold chains, a halo headband, feathers, wire, cloth and various charms."
Anna Atkins
Simbolo de mi tierra
"The version of the struggle of life. The staple of our culture. Our freedom of Mexican/Americans. We return to one with the Earth. We can move out of the barrio but will always be from the barrio (MB). Dedicated to my loved ones lost to COVID Lena Ugarte (Mother) Benjamin Ugarte (Father) Rosia Hernandez (Aunt) Delphina Mendoza (God Mother cousin)."
Stephanie Ceja-Pacheco
Mexicana Hermosa
"Painted with acrylic paint. I was inspired listening to Natalia Lafarcade’s song Mexicana Hermosa (song lyrics below).
“Mexicana Hermosa
Morena Bendita
En tus ojos negros
Doblo mis a puestas”
Melanie Rodriguez
Beauty of Life after Death (Available at live auction)
"Matte black calavera with gold paint decorating the front along with gemstones and topped with flowers."
Karina Rodriguez Torre
Growth from a Rock
"The Aztec Calavera keeps growing flowers from rocks. The seeds keep growing because their roots are well planted in their culture, community, and ancestors. Its resilience prevails over the consequences of the zero-tolerance policy, where children were separated from families as well as the consequences of the pandemic, where elder Latinos have the highest mortality rates, making our Latino life span decrease by three years. Even though these last two recessions of 2008 and our current one has been a challenge for everyone, Latinos still grow, giving this country a grant GDP and making 11-year-old Latinos the highest demographic of this country."
Elizabeth Pepe
Sol
"The warmth of the sun on my face heals every moment of angst. With its warmth blooms the possibility of a day where every flower is seen."
Cristina del Carmen Sandoval
Aztec Mosaic Skull of Tezcatlipoca
"An artist’s recreation of the Aztec Mosaic skull of Tezcatlipoca. Medium of choice was acrylic and texture cream."
Scarlett Hernandez
Hidden Sunlight
"This calavera is brown with gold paintings of the sun and other patterns to show the light that is hidden with our culture."
Johan Rosales
Mixta
"The calavera that is a mixture of colors which represents who I am a mixture of culture and race. A representation of those people I know who passed that had pitched in to create who I am. Mixta is the representation of all the people who I know or knew that pitched in to create who I am, as I now use that to express it in this form of art."
Sarah Hayashi
Raku Calavera (Available at live auction)
"Fired using a low fire-reduction method in the ceramic studio here at CSUSB."
Perez Family
Delores
"Spray paint using hydro dip method flowers and jewels. As a family coming together and doing art projects is part of who we are. Honoring our Mexican heritage with art, family, and love."
Mrs. Johnson’s Wildcats
Cultures from around the World
"The Calavera represents different cultures around the world. There is an array and origami art."
Rylee Looper
Another Composition with red, blue, and yellow
"I based my design on the modern artwork “composition of red, blue and yellow” by Piet Mondrian. I incorporated various geometric shapes along with a traditional floral design."
Audrey and Angie
White Frida Kahlo
"This is our interpretation of Frida. The purple represents creativity, just like Frida’s creativity. The white flowers represent peace. When Frida painted, she was calm and peaceful."
Raisa Alvarado
Sueno Turquesa
"This calavera celebrates the tranquil spirit of manifestation. Focus, commitment, and kindness yield material and symbolic rewards."
Francez Yaretzi Paola
Maria’s Skull Life
"I am Francez my inspiration was one of the day of the dead skulls and a skull pillow that was in class. I am Yaretzi and I got an inspiration by a book named Gustavo the Shy Ghost and a skull pillow in my class. I am Paola and my inspiration was the Mexican skull photos."
#9, M-1
Isabel Zavala
Blues
"I wanted to challenge myself by focusing on one main color and this was the result."
#7, 5
Eva HoffLund
Ancient Migration
"Long before the industrial age our ancestors migrated from season to season for bountiful apples, figs, cucumbers, nuts, grain and much more. Migration was a way of life full of adventure and danger. The headdress was a source of camouflage and celebration of life on the trail."
#12, 1
Rebecca Beltran
Radiant Efflorescence
"Fine sand, mod podge, spray adhesive, glue, and artificial succulents. This piece represents a dream and the journey to make the dream a reality. The journey will not always be easy but the rewards of the hard work will slowly become visible. The result will be beautiful and worth every struggle to achieve it."
#12, 5
Mayuli Lemus
Udder Nonsense (Available at live auction)
"Skull covered in green coarse turf cow spots along with miniature cow figures."
#8,3
Joselyn Yap
Remembrance
"This Calavera was made as I remembered my grandmother, who passed away almost two-years ago. It was made in the color schemes she would have enjoyed with her favorite color hue. The flowers represent her beautiful soul, always nurturing and full of sunshine."
#7, 3
Valeria Vargas
Monarca
"Monarch butterflies have been added to the endangered species list. This skull was made to highlight the butterflies' stages of life. Including native flowers of North America and milkweed leaves, the primary diet of monarch caterpillars – made with polymer clay."
#10
The House of Brass
The 6th Element
"Our Calavera is dedicated to those who have lost their lives to the opioid epidemic, especially fentanyl (the 6th element), a synthetic opioid up to 100 times more powerful than morphine, which has become the deadliest drug in America."
#9, M-4
Sarah Rodriguez and Erica Zamora Reyes
Herman
"Black like his soul but colorful when it is party time."
