Spanish Speaking Unity Council
Rubén Guzmán, Artistic Mentor in Cartonería
Cartonería skeletons by Edmundo Nevel, a student
in the Spanish Speaking Unity Council's cartonería workshops with
master artist Rubén Guzmán.
Photo by Mari Pongkhamsing
The Spanish Speaking Unity Council, Oakland, received $9,500 for an artistic mentorship with Rubén Guzmán, a traditional Mexican cartonería artist. Mr. Guzmán held workshops to teach ten students to create altars for Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead using the art of cartonería or Mexican paper maché sculpture. Day of the Dead encompasses a series of Mexican rituals on November 1st and 2nd that honor and celebrate loved ones who have passed away. The altars were displayed at the Fruitvale neighborhood’s 9th Annual Día de los Muertos Festival on October 31, 2004, which attracted nearly one hundred thousand visitors.
Rubén Guzmán, a former Master Artist in ACTA’s Apprenticeship Program, studied cartonería with Ricardo and Leonardo Linares, who have received international acclaim for their paper sculptures. Guzmán has been dedicated to sharing the skills that he learned from them with the next generation by offering workshops and classes to youth and adults. His work has been exhibited at galleries and community events throughout the Bay Area.
Read an article written by Mari Pongkhamsing, ACTA Archivist/Special Projects Coordinator, highlighting the altars created Rubén Guzmán’s students at the 9th Annual Fruitvale Día de los Muertos Festival.
View a gallery of photos from the 9th Annual Fruitvale Día de los Muertos Festival.
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