International Arts Consortium 2002-3:

Mexican Modernism at HIMS

From November through January Spanish students at HIMS have been exploring the roles played, and the arts skills used, by muralists and theatre workers in the period following the Mexican revolution. 'Mexican Modernism: The Arts of Social Protest' was developed by the International Arts Consortium, in its second year at HIMS, to integrate the study of international arts with that of world languages and cultures. Project director Nathan Scott planned the project to coincide with a major exhibit of paintings, drawings, and photographs, by such Mexican artists as Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, traveling to Seattle Art Museum this fall (three classes of HIMS seventh and eighth grade Spanish students attended). The project also honors both the return of World Languages head, Claudia Sandler, from her year as an exchange teacher in Salamanca, Spain, and the expansion of the Spanish program at HIMS, with Spanish now offered to all sixth grade students, by returning teacher, Kristy McCleary, and new instructor, Justin Maggart.

Fresh from a semester of teaching in the theatre department at Universidad de las Americas in Puebla, Mexico, Scott introduced all Spanish students to the arts of Mexican Modernism through a one-hour presentation using slides and video. Scott questioned students about the means they would use to 'spread their message,' should they choose to start a revolution; he then discussed how the methods recommended by students were similar to those used by muralists and carpa [tent] theatre artists in publicizing new social, aesthetic, and political values. Students looked first at an Orozco painting in the style of the Italian Renaissance ('a naked lady eating grapes' was one student's description), and then compared it to a painting Orozco created after the Revolution, in a new style which reflected the Mexican people and their struggle, the 'Indian soul' of a country looking not to European traditions but to its own pre-invasion history for inspiration.

Students also read aloud a short scene between a patroncito (boss) and a campesino (farmworker) from a carpa theatre production. From the scene students drew conclusions about the characteristics - stereotypical characters that are few in number, simple, populist themes about power imbalances and the struggle for justice, lots of humor - that made this theatrical mode appealing after the revolution. Justin Maggart's sixth grade Spanish students, plus ESL students from Wendy Chapman's and Kathleen Dyer's classes, worked with Scott during January to develop and perform their own dramatic scenes in the style of carpa theatre.

As he considered muralists with whom to collaborate on this project, Scott says that Lazo was the logical choice. “Fulgencio and I have known each other since 1996, when I met him in Seattle after returning from a trip to Oaxaca. But we’ve never before worked together. Fulgencio is a highly accomplished painter, whose use of color and whimsical designs reflect the joy and vitality of Mexican life and festivities. He has also organized a number of communal events that have brought people together to support different issues. Fulgencio knows firsthand about the theme of ‘arts and social protest.’”

Lazo, who splits his time between Oaxaca and Seattle, introduced students to all the skills required for mural making, from the most mundane (prepping the plywood generously donated by Dunn Lumber) to the most challenging (envisioning a theme and carrying it through a complex design). He recommended that the mural be created on plywood, rather than directly on the wall, so that students could more easily work on separate panels (and so that the mural could be moved, should that ever be desired!). This proved to be an excellent recommendation: panels could be set up and stay in the hallway on the less busy third floor, and students passing between classes could watch, and be inspired by, the evolution of the project. Exploring the theme of naturaleza, McCreary’s students did drawings, from which Lazo culled elements to include in the overall design of the mural. The vision that resulted was one of balance between the human and natural world. Students then assisted Lazo with painting, working closely under his guidance. The new mural is now installed in the HIMS hallway which abuts the front lobby.

The mural-making part of the project culminated with students’ written reflections on the process. Students wrote about their favorite elements (“The use of color is fantasmic!”) and what they had contributed (“I helped with the mural by drawing a few bugs and painting most of the leaves by the river” and “I liked it when I got to do some texturing on the water.”) and suggested ways to improve the process (“I think it may have been helpful to have more time to draw pictures at the very beginning.” and “I do wish everyone could have painted more but overall I loved it!”). In the spirit of the project, one student protested, “The part that really needs improvement is the skin colors of peoples. I think there should be more than two colors of skin! Why? Well, because we are an international school! We have lots of different cultures of people who have different skin colors. So I think it’s [the mural is] talking only about two parts of the world instead of the whole world!!” But praise for Lazo—his patience, kindness, and clarity in instruction—was universal. One student was particularly inspired. “Mr. Lazo gave me lots of courage in painting. In the beginning I was not interested in art so he kept telling me I was a great artist which made me want to do more. I painted four times and drew one time. I had lots of fun. I made flowers and I thought maybe this could be my future.”

The International Arts Consortium is a partnership of Hamilton International Middle School and John Stanford International School with a variety of arts organizations, individual artists, arts consultants, and community representatives. It was convened and is led by Seattle International Children's Festival. Major funding for the Consortium comes from the Washington State Arts Commission Community Consortia Grant program, with matching funds and services from Seattle International Children's Festival, the PTSAs at HIMS and JSIS, the International Business Breakfast, and other grant funding. Matching funding for this project was provided by King County Arts Commission; the PTSA at HIMS provided supplies for painting, and Dunn Lumber in Wallingford generously donated plywood for the mural. Seattle's Family & Education Levy contributed to the celebration of these projects through the Family Partnership program of the Seattle Public Schools.