Celebrating Day of the Dead: Students Craft Calaveras in Pilsen

Luis Alejandro Calvo Velasquez meticulously winds silver wire around itself, crafting a small figurine. This wire, under his skillful hands, transforms into a white calavera, a skeleton figurine used during Día de los Muertos to honor deceased loved ones.

In Pilsen’s Benito Juarez Community Academy’s art room, students create these figures. They wrap wires with tape and papier-mache, draw features, and paint them white. By October, these calaveras will find homes in shop windows on 18th Street through the Pilsen Chamber of Commerce’s competition, showcasing 25 to 30 of these artworks in local businesses.

The creation of calaveras is a tradition during Hispanic Heritage Month. This celebration, from September 15 to October 15, includes Mexican Independence Day and Día de los Muertos, reflecting the culture ingrained in the school and neighborhood.

Velasquez, 17, works without needing a model or instructions, as the process is natural for him. “For me, it’s easy, but for others just starting, it’s difficult,” he says.

Art teacher Steve Vidal assists students in his class. These classes have crafted calaveras for over two decades, with a recent partnership to display them in the neighborhood’s first Día de los Muertos Window Walk. Last year, community celebrations were affected by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities. However, this year, community participation is expected to increase.

“Events like these reengage us with our origins while showcasing representation,” says chamber co-founder Javier Yañez. “The displays connect us to the community.”

Student Ayleen Martinez, 14, crafts a calavera modeled after Michael Jackson. It pays homage to his influence in her life, symbolizing the bond she shares with her uncle over Jackson’s music. “It’s important to remember those significant in our lives,” Martinez remarks.

Another student, Crystal Garcia, 14, creates a calavera honoring her father, who passed away when she was young. “It makes me really happy, as some might think I forgot him,” she says. Her calavera captures memories of her father’s favorite activities, reflecting the school’s support for cultural traditions.