Art has an almost magical ability to transcend cultural divides, for both children and adults alike. It can provide a powerful vehicle for fostering inter-cultural understanding and appreciation.

The work of the Fabian family, because of its simplicity, humor and strong general appeal, is particularly well-suited to achieve these ends.

OVERVIEW

The Visiting Mexican Artists Program presents Norberto Fabian, son of master Oaxacan (Wa-ha-can) woodcarver Ventura Fabian, and Norberto’s wife, Blanca, in a series of presentations about their craft to diverse communities in the greater Boston metropolitan area.

Over a two to four week period in the fall, to coincide with Mexico’s Day of the Dead holiday, the artists visit schools, libraries, museums, and art centers to share the allure and vibrancy of Mexican artistic expression.

The project addresses such themes as:

• the art of Oaxacan woodcarving

• the daily life of a rural artisan family

• the role of children in helping the family

survive economically

• the balance between subsistence agriculture

and craft work

Our presentations are adapted to the grade level of our audience, which has ranged from pre-schoolers to high school students to the general public.

An educator’s outreach packet is provided to all the participating sites prior to the visits.

The project addresses such themes as:

• the art of Oaxacan woodcarving

• the daily life of a rural artisan family

• the role of children in helping the

family survive economically

• the balance between subsistence

agriculture and craft work

The program has received commendations from both the Boston and Cambridge City Councils and enthusiastic from educators.

reviews

The goals of the program are:

• to inspire children to reflect on their own culture through

artistic expression, and to strengthen their own creativity

• to help children understand and appreciate Mexico, and to

know and value a way of life very different from their own

• to share and celebrate the richness of Mexican culture with

a diverse urban population in Boston’s metropolitan area

• to highlight how art and daily life are integrated in rural

Mexico, and to show how art and craftsmanship both play

a vital role in the life of the community

The goals of the program are:

• to inspire children to reflect on their own culture through artistic expression, and to strengthen their own creativity

• to help children understand and appreciate Mexico, and to know and value a way of life very different from their own

• to share and celebrate the richness of Mexican culture with a diverse urban population in Boston’s metropolitan area

• to highlight how art and daily life are integrated in rural Mexico, and to show how art and craftsmanship both play a vital role in the life of the community

We encourage educators:

• to create study segments around the visits using

the study guide we provide prior to each visit

• to develop follow-up art assignments with students

in response to the presentations

• Spanish language teachers have also brought

their classes to the presentations

Program History:

In our 14 years of visits we have given presentations at over 100 sites. Among the public and private schools, museums, and cultural institutions we have visited are the:

• Cambridge, Brookline, Somerville, Milton,

Chelsea, and Watertown Public Schools

• Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology

• Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center

• Eliot School of Fine & Applied Arts

• Boston Public Library

• University of Vermont

• Boston Children’s Museum

• Children’s Museum of New Hampshire

• WBZ-TV

100 sites

Program History:

In our 14 years of visits we have given presentations at over . Among the public and private schools, museums, and cultural institutions we have visited are the:

• Cambridge, Brookline, Somerville,

Milton, Chelsea, and Watertown Public

Schools

• Peabody Museum of Archaeology