Mexican Nicho Boxes See Think Wonder What do

Mexican Nicho Boxes

See, Think, Wonder • What do you see in this image? • What do you think about this image? • What do you wonder about this image?

Nicho art originated as a popular adaptation of the Roman Catholic retablo tradition of painting patron saints or religious imagery on wood or tin.

Nichos are small and built in shadow box style. Common structural conventions include hinged doors, carved borders and multiple panels.

Nichos are made from mixed media and are usually painted with striking colors, often contrasting bright and dark, and tend towards garish.

Within the box there is a key object or central figure for whose honor or memory the nicho has been created. Can you guess who the famous Mexican artist that’s represented in these nicho boxes are?

• Nicho’s are often decorated with a variety of images and objects from religious and popular culture, folk art (referring to decorative or self taught art), the sacred heart, as well as characters and objects from the Mexican Holiday Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).

Contemporary nichos have expanded into more nontraditional subject matter, including the secular or the humorous, but continue to represent themes and figures in popular Latin American culture.

ASSIGNMENT Mexican inspired personal Nicho Box. • Construct a three dimensional mixed media nicho box. • Create a personal central image in portrait style or using sybolism. • Utilize found objects to enhance artwork. • Reflect and include writing sample to emphasize project direction.