Herrera Elementary School Students Display Ofrendas Exhibition at MIM October 26, 2017 Artwork honors past musicians and composers PHOENIX (October 26, 2017) – To celebrate Día de los Muertos, the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) and the Silvestre S. Herrera School for the Fine Arts and Dual Language in Phoenix are collaborating on Ofrendas (offerings), a student exhibition to honor musicians and composers of the past. The artwork will be created by nearly fifty third and sixth graders from the Herrera elementary school and will be on display at MIM from Saturday, October 28, to Sunday, November 26. While typical ofrendas may take up a full altar or table with food, pictures of the deceased, and other decorations, this project will be condensed to a one-by-one-foot shadow box. Students will work with their teachers to research famous musicians and composers and create unique and insightful artworks based on their lives. On Monday, October 23, students learned even more about global artists and music when they took a guided field trip through MIM’s Geographic Galleries. Through the partnership between MIM and the Herrera elementary school, students can explore the relationship between music and celebrations from around the world and discover the importance of music in the culture and tradition of Mexican and Mexican American communities. MIM invites participating students and their families to enjoy a special reception at the museum in mid-November. The special night includes bus transportation for children and parents from the Herrera elementary school to MIM and return; dinner for children and parents; self-guided tours of MIM galleries; a reception and viewing of the student exhibition. “This partnership gives students the chance to engage in music through the perspectives of history and culture,” says Ryan Borden, MIM’s programs associate. “It helps illuminate important Mexican American traditions, and it’s great for the students to participate in them through a musical lens.” The partnership between the Herrera elementary school and MIM is made possible through the generous support of the Elaine F. Stepanek Foundation. The Musical Instrument Museum is located at 4725 E. Mayo Boulevard in Phoenix (corner of Tatum and Mayo Boulevards, just south of Loop 101). For general museum information and a full schedule of events, visit MIM.org or call 480.478.6000. *** About the Silvestre S. Herrera School for the Fine Arts and Dual Language Herrera School of Fine Arts & Dual Language is a preschool through grade eight school that focuses on academic achievement with a special focus on fine arts and language. Students have the opportunity to engage in dance, drama, choral music, instrumental music, visual arts, and physical education. The fine arts enrich and expand the academic experience. In addition to the focus on fine arts, students are engaged in each of the core subject areas. Students at Herrera achieve academic, artistic, and linguistic success. About MIM The Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) enriches our world by collecting, preserving, and making accessible an astonishing variety of musical instruments and performance videos from every country in the world. MIM offers guests a welcoming and fun experience, incomparable interactive technology, dynamic programming, and exceptional musical performances. MIM fosters appreciation of the world’s diverse cultures by showing how we innovate, adapt, and learn from each other to create music—the language of the soul. To learn more about MIM, visit MIM.org. Find MIM on Facebook: Facebook.com/MIMphx Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube: @MIMphx Media Contact Johann Warnholtz Media Relations Specialist Johann.Warnholtz@MIM.org 480.245.6953 DOWNLOAD PDF
