On Oct 19 and Oct 20, 2024, thousands of attendees gathered at the Mesa Arts Center for the city’s annual Día de los Muertos festival. This weekend festival featured cultural performance, live music, food trucks, arts and crafts, and colorful community altars.
Every year, the Mesa Arts Center invites schools, artists, families, and community organizations to compete in a community altar contest. BASIS Ahwatukee was proud to participate in this year’s contest, where they impressed attendees with a colorful Andy Warhol-inspired altar!
Here’s a closer look at BASIS Ahwatukee’s submission!
The inspiration behind BASIS Ahwatukee’s altar
Día de los Muertos altars, also known as ofrendas, are an important part of the holiday. In Mexican tradition, altars are constructed each year to remember and honor loved ones who have passed away.
BASIS Ahwatukee’s altar was inspired by Andy Warhol, one of the most famous pop artists in American history. The altar, titled “Andy’s Cats,” blended the rich traditions of Día de los Muertos with Warhol’s iconic artistic legacy.
Here is a deep dive into the different elements of the altar:
- Hand-drawn portraits: The altar prominently displayed hand-drawn portraits of Warhol’s family, including John Warhola by AJ J. (grade 9), Povol Warhola by Pranav P. (grade 6), Julia Warhola by Rahel S. (grade 9), Andrej Warhola by Bianca S. (grade 8), and a striking portrait of Andy Warhol himself by Leah K. (grade 9).
- Marigolds: Traditional to Día de los Muertos altars, marigolds symbolize the beauty of life and are said to guide spirits back to their altars. These vibrant flowers highlight the connection between the living and the departed.
- Hojalata: Hojalata is a form of decorative tin artwork commonly used in Día de los Muertos altars. The inclusion of this type of art enhanced the aesthetic and spiritual significance of the display.
- Papier-mâché alebrijes: Alebrijes are brightly colored sculptures of animals and fantasy creatures. BASIS Ahwatukee’s altar included alebrijes of Warhol’s 25 cats, all named Sam, showcasing the artist’s quirky side.
- Papier-mâché food: Food offerings are traditionally placed on Día de los Muertos altars as a way to honor the deceased and entice their spirits to return to the world of the living. BASIS Ahwatukee’s altar featured a papier-mâché burger, a nod to Warhol’s famous 1980s artwork of himself enjoying a Burger King meal, complete with a Coke bottle and bananas inspired by his iconic prints.
- Tablecloth: The altar’s tablecloth was painted with images reminiscent of Warhol’s vibrant pop art, such as tomato soup cans, bananas, and Coke bottles.
- Book: The altar prominently displayed a copy of Uncle Andy’s Cats, a book written by Andy Warhol’s nephew James Warhola. This charming book shares James’s childhood memories of visiting Andy in New York, offering a glimpse into their close-knit family ties and the lively atmosphere of their home filled with cats.
- Polaroids: The polaroids surrounding the altar capture of the essence of Warhol’s fascination with pop culture. Featuring BASIS Ahwatukee students, these polaroids mimic famous shots that Warhol took during his life.
Students from every grade level contributed to the altar
BASIS Ahwatukee’s Día de los Muertos altar was a true display of teamwork and collaboration among students. Every art class at BASIS Ahwatukee contributed to the altar in some way, with each grade level having a different responsibility.
Jill Sandala, art teacher at BASIS Ahwatukee, says the process started by studying the art of Andy Warhol. From there, each student created their own unique contributions.
The papier-mâché cats were created by the 3D Studio Art students, while the seventh grade art class created the papier- mâché food offerings. The Lino-printed tablecloth and cat food offerings were created by the 2D Studio Art class. The decorative tin art and marigolds were crafted by students in fourth, fifth, and sixth grade, showcasing a wonderful blend of creativity and teamwork.
“The most rewarding part of creating this altar was showing my students how they can use their art to bring joy to a community,” says Miss Sandala. “Instead of simply making art for the purpose of receiving a grade, our students came together to create something truly meaningful.”
We commend all of the art students at BASIS Ahwatukee for their creativity and ingenuity, and we look forward to seeing what they create for next year’s competition!
To learn more about BASIS Ahwatukee, explore our school page and sign up for a school tour. A proud part of the nation’s #1 tuition-free public school network, BASIS Ahwatukee serves grades 4–12 with an accelerated curriculum that prepares students for college success. BASIS Ahwatukee is currently accepting applications for the 2025–26 school year.
