Eighth-graders at Meadowlark Middle Use Art to Honor People Who Are Important to Them

At Meadowlark Middle School, eighth-graders in Elizabeth Miller’s first-period advanced art class, spent much of the second quarter working on Retablos, art pieces made in honor or memory of someone special. 

Originally, in Mexico, Retablos were devotional paintings created to offer thanks to a particular saint, Miller wrote on her art blog - Art Over Time. 

“These art pieces were then placed on a home or church. Retablo means behind the altar. Cabinet doors were donated and transformed into these meaningful pieces of art.  They were adorned with pictures, stories, memorial poems, hand prints, and special memories.”

On Friday, Feb. 8, the students held a reception for the people honored by their art pieces. 

“Tears were shed,” Miller wrote. “It was sweet.  Two years ago, marked the funeral of one grandfather that was honored. With tear-filled eyes, his wife and daughters smiled over how his granddaughter so perfectly captured his life.” 

To read more about the reception and to see more of the art, go to Art Over Time