THE
PUBLIC
SCHOOL
TELIC ARTS EXCHANGE

Over the course of three meetings in May you will make a piñata while learning about piñatas and discussing theories about piñata-making. A fourth "class" will be a party designed by class participants, time and location to be determined but open to all, where we will present our piñatas and smash them to bits! (FAQ #1, you don't absolutely have to smash the piñata you make in class, you can keep it if you really want to).

Day one 5/13: Learn about the history of piñatas and best practices in piñata-making including different types of papers, how to rip your paper, mache recipes, where to buy whiffle bats, innards - solids, liquids and in betweens. During this class students will decide on the form of their piñata and will apply two to three layers of papier mache.

Day two 5/20: Fill your piñata. Innards will be brought in an opaque bag and poured in your piñata without other classmates seeing what the innards are - for surprise! Continued building...

Day three 5/27: Decorate the piñata. Discussion on form, effigy, catharsis, creation, the ceremony and implications of destroying something you spent so much time making, the best time to whack a piñata and how to get your whackers ready - and anything else that came to mind while filling.

Day four (extracurricular day TBD): Celebration and piñata whacking!

Class participants will be asked to supply their own piñata innards and any decorating materials they wish to use other than many colors of basic tempera paint.

Proposed teacher, Sarah, started Piñata Lab (www.piñatalab.com) in 2006.