Margaret Sosa, at Self-Help Graphics
The traditional process of making papel picado banners begins by drawing a design which becomes the patron or pattern. The pattern is then placed over multiple layers of tissue paper which rest on a thick layer of lead. The artisan then cuts through multiple layers of paper using a mallet to pound finely sharpened chisels of varying sizes and shapes through the paper and into the sheet of lead. The negative spaces must be removed from the design in a manner which allows the image to hang together after cutting. The process of transforming sheets of tissue from a design to a completed paper cut can take 30 or more hours. Like much of the traditional folk arts of Mexico, papel picado is dying out as village artisans abandon the labor-intensive process to find better paying factory jobs in urban centers. In the United States there has been a revival in the paper-cutting arts during the last two decades, primarily within Chicano art circles. A few contemporary artists working in the US have developed techniques of cutting one-of-a-kind papel picado masterpieces using an artist knife and archival grade paper. Simpler forms can be easily prepared at home or in the classroom using tissue paper and scissors.

MAKING PAPEL PICADO BANNERS USING SCISSORS
Correlations to New Mexico Standards
for Visual Arts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Materials:
Scissors
Colored tissue paper
String
Glue stick

Objectives
1. Students will learn about the history and development of the papel picado tradition in Mexico and its origins in Pre-Columbian, Asian and European cut paper traditions. They will understand how their papel picado banners relate to the older traditions. (Historical and cultural understanding)
2. Students will learn about the materials and designs used to create papel picado banners and methods of construction. (Perceiving, analyzing, and responding)
3. Students will design and create their own Mexican papel picado banners. They will develop solutions to design problems through the use of line, form, combinations of color, symmetry, repetition and variation of pattern. (Creating and performing)

Vocabulario/ Vocabulary
Artesanías Folk art/crafts
Artesano/ Craftsman
Papel de china/ Tissue paper
Papel picado/ Cut paper
Pegamiento /Glue
Taller /Workshop
Tijeras/ Scissors
Amate /Paper made from fig or mulberry bark

Motivation
1. Show examples of Mexican papel picado. (Artifacts, photos or slides)
2. Discuss the history of paper-cutting in Mexico. Discuss how paper and paper-cutting designs have native and foreign origins.
3. Explain that you are going to make papel picado banners. Ask the following questions:
What materials are used in making papel picado? For which holidays are papel picado banners created? What kinds of design would you like to use?

MAKING PAPEL PICADO USING SCISSORS
Procedure
1. Place your tissue paper in front of you so that the longest side is at the top. From the top of the paper fold down approximately one inch and form a crease. This first fold is called the "string fold". The string will be glued inside this fold when you are finished cutting the paper. You must always remember to keep this fold in sight so as not to cut through it.

2. Turn your tissue paper over so that the "string fold" is facing down on the table. Bring the upper left edge over to the upper right edge and fold the paper in half forming a crease down the center.

3. Repeat the process of folding the paper in half lengthwise two more times, aligning and creasing the edges each time you fold.

4. Cut notches along side edge (A) and bottom edge (B) being certain to leave space between the cuts. The best control over the materials can be gained sitting up straight with the paper and scissors at eye level and by rotating the paper rather than the scissors. It is advisable to provide small children with round-tip scissors.

5. Unfold the paper once to expose the side edges (C) and cut notches along this edge. Repeat this process with each of the side edges remembering to not cut through the "string fold".

6. When you have finished cutting all your notches carefully unfold the banner leaving the "string edge" folded. Repeat steps 1 through 6 until you have 5 - 6 small banners cut from tissue.

7. Once you have completed your cutouts you will then glue them to a piece of string. Lay your cut outs face down on a table in the order that you would like them to hang. Make certain that the "string fold" is facing up. Measure and cut the string so that it is about 4 feet longer than the length of your paper banners. The best method is to stretch your string leaving a foot or more of spare string hanging down on both sides. Take your glue stick and carefully swipe it down both sides of the interior of the "string fold". Holding both edges of the "string fold" place the cut paper over the string so that it fits in the crease. Using your thumb and forefinger run your hand down both sides of the crease so that the paper adheres to itself. Repeat this process with each of your cutouts leaving a space of about 2 - 3 inches between each sheet of paper. Think about color combination and contrast as you hang each sheet.

Evaluation
Hang the papel picado banners together in the classroom or school yard Discuss the different solutions that the students developed for cutting, gluing and arranging the color combinations of their paper banners. Ask the following questions: How did you arrive at this design? How did you decide on patterns of alternating colors? How does the size of the cuts affect the overall design? Invite the students to demonstrate papel picado techniques to another class. Discuss other materials (new or recycled) that might be used to create banners. Have the class experiment with other paper folding techniques.



Day of the Dead | History of Day of the Dead |

| 2011 Day of the Dead | Cut Paper/Papel Picado |

Cut Paper with Knife | Ofrendas | Skeleton Puppets |

Vocabulary & Bibliography |Paper Flowers | Extensions |

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