Museum of Latin American Art- Giselle Bustos- Week 2

 Hi guys! I hope everyone is enjoying their internships and practicums as I have. This week I got to learn a lot of new things, I even realized a nice talent I have for painting flowers! This week my practicum here at MOLAA, Museum of Latin American Art we had community week. Each week have a theme for the exhibits the museum displays and the big project of week 2 was a community quilt! 

This week each camper painted a 9x9 fabric canvas where they portrayed their community in some kind of way. Although I am a communications intern for the summer camp, I as well participated in making a piece for the quilt. I decided to paint to hibiscus plants. Walking home from sports practice or just being close to my home city, South Gate, I see a lot of hibiscus flowers so I decided to portray this as part of my community. 

    On Wednesday morning, coming in to the museum the campers and I worked on "Hojaletas". This was a very cool experience to me because it was something I had never done before. We decorated Aztec and cultural pieces with artifacts such as ancient language and symbolic animals. While capturing images of the kids, I even made my own Hojaleta where I carved a lizard and I wrote my name in cursive with butterflies on the sides. 

 

 I think my practicum experience has increased my knowledge of various disciplines and ways of education. I have learned more about the history of art and how art potrays a big role in community. My activities throughout this week have taught me how art is a language for some cultures and way of expression. Some students used their hojaletas to show their parents and friends their favorite animals, drawings, and even symbols. 

Through these activities and hands-on experiences, I have got to understand how these pieces are a way people tell stories. Some kids even shared with me how they were drawing a certain animal because it represents a grandparent or family member, and I found this as a very unique way of using art to tell stories. This resognated with what I was able to learn about museums and art history because there is more to these objects than just being something to see or hold. They carry a life beyond an item, I even shared this with the camp organizer. 

Community week at MOLAA was great and I enjoyed the experiences I made in the summer camp. A lot of the kids and I have even gotten to know each other very well. Some of the kids have even began to call me an artist which I found very funny because doing art activities in High school, I never thought I would touch a brush after my 6th period art & sculpture class. Not because I hated it, but because I never thought I was good at art. I promised some of the younger kids I watch that when I start my courses in college, I would take at least one art class in college. I'm excited to see how my last week, Week 3 goes! I look forward to reading the rest of your blogs and young ambassadors and what everyone else has to share! Thank you for reading! 

Best, Giselle Bustos

YAP '25