Blue Star Sunday: Stencil Kite Activity

Join the Mexic-Arte Museum on Sunday, July 18th from 1pm – 3pm for a free paper kite making art activity with personalized stencils inspired by Francisco Toledo’s Handmade Kites.

This event is in collaboration with the Blue Star Museums Program. The Mexic-Arte Museum, a collaborator in the Blue Star Museums program, offers free general admission to the nation’s active-duty military personnel and up to five family members—including U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, National Guard, Coast Guard, National Guard and Reserve, U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, and NOAA Commissioned Corps—from Armed Services Day through Labor Day. (For all free and discounted military tickets, present ID in person at admissions desk)

Francisco Toledo (1940-2019) is one of Mexico’s most important contemporary artists. Born in the town of Juchitan in Oaxaca, Mexico, Toledo created works that reflect the nature, mythology, and traditions of Oaxaca.

In 2014, Toledo made a series of kites printed with the portraits of 43 college students who went missing in Guerrero that year. Toledo flew these kites at demonstrations held in the students’ honor, and encouraged others to do the same as long as the 43 students remained missing. Toledo later continued to make additional series of kites decorated with images of animals and insects, paying homage to indigenous cosmology.