Throughout October and November, downtown Longmont transforms into a vibrant celebration of life and memories as local artists showcase their creations for Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead). Streets come alive with bright colors, intricate artwork, and towering gigante sculptures traditionally used in Day of the Dead parades. Now in its 24th year, Longmont’s Día de Muertos event is Colorado’s longest-running Day of the Dead exhibition, drawing more than 6,000 community members each year. This year, members of Skyline High School’s Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) program had the opportunity to contribute their creativity to the festival.
Their goal was to craft a gigante, a large puppet created to honor deceased loved ones and honor their stories. What began as a tangled structure of chicken wire and cardboard in the back of a classroom slowly took shape into an eight-foot-tall sculpture, bursting with color and personality. The students collaborated with local artist Joy Giddens, whose guidance helped bring their ideas to life. The VPA Capstone Seniors drew inspiration from the Mexican flag, incorporating its rich colors into the gigante’s design. The result was both a celebration of heritage and a reflection of the students’ creativity and teamwork.
Once completed, the Skyline VPA students proudly joined the gigante procession through downtown Longmont, walking alongside other artists and performers. Jennifer McLees, an art teacher at Skyline High School spoke about the process of bringing the gigante to life and what it means to the group, “This collaborative art making experience brought the Capstone Seniors together, allowing them to grow as leaders and learn how to navigate and create meaningful experiences of their own.”
As the gigante made its way through the heart of downtown, it stood as an artistic challenge for the students and an opportunity to connect with the community while honoring a rich heritage through shared expression.