Altars

Create decorative and functional clay nichos using slab construction. Nichos have their origins in Latin America and originally served as shrines, reliquaries, protection and devotional objects. Traditionally, they held religious iconography like the Virgin Mary but contemporary subject matter can also be secular and ranges from serious to humorous. Nichos have a tradition of being made of tin or wood with ornate borders decorated with bright colors, sequins, glitter, chain and found object bric-a-brac. Choose with your students the type of Nicho to make. Use a culturally significant event, favorite artist, family member or an historical figure in a wide range of cross curriculum possibilities.