Celebrating Día de los Muertos: Students Create Calaveras for Pilsen

Luis Alejandro Calvo Velasquez skillfully twists silver wire in his hands to form small figurines. These start as mere wires but transform into calaveras, small skeleton figures used during Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) to honor loved ones who have passed. His actions are mirrored in the art room of Pilsen’s Benito Juarez Community Academy, where students wrap wires in tape and papier-mâché, add facial features, and paint them white. In October, some calaveras will be displayed in shop windows on 18th Street, selected by the Pilsen Chamber of Commerce among 25 to 30 figurines for display in local businesses.

The creation of calaveras is a long-standing tradition during Hispanic Heritage Month, which spans from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, and celebrates culture throughout the school and neighborhood. This month encompasses various cultural holidays, including Mexican Independence Day and Día de los Muertos.

In front of Velasquez, 17, sits a completed calavera serving as a model, though he doesn’t need it. He refers to it as “muy bonita” (very beautiful). For Velasquez, constructing calaveras with instructional videos is both fun and natural. “I didn’t need the video for directions. I know everything, the process,” Velasquez stated. “It’s easy for me, but difficult for others starting out.”

Art teacher Steve Vidal guides students as they work on their calaveras. His classes have created calaveras for over twenty years but recently began partnering with the Pilsen Chamber of Commerce to display them in the area. Although the neighborhood’s inaugural Día de los Muertos Window Walk occurred last year, increased ICE activity in 2025 limited community participation.

“They held us back from having a stronger presence and families coming out and feeling comfortable to walk along 18th Street,” Vidal explained. “This year, however, we feel more positive and comfortable, and so we’re eager, and more students are going to produce.”

The project helps students stay connected with their heritage. Javier Yañez, co-founder of the chamber, emphasized the value of such events. “Events like these… reengage the ability for us to stay educated on where we come from,” Yañez said. “The connection to the community through these window displays is testament to that.”

Ayleen Martinez, 14, chose to honor Michael Jackson with her calavera. Her figurine captures his iconic moonwalk. Jackson’s music holds a significant place in her life and brings her closer to her uncle. Immortalizing Jackson as a calavera acknowledges his influence. “It reminds me of just how important it is to remember those that were a huge part of our lives,” Martinez noted.

Crystal Garcia, 14, created a calavera in memory of her father, who passed away when she was 8. She remembers him fondly, capturing a specific memory through her figurine: sitting, watching a soccer game, drinking Coke, and eating a torta. “It’s just something that I’ll never be able to forget, that connection with my dad,” Garcia shared.

“I feel like it’s really nice because it shows how the school cares about our traditions and backgrounds,” Garcia added. “Even though we all might be different, it still shows our traditions, our culture.”