January 2025. party streamers on cardboard.

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Represented as piñatas are the Quetzal bird from Guatemala, the Moscardón bumble bee from Chile and Argentina, and the Coquí frog from Puerto Rico. Each of these creatures are endangered, yet they are an important cultural and spiritual icon to their homeland. Whether they are the gods of the air, carry the spirits of our loved ones, or even bring good luck, the loss of these creatures means the loss of culture and history. Piñatas are made to be destroyed as a celebration, so I aim to challenge this tradition by creating piñatas of life we should protect. When destruction drives progress, who is left to carry on our traditions and stories?

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This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts & cultural heritage fund.

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