WHAT | Above & Beyond Children’s Museum partners with local Wisconsin artist and cartonería Gabriela Marván of Viroqua, as she creates an exhibit and co-curating programming in timing with Día de Muertos.
The exhibit space showcases a unique heritage of the people of Sheboygan County in multi-year phases. In the coming weeks, the theme will transition to showcase the Mexican immigrant experience in the Sheboygan community.
The exhibit being created by Marván will be composed of two monumental traditional paper maché sculptures called alebrijes, an ofrenda altar during the Day of the Dead / Día de Muertos Celebration – Marván’s favorite tradition, and papel picado the traditional paper cut flags. This exhibit will spend the next three years exploring Mexican folk traditions with Marván and members of the Mexican Folk Art Collective.
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Arts Board, Hoke Family Foundation and the West Foundation, Inc.
WHEN | Saturday and Sunday
Celebrate Día de Muertos with color, culture, and creativity! The museum welcomes back Mexican artist Gabriela Marván for a series workshops and ofrenda-building demonstration.
Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) Workshop
Saturday, October 25 from 10-11am and/or 2-3pm
Hands-on workshops in paper marigold making and cut-paper art for kids and families to help produce a community created altar exploring the Día de Muertos celebration, and the ofrenda altar’s role in Mexican culture. General admission.
Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) Ofrenda Building Demonstration
Sunday, October 26 from 9:30am-2pm
Build a traditional ofrenda in the exhibit space. Registration not required – drop in anytime! General admission.
WHERE | Above & Beyond Children’s Museum at 902 N. 8th Street in Downtown Sheboygan
WHO |
Gabriela Marván of Viroqua, Wis. – artist, cartonería, founder of Mexican Folk Art Collective and Cate Tinker – executive director of Above & Beyond Children’s Museum
PHOTOS | https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/x29iqyad2myytabucs087/AP2VPEyubXu4Zh3YOMT_Plc?rlkey=obsit03aspakom9mzfdwwmtgy&st=1prq5tgc&dl=0
Credit: Above & Beyond Children’s Museum
By way of background, please find the press release announcing the partnership from May 2025:
MEXICAN HERITAGE EXPLORED AT ABOVE & BEYOND CHILDREN’S MUSEUM ROTATING COMMUNITY CULTURE EXCHANGE EXHIBIT
ABCM Partners Wisconsin Artist Gabriela Marvan of the Mexican Folk Art Collective, Events Planned Starting with Listening Session – Sunday, May 4 at Noon
SHEBOYGAN, Wis. – Above & Beyond Children’s Museum (ABCM) Community Culture Exchange Exhibit is set for a transformación! The exhibit space, which was concepted to showcase a unique heritage of the people of Sheboygan County in multi-year phases, will transition from its inaugural Hmong heritage exhibit which opened in Spring 2023 into a refreshed space showcasing the Mexican immigrant experience in the Sheboygan community.
The Community Culture Exchange Exhibit / Intercambio Cultural Comunitario Exposición featuring Mexican Heritage will be created offsite and installed in November 2025 with corresponding programming and workshops starting with a public listening session on May 4.
“In today’s world, cultural understanding isn’t just beneficial—it’s essential. Our Community Culture Exchange exhibition will create a hands-on space where children and families can explore Mexican traditions through play and artistic discovery,” said Cate Tinker, Above & Beyond Children’s Museum executive director. “When young people engage with diverse cultures in meaningful ways, they develop empathy and curiosity that extends far beyond our museum walls.”
EXHIBIT + ARTIST DETAILS
ABCM featured exhibit artist Gabriela Marván, a Wisconsin-based Mexican artist, is creating the exhibit and co-curating programming for this exhibit. Marván works as a Cartonería in Viroqua and is founder of the Mexican Folk Art Collective – a bridge and facilitator of cultural educational spaces through folk art and Mexican traditions: https://folkartcollective.com/.
The exhibit being created by Marván will be composed of two monumental traditional paper maché sculptures called alebrijes, an ofrenda altar during the Day of the Dead / Dia de los Muertos Celebration – Marván’s favorite tradition, and papel picado the traditional paper cut flags. This exhibit will spend the next three years exploring Mexican folk traditions with Marván and members of the Mexican Folk Art Collective. Workshops will educate attendees about the origin of the alebrijes, and the use of ofrenda altar to celebrate and remember loved ones who have passed. Museum goers will play the traditional game of loteria, explore traditional Aztec dance and host readers for bilingual storytimes, with the guidance of members from the Mexican Folk Art Collective.
“I am so excited about connecting with children and families through the Above & Beyond Children’s Museum partnership. Every time I see someone connect with my work, I feel hopeful that I am planting a small seed for a more multicultural and inclusive world,” said Marván. “I think diversity is the richness of a community and art is a perfect way to foster that. Through the Above and Beyond project it feels like bringing a piece from Mexico to Wisconsin, sharing my art through my favorite tradition (Día de los Muertos) and the fantastical world of alebrijes, creatures based on the imagination of each cartonero or cartonera (artists who work with paper and glue). I am grateful for this opportunity.
ABCM COMMUNITY CULTURE EXCHANGE EVENTS + WORKSHOPS
Listening Session
May 4
1-3pm
Artist and co-curator of the new Community Culture Exchange / Intercambio Cultural Comunitario Gabriela Marván visits Above & Beyond Children’s Museum to talk about past work, vision for our new exhibit and what prompted her to the Mexican Folk Art Collective.
Alebrijes Workshops
July 12 and 13
10-11am and 2-3pm
Artist and co-curator of the new Culture Exchange Exhibit / Intercambio Cultural Comunitario Gabriela Marván leads a traditional alebrijes building workshop exploring the art of traditional Mexican cartonería and the origins of the alebrijes sculptures.
Day of the Dead Workshops
October 25
10-11am and 2-3pm
Artist and co-curator of the new Culture Exchange Exhibit / Intercambio Cultural Comunitario Gabriela Marván leads a traditional paper cut workshop for kids and families. This workshop will help produce a community created altar exploring the Dia de los Muertos celebration, and the ofrenda altar’s role in Mexican culture.
Day of the Dead Ofrenda Building Demonstration
October 26
9:30am-2pm
Join us as artist and co-curator of our new Culture Exchange Exhibit / Intercambio Cultural Comunitario Gabriela Marván builds a traditional ofrenda in the exhibit space.
“Building off of the success of our Hmong Culture Exchange exhibit, this space will weave together the rich cultural tapestry that makes Sheboygan stronger and more vibrant for everyone through exhibit exploration and curated programming and workshops.”
Stay up to date with museum announcements, events and programming on Facebook at AboveBeyondSheboygan and Instagram at aboveandbeyondsheb.
ABOUT
Above & Beyond Children’s Museum of Sheboygan County is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The Museum was established in 1993 and has served the children and families of Sheboygan and surrounding communities for over thirty years. The museum is located at 902 N. 8th Street in Sheboygan. For more information, email Above & Beyond Children’s Museum Executive Director Cate Tinker at cate@abkids.org.
SUPPORT
Above & Beyond Children’s Museum seeks donations for various needs including funds to operate and in support of new and current programming and outreach initiatives. Donations can be made by visiting www.abkids.org, by calling (920) 458-4263, or via mail to Above & Beyond Children’s Museum, 902 N. 8th Street, Sheboygan, WI 53081.
HOURS
Open Tuesday through Saturday 9am-4pm and Sundays 9am-3pm
Playground hours: dawn until dusk
Admission is $10 and memberships are available starting at $30.
WEBSITE
https://www.abkids.org
SOCIAL
Instagram: aboveandbeyondsheb
Facebook: AboveBeyondSheboygan
PHOTOS
Above & Beyond Children’s Museum:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/81xxrab2w66rivq36aqhj/AHMg5me93syx8_HDOCs6-Bs?rlkey=v4r4naot8k5ff1w4ji4pszer3&st=rsrck5pp&dl=0
Gabriela Marván Portfolio:
LINK TO PRESS RELEASE
https://docs.google.com/document/d/181IA8M_ZklYw9N31YiGUEPuzP82oML4y31PCmhy5KW0/edit?tab=t.0
