Building Our Barrilete
Barriletes Gigantes are incredible works of art created by the people of Guatemala to tell the stories of the ancestors and share hopes for future generations.
Learn how we’re making our own Barrilete with our partners in Worcester!
How Are We Building Our Barrilete?
“A Community Art and Storytelling Project”
Guardians of Tradition has partnered with a number of community organizers and artists to help build a 15 ft. barrilete. Since we have multiple panels, we have distributed panels for different artists to collaborate with their community to decorate and then assemble for the big day!
Read on to learn about our partners, artists, and check out our progress.
Born to parents from Kenya and Tanzania, Abu has always been drawn to the vibrant colors and rich cultural traditions of his roots. Abu’s artistic journey began with his uncle’s sketches, which sparked his fascination as a young boy. He went on to formal art training as a teenager and later honed his skills through college studies in graphics and design. Now, Abu is dedicated to painting with oils and acrylics and exploring the exciting possibilities of 3D art.
Through his artwork, Abu celebrates the vibrant cultures of East Africa, particularly the Maasai and Samburu communities. He is captivated by their resilience, strength, and beauty, which have thrived despite modernization and external influences. Abu’s paintings aim to share the beauty, strength, and resilience of these communities with the world while exploring his own identity and connection to his roots.
Magda Leon, is a Guatemalan-born multidisciplinary artist currently residing in Providence, RI, specializes in printmaking, installation art, and social practice art. She discovered her love for creativity while drawing on her grandmother’s kitchen floor as a child. Her work stems from a personal experience of living with a bicultural identity, which she cariñosamente refers to as ‘De aquí y de allá’ (From here and from there). Recently, she was commissioned to create a series of murals depicting the immigrant experience for Aguardente restaurant. Details of this work were published in RIC magazine under the title “The In-Between World: The Art of Magda Léon”. Additionally, she has an upcoming publication in Mujerista Magazine and a solo exhibition at Chalkstone Supermarket in Providence, RI.
Our Artists
Jennessa is an educator and self taught artist based in Worcester, MA. She earned her Bachelor’s from Worcester State University in 2015 and later her Master’s from Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2019. As an educator she strives to create an equitable learning environment in which students are respected, valued, and feel safe enough to take risks, challenge others’ perceptions, and step into the role of an informed educator. Her commitment to equity spills beyond the walls of her elementary classroom and into the arts.
Over the years Jennessa has immersed herself in a lifelong passion for the arts, emphasizing therapeutic benefits, forging community, and the power of public art. Through the use of paintings, mixed media pieces, and murals Jennessa works to express her emotions and amplify the voices of marginalized communities.
Ray Bernhoff is an artist and maker working in multiple media, primarily multimedia assemblage, painting, and the written word. He received his undergraduate degree in film and media studies and production from Tufts in 2018. His work focuses on waste, the body, and other abject subjects. He draws inspiration from his experiences of chronic illness, disability, and transsexuality, though at times he just wants to make something bright, glittery, or slimy-looking.
Xiang Li is an internationally acclaimed artist who specialized in the reproduction and restoration of ancient Chinese paintings at the Forbidden City of Beijing, China, where she worked as a Master Artist for 37 years. She has earned high praise from top art scholars including the Last Emperor’s brother, Pu Jie.
Li was first recognized in 1985 after spending ten years creating the first complete collection, featuring 413 scenes from the Chinese classic novel, Dream of the Red Chamber. This collection was featured at the Grand View Garden in Beijing for 20 years (1985-2005) before it was sold to The National Studies Museum in Qingdao, China.
José Criollo is a self-taught Ecuadorian sculptor and painter based in Worcester, Massachusetts, widely recognized for his intricate sculptures made from recycled metals and wood. Working under the moniker “Jose Criollo Art With Metal,” he transforms discarded materials like old car parts, tools, bicycle chains, and furniture into striking pieces of art. His work focuses heavily on fauna, nature, and environmental preservation, promoting the idea that trash can be given a valuable second life.
Our Partners
