Guatemalan Sawdust Carpet Art!

On Sunday, July 31, Guatemalan artist Ubaldo Sanchez will demonstrate the traditional art of sawdust carpet making (Alfombra de Aserrín) — and invite KID Museum visitors of all ages to join in!

From 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, Sanchez will guide visitors through the steps of creating sawdust carpet art, from design to colorful completion. At the end of his visit, kids and adults will experience the ephemeral aspect of this artwork by destroying the sawdust carpet together. Watch this video to see the process.

Sawdust carpets are typically a collaborative art form, taking many hours and many hands to create the complex designs and patterns.  They are most commonly found in Guatemala during Lent and Semana Santa (Holy Week) when hundreds of people come together to decorate their streets.

Sanchez, who lives in Arlington, Virginia, learned the alfombra tradition from his older brother and community members before immigrating to the United States from Guatamala at age fourteen.