Third grade students at Friends Academy will learn about the art and craft of woodcarving when master artisan Ventura Fabian and his son, Norberto visit the school this week.  They'll learn about culture, art, and life in a small village outside Oaxaca, Mexico.

As part of the Visiting Mexican Artists Program, a cultural arts education organization devoted to helping regional artists share and celebrate aspects of Mexican folk art and culture, the woodworkers will demonstrate their craft and share original, brilliantly-colored carvings. Many of their carvings are rooted in aspects of daily life in the village of San Martin Tilcajete, others are wildly imaginative, springing wholly from the realm of fantasy.  The program helps expand students cultural horizons and encourages a greater appreciation and knowledge of world cultures and art though direct contact with artists.

Third graders have been studying Mexico's traditions and culture as part of their year long focus on world cultures.  Integrating social studies, reading and language arts, students "travel" to Mexico through literature, field trips, and guest speakers.