"The Catrinas are Coming" Workshop by Ana Elisa Romo
Participants will learn the Mexican tradition of cartonería in a hands-on workshop led by artist and cartonería specialist Ana Elisa Romo. Across eight four-hour sessions, each participant will construct a unique, four-foot-tall (1.3-meter) Catrina from paper, cardboard, wire, papier-mâché, and paint. The project explores the figure’s cultural history, from José Guadalupe Posada’s La Calavera Garbancera to its appearance in Diego Rivera’s *Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in Alameda Central*.
Participants will design their own character, choosing its face, expression, hairstyle, clothing, hat, and decorative elements. All completed Catrinas will be displayed at the Mexican Cultural Institute’s Día de Muertos Open House before participants take them home.
When: October 3–29, 2026, depending on the selected group.
Showtimes: Group 1 meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00–10:00 PM, October 6–29, 2026. Group 2 meets Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00–4:00 PM, October 3–25, 2026.
Tickets: $400 per participant.
Instructor: Ana Elisa Romo, artist and cartonería specialist.
Format: Eight four-hour, hands-on sessions.
Ages: Designed for teens and adults of all experience levels.
Experience: No previous artistic experience is required.
Languages: Spanish and English.
Materials: The fee includes a wood base and structure, head mold, wire, newspaper, cardboard, papier-mâché paste, and acrylic paint.
Additional materials: Artificial flowers, feathers, headpieces, hats, jewelry, fabric, and rebozos are not included. Participants may bring or purchase these decorative materials according to their designs.
Capacity: A maximum of 20 participants per group.
Exhibition: Finished Catrinas will be exhibited at the Mexican Cultural Institute during its Día de Muertos Open House before being taken home by their creators.
Venue: Mexican Cultural Institute, 2829 16th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20009.
Note: Participants should be prepared to work with their hands and get messy while experimenting with traditional cartonería techniques.