Artists Uncork’d group dives into creating Mexican-style sugar skulls

WASILLA — Inside the Dorothy Page Museum in downtown Wasilla, a group of painters sit at tables with canvases in front of them and paints at their disposal. As the host artist, Lori Teich stands up front with her own canvas, instructing the class how to paint the Mexican style art of sugar skulls, akin to the “Day of the Dead” tradition wherein skulls are decorated in floral and other patterns. In the spirit of Artists Uncork’d, she is wearing an afro wig and beard and even stuffed her shirt with chest hair, aping Bob Ross, the artist of PBS fame known for painting his ‘happy trees.’

With Halloween coming up, the skull painting was a fitting theme for the occasion. Fitting music like Monster Mash and Time Warp from Rocky Horror Picture Show plays in the background, setting the mood with the painter’s costumes. With the Grape Tap catering for the event, painters enjoyed treats like tasty bacon wraps and bubbly chardonnay.

The cavasses were prepped with glow-in the-dark paint so after their final brush stroke, they could turn off the light and see their creation come to life. Twelve students follow Teich as she guides them to penciling, then painting the skull then the purple background, then finishing the shading and decorative colors of the skull. As the paint flies and everyone gets uncorked, each student took their own twist on their version, which is happily encouraged. They relaxed and mingled and laughed.

Teich is a seasoned artist who has worked all over the Valley doing commissions including murals by Wasilla Lake. She has actually made a living as an artist for five years. She has a lot of fun working with people and especially children.

This is the second time Artists Uncork’d has teamed up with the Dorothy Page Museum. Curator Bethany Buckingham paints in costume up with Teich. They plan to work again with Artists Uncork’d next year.