In Rachel Slick's first memories of working with papel mache she is with her Grandmother, making calaveras for Dia de los Muertos on the patio of her Tijuana home. Each calavera bears the name of another cat who got hit by a car on their busy street. The young Rachel always made sure there was a fresh bowl of milk and a wreath of marigolds on the altar for each unlucky pet in the cat graveyard under the banana trees.

Now a recognized self-taught artist, Rachel creates work which combines a Mexican sentimentality with a contemporary take on the symbolism of transformation.

For a native to the West all her life, moving to the Midwest 5 years ago was quite an experience. She now lives on a 120 year old farm in SE Indiana with her husband and son.

Pieces shown at left: La Primavera, above, and Orange Tee, below.