Prints inspired by the Aztec Sun Stone

The Aztec Sun Stone is a revered Mexican artifact that is said to be perhaps the most famous symbol of Mexico besides its flag. The Sun Stone was discovered and excavated in 1970. The original basalt version measures 12 feet by 4 feet thick, weighs 24 tons, and is on display at the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City. Because of the carved hieroglyphs, with the names of the days and the cosmogonic suns, the Aztec Sun Stone was first incorrectly identified as a calendar stone. Actually it has been a "temalacatl“, a round stone used to tie captive warriors in gladiatorial sacrifices. Only recently deciphered, it actually tells the history of the four great disasters which caused the migrations of the Native Americans who would ultimately build the great Tenochtitlan (Mexico City, today).

Fifth graders used the Sun Stone as inspiration to create their own sun designs for printmaking. They used graph paper to create designs that were stylized, simplified and symmetrical which they transferred to a rubber-like printing plate. Using a tool called a gouge, students focused on balancing the positive and negative space in their carving. Finished plates were printed with colorful inks and papers to create a series of prints for display!