it's so ironic because i just read a good friend of mine's blog(Mikie) and there are two similarities! first of all, she's been in a funk, just like me. she even used the same verbage i had, (in describing it to another friend --- Elaine), that i had to "get my groove" back! secondly, she was talking about getting a tin from Lawndale for the Day of the Dead show in Oct.
any artist can go to the Lawndale Art Ctr and pick up a tin to make an artwork with. the only "requirement" being that the sm sheet of tin must be somehow incorporated into the artwork.
it's alot of fun! i've been participating in the Dia de los Muertos for like 10 yrs now. it's always so interesting to see how many different interpretations there are. and how many different ways the artists use the tins. some are painted, some are framed, some are quite elaborate with electrical lights, fountains and orchestrated movements. some are so covered up, (with found objects, fabrics, wood, leather, paper, plastic, metals, wax, ceramics, mirrors, feathers, twigs, leaves, fur, etc), it's impossible to even see the tin. it is a great show to see!