Indepth Arts News:
"Annual 'El Día de los Muertos' (The Day of the Dead) Celebration"
2001-10-30 until 2001-11-04
Seattle Art Museum
Seattle, WA,
USA
The annual Mexican, Día de los Muertos rite will
be celebrated at the Seattle Art Museum. For this traditional observance two installations will be on
view at the downtown Seattle Art Museum.
The installations in Brotman Hall will be an ornate altar honoring the
deceased surrounded by traditional Mexican sand painting tapeta, from
Oaxaca, Mexico. The altar and tapeta are designed by artists Fulgencio
Lazo-Amaya and Issac Hernandez and created with other local artists. The
installations are co-sponsored by the Seattle Art Museum and the Mexican
Consulate.
Known in English as The Day of the Dead, this historic celebration spans
centuries, combining ancient and New World traditions, folk customs and
spiritual beliefs. Observed in Mexican and Mexican-American communities on
Nov. 1 and 2, El Día de los Muertos is a powerful, symbolic celebration in
honor of relatives and friends who have died.
During this time, families assemble altars (ofrendas) laden with offerings
of food and drink to nourish the spirits. Flowers, candles, clay figurines
that make light of death, sugar skeletons embroidered with the names of the
deceased, and personal messages to the spirits are placed on the altar. In
this manner, the altar is presented to the community to celebrate loved ones
who have passed away and the ideas they imparted in life.
Related Links:
| |
|