ALTAR
Dia De Los Muertos Celebration
NOV 2019
The roots of Dia de los Muertos goes back 3,000 years to the rituals honoring the dead in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. The Aztecs and other Nahua people living in what is now central Mexico held a cyclical view of the universe, and saw death as an integral, ever-present part of life.
Celebrated each year from October 31st to November 2nd, Dia de los Meurtos is a Mexican holiday celebrated in contemporary Mexico and among those of Mexican heritage in the United States. As a Mexican holiday Dia de los Muertos is an annual holiday to welcome back the souls of deceased relatives for a brief reunion that includes food, drink and celebration. As part of Dia de los Muertos individuals and families create an ofrenda/altar as a display meant to exhibit a personal offering and to honor ones ancestors and loved ones.
For Dia de los Meurtos 2019, Secret Gallery celebrated by organizing a community celebration and group art installation titled “Altar”. The center of the celebration were the installation of over a dozen artist ofrendas/altars inside the community space of the historical B. Ruppe Drugstore in Barelas, NM. Each artist was tasked with creating a altar/ofrenda designed to represent their art and celebrate their loved ones. The community celebration included live music, folklorico performances and neighborhood gathering.
