22 Oct 2011 - 00:

Austin, Texas, 78701

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Free Admission

5th Street Downtown Congress to Brazos Vendor Fair & Live Performances 2-10PM	Plaza Saltillo 5th & Comal Concurso de Calaveritas & Family Activities 2-5PM	Grand Procession Plaza Saltillo Down East 6th Street 6-7PM

We are now recruiting vendors, volunteers and procession participants. For details and application forms, click on the links below:

2011 Grand Procession Theme: Calling 100 Mexican Free-tailed Bats!

For nearly three decades, Mexic-Arte Museum has introduced a new costume theme to the Día de los Muertos Grand Procession. With each new category, the parade becomes more creative, more visually impressive, and more uniquely Austin. This year, we are recruiting 100 Mexican Free-tailed Bat Costumes. As Austin’s unofficial mascot, bats are an important part of our “Keep Austin Weird” identity. But did you know that bats were also central to Pre-Hispanic images of Death and the Underworld? For details, costume ideas, and to register, download our Procession Application

General Information

Mexic-Arte Museum, the Official Mexican and Mexican American Fine Art Museum of Texas, is celebrating its 28th Annual Día de los Muertos – Austin’s largest and longest-running Day of the Dead festival featuring Latino artists and entertainment, educational art activities, and a grand procession in the heart of downtown.

Part of the proceeds benefit the Museum’s education outreach programs.

Viva la Vida Fest celebrates life and our environment through art and culture, using the traditions of Dia de los Muertos. The festival brings together a diversity of people in Austin to pay homage to friends, family, and heroes. The festival features a grand procession followed by a costume contest and a street celebration with:

• natural and organic Mexican and Tex-Mex foods and beverages
• hands-on art activities & artist demos
• local artist and retail booths
• spectacular, larger-than-life props
• live music and dance performances!

To make the festival eco-friendly, Mexic-Arte Museum encourages all participating artists and festival-goers to create their props out of recycled, re-used, and sustainable materials. The Museum is also committed to leaving a smaller footprint on the environment by reducing waste and minimizing energy wasted.

The event will not only encourage environmentally conscious artistic creations, but it will also promote eco-friendly living, healthy eating, and exercise through cycling and walking.

Bicycles, Buses and Cars

CYCLISTS
We encourage you to ride your bicycle to Viva la Vida Fest! It’s healthy, and it’s easier to find parking.

BUS-RIDERS
There is a Capital Metro bus stop at the corner of Mexic-Arte Museum. Please check their website, www.capmetro.org, for route information.

DRIVERS
There are several options available for those arriving by car:
1) pay-as-you go metered parking on the streets
2) garage parking at Perry Brooks garage at 9th & Brazos, Capitol Tower garage, at 9th & San Jacinto, and Littlefield garage on 6th Street, just east of Congress Ave.

What is Dia De Los Muertos?

For 27 years, Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) has been Mexic-Arte Museum’s annual signature event in the Austin community. Día de los Muertos is an important Latin American tradition, taking place on November 2, when friends and family gather to honor and remember loved ones – not through mourning, but through celebration! The origins trace back to the Pre-Columbian era, when death was viewed as a transformation. Death was not seen as the final end, but rather as a cycle or continuation of life. This ancient belief evolved to the modern tradition of creating altars to commemorate loved ones, decorated with sugar skulls, flowers, photographs, and favorite foods and memorabilia of the deceased. They share stories and memories, and they sing songs and play music.

Click here to download the Day of the Dead
Educational Activity guide

Click here to download the
paper-mâché shapes

Sponsors

Please contact pr@mexic-artemuseum.org or (512) 480-9373 x84 for 2011 Sponsorship Opportunities.

Children

Children and their families will have the opportunity to create activities, calavera masks and paper flowers. This is a special and wonderful opportunity for people of all ages to learn about the traditions of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) through interactive, hands-on art activities.

Murals

Each year we invite artists to create Day of the Dead-inspired murals on our 5th street Museum wall. This year visual artists were Federico Archuleta, Louie Chavez, and James Huizar. Please come by our wall, take photos, and enjoy!

During Austin’s annual Museum Day, Austin-based artist Federico Archuleta created this Day of the Dead mural advertising the upcoming Viva la Vida festival.

Photo by Ralph Barrera/Austin American-Statesman

San Antonio-based artist Louie Chavez’s Day of the Dead-inspired mural examines transcendental philosophy within the Catholic faith.

See more information at  http://photoblog.statesman.com/getting-ready-for-dia-de-los-muertos-by-painting-a-mural