Love to Death: Community Altars

About

Love to Death: Community Altars coincides with the Museum’s 34th Annual Celebration of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Artists, community groups, and individuals are invited to create commemorative altars dedicated to the lives of influential figures who served the Austin community, figures from popular culture, and loved ones who have passed. Day of the Dead is an ancient, Mexican and Mexican American religious holiday, with a historically rich tradition that integrates pre-Columbian and Catholic customs. It is often celebrated in Mexico and November 1 and 2 (dates vary by region and may be longer) in connection with the Catholic Holy Days of All Saints’ Day and All Soul’s Day. For many Latin American countries, it is a time to honor and greet the departed as they make their journey back to be with the living each year. These days are a time for families and friends to gather in celebration of life and death. The circle of life, rather than loss and sorrow, is embraced. Mindful of the day’s historical-religious roots, Mexic-Arte Museum transforms the celebration by mixing popular with traditional materials, sacred with secular objects, personal with social issues, and popular art with contemporary expressions.

Installation Images