Opening Reception: Fall Gallery Night, Friday, October 21st from 5 – 9pm
Parade: Friday, October 28th, beginning at 5pm from the United Community Center (1028 S. 9th St.) and ending at WPCA (839 S. 5th St.)
With one of the longest running Día de los Muertos Exhibitions in Milwaukee, WPCA is proud to be moving into its 19th year celebrating this rich Mexican tradition. Curated by local artist Jose Chavez, the celebration will include ofrendas (altars/offerings) created by local artists of various backgrounds in addition to sculpture and 2-D work related to the holiday. Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) recognizes death as a celebration of life. It reminds one to reflect on what they value through the commemoration of loved ones and their lives, while at the same time generating enthusiasm for the friends and family around us. As the celebration progresses, this dynamic gathering transforms itself into a festivity of life. Join us at the reception for music from 6:30 – 7pm, a live performance by Aztec dancers from 7:30 – 8:30pm, poetry from 8:30 – 9pm and great food throughout the evening!
Ofrendas will be created by local artists, including:
- Susan Borges Vliet
- Robert Cisneros
- Baldo and Mera Garcia
- Dara Larson and students of Alverno College
- Janice Mahlberg (Altar dedicated to Tim McCarthy who was a bat zoologist and did much of his work in Latin America)
- Mary A. Smith (Altar dedicated to Elizabeth Taylor)
- Lona Long Veslaco
Aztec Dancers:
The Omeyocan Dance Company has created a special Aztec show, based on Aztec mythology, to celebrate Día de los Muertos. To start the sequence, dancers perform the Battle Dance which features two Aztec warriors. When one of the warriors perishes, his soul is greeted by another soul who leads him to his next life in the Aztec underworld of Mictlan, where the dead dwell. The sequence ends when the souls who reside in Mictlan perform the Día de los Muertos Dance. This special show also includes two Mexican folk dances: La Danza de los Diablos (The Devil Dance) from the state of Oaxaca, and La Bruja (The Witch) from the state of Veracruz. These dances present an interesting way to celebrate and learn about a related holiday in the United States: Halloween.
Dia de los Muertos @ WPCA
Altar by Jose Chavez2010 Dia Parade Finale at WPCA
2010 Dia Parade Finale at WPCA