Dia de Los Muertos

I went to the opening reception for HANAL PIXÁN FOOD FOR THE SOULS: DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS 2012 at the National Museum of Mexican Art in Pilsen on Friday, September 14. This is the Museum’s 26^th annual exhibition of this show and the largest annual Day of the Dead exhibition in the United States.

This show included dedications to artists who have had an impact on their communities. This year’s exhibition is dedicated to Chicago artist Francisco G. Mendoza. I was not familiar with the work of this artist before seeing this show, but I subsequently learned that he created many public works in the Pilsen neighborhood, including venetian glass mosaics and murals at the Cooper School, on the facade of Orozco Academy, and at the18th Street El station.

Detail of 18th St. El Station Mural

There was also a dedication to some Chicago artists, husband and wife Alfred and Anna M. Tyler, who I had the pleasure of meeting during many art events in the city. The decorated video installation that honored them was created by their daughter, Ami Tyler-Herzon, her husband Rich Herzon, and their friend Jesús Macarena-Ávila. Al Tyler was a visual artist and gallery operator. Anna M. Tyler was an artist, writer, curator, historian and lecturer.

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Throughout the exhibition, there was a wide variety of media—sculpture, puppets, video installations, painting, lithography, photography, and quilts—all in colorful celebration of death. Ubiquitous with this celebration is the representation of ornamental skulls. There were sugar skulls, psychedelic skulls, giant and miniature skulls, made from items like foam, wood, jewels, and ceramics with multi-colored glazes. Also ubiquitous with this celebration is the altar. The altars included various ceremonial objects like candles, sugar skulls, pan de muerto (bread of the dead), and other ofrendas (offerings).

In the Mexican culture, death is embraced as a part of life, and Dia de Los Muertos is a celebration to remember and honor ancestors. The actual celebration of Dia de Los Muertos takes place on the 1^st and 2^nd of November. This show will run through December 16, 2012.