Lively interaction for Day of the Dead art project

A Day of the Dead altar will slowly take shape outside of the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art this month as community members add personal offerings and effects. The project, growing ever bigger and more decorative, culminates with an October 31 gathering at the museum.

The artistic spin on Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) begins October 15.
“Our current exhibition, “Visions of Paradise: Art and the Power of Faith,” is a wonderful tie-in with this important traditional Mexican observance,” said Margie Maynard, the museum’s director of education and public programs. “We’re building on that by giving people of all faiths and non-faiths an opportunity to learn more about it and take part in some of its traditions.”
The theme is Recuerde Siempre: Always Remember. For Dia de los Muertos in Mexico, altars are often erected at the entrance of towns by community members for those spirits who have no living relatives to build an altar for them.
In keeping with this tradition, SVMA will erect a large altar on the Museum’s façade on Broadway. “The community is invited to partake in decorating this altar and bringing their own personal offerings in remembrance of a loved one.” Maynard said.

The evolving altar design at 551 Broadway will be guided by a series of suggestions by museum staff.

Beginning October 15, the Museum will be issuing “challenges”, or invitations, to the community via its website, Facebook page, Twitter, and announcements in The Sun, to visit the altar on several occasions and bring a new offering in response to the latest themed request.

A new challenge will be issued every few days, Maynard said, and will include offerings such as hand-made flowers, a photograph or portrait, a poem about life and death, and similar contributions. Accompanying each challenge will be a brief explanation of the origin or meaning associated with each offering.

On October 23 and 30, SVMA will host two family Dia de los Muertos art workshops from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with artist and educator Zoe Harris. Harris will lead activities that relate to the tradition of Dia de los Muertos and to the specific offerings for the Museum’s altar.

At the end of the afternoon on October 31, guests at the Museum are invited to proceed to the Sonoma Community Center to continue the festivities.