September 9, 2004
Item courtesy of Veronica M. Kann
Day of the Dead is a unique Mexican celebration, honoring deceased loved ones and welcoming the return of their souls for one night each November.
Our new Focus Gallery exhibit offers two explorations of Day of the Dead. Skeletons and skulls are some of the most common symbols of Day of the Dead, and they appear on an array of art, holiday pieces, and everyday items. Objects loaned by three local collectors show how prevalent these symbols are and some of the many different messages they can communicate.
A photography display borrowed from the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, A Celebration of Souls: Day of the Dead in Southern Mexico, shows in brilliant colors the preparation for the holiday. Flowers, candles, and special foods entice souls home.
A highlight of the exhibit is the ofrenda, an altar holding offerings to the deceased. Traditionally, an individual household makes an ofrenda in the home for departed ancestors. For our ofrenda, area schoolchildren participating in Museum programs will make decorations and add images of relatives or other people who have been important in their lives.
The Spurlock Museum is pleased to be collaborating with Verde Gallery, Champaign Public Library, and Urbana Free Library to provide a broad range of public events and activities in celebration of Latin American arts and culture.
A Celebration of Souls: Day of the Dead in Southern Mexico was developed by the Field Museum in collaboration with Mars, Incorporated. The exhibit opened in the Spurlock Museum's Focus Gallery on September 18th, 2004, and closes on January 3rd, 2005.
The Museum wishes to thank the following collaborators for their help with the exhibit:
- The Field Museum(external link)
- The Verde Gallery(external link)
- Urbana Free Library(external link)
- Champaign Public Library(external link)
Item courtesy of Veronica M. Kann
Item courtesy of Veronica M. Kann
