| The 21st Annual Day of the Dead Altars and Ephemera Exhibition is on view at The Folk Tree from October 9 - November 6, 2004. The show features traditional altars and other work by local artists, as well as Mexican folk art commemorating this major holiday. The public is invited to a reception on Saturday, October 9, from 2 - 6 P.M. Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), which falls on November 1 and 2, is a Mexican holiday honoring the dead. Ritualized worship of the dead has been practiced in Mexico since at least 1800 B.C. The modern holiday is a combination of pre-Hispanic and Catholic influences. Day of the Dead participants create elaborate feasts and altars paying homage to the dead, and indulge in festive celebrations of life and its aftermath. A time of reflection as well, the holiday has inspired a rich folk art tradition. In honor of these dates, The Folk Tree annually invites Los Angeles artists to assemble altars commemorating people or events of significance to them. Highly personal, these altars often include photographs and other mementos, letters, candles and offerings of food. In addition to lost loved ones, in the past artists have created altars for deceased pets, for victims of disasters such as 9/11, and for well-known figures who have died. Linda Jacques is just one of the artists who has participated regularly over the years, creating unusual and very moving altars - one commemorating her family home, which had been sold; another honoring the wind; still another a very personal homage to her mother. Other participating artists with Day of the Dead related work have included: Joe Bravo, Bill Czappa, Daniel Gonzalez, Johanna Hansen, Rennie Marquez, Carolyn Potter, and Artemio Rodriguez. Mexican folk art objects created for the Day of the Dead observance are also on exhibit. Whimsical pieces are produced to be sold in the streets throughout Mexico in the weeks preceding the Day of the Dead. These items are often made of clay, papier machÈ, tin and sugar. Those forms most commonly found are skeletons and skulls, often decorated to include a person's name, or placed in comical contexts. The Day of the Dead is a particularly interesting time for folk art collectors. Mexico's artists focus on objects of many materials and express their creativity in wonderfully humorous ways. The Folk Tree's favorite papier maché artist from Mexico City, Joel García, will have several pieces on exhibit. The Folk Tree is located at 217 South Fair Oaks Avenue (just fifteen minutes from downtown Los Angeles off the end of the 110 freeway). Hours are: M-W, 11-6; Th-Sat, 10-6; Sun, 12-5. For more information, contact Gail Mishkin at 626/793-4828. |
|
|
