‘Celebration of life’
Museum of International Folk Art gets ready for Dia de los Muertos
Blame it on “Coco.”
The 2017 Walt Disney animated film introduced audiences to the Mexican tradition of honoring one’s ancestors on Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, but some think the movie has contributed to the growing commercialization of the holiday.
New Mexico’s norteños aren’t known for celebrating Day of the Dead, but the holiday’s traditions were firmly embedded in Santa Fe by Museum of International Folk Art benefactor Alexander Girard. The internationally known architect and designer donated his extensive collection of 100,000 folk art objects to the museum, including two Mexican sugar skulls — one inscribed with his nickname, Sandro, and another with his wife’s name, Susan.
“Girard loved Day of the Dead,” said Leslie Fagre, director of education for the folk art museum, which is building an
ofrenda honoring its patron. His philanthropy endowed the museum’s Girard Wing, which opened in 1982. Girard is the subject of an exhibition at the museum that closes Sunday, Oct. 27.
That’s also the day the museum will host a free Day of the Dead celebration from 1 to 4 p.m. Visitors are invited to decorate
calaveras de azúcar (500 sugar skulls have been made by Maria Jose de Ayala for the event), make papel picado y flores (paper banners and flowers) and come dressed as a calaca (skeleton).
Members of the public can bring flowers, candles or a
memento to put on a community altar. (One year, someone left their pet’s ashes on the ofrenda, Fagre noted.)
There will be two Los Niños dance performances, at 1:30 and 2:30 p.m., as well as a La Llorona musical performance by Rob Martinez at 2 and 3 p.m.
The folk art museum held its first Day of the Dead celebration in 2000, in collaboration with Wise Fool New Mexico, El Museo Cultural de Santa Fe and Warehouse 21, according to deputy director Maria Gomez. Fagre said the Dia de los Muertos open house attracts from 800 to 1,200 people.
The museum’s events and others around town have been embraced by folk art aficionados, as well as the city’s Mexican community.
But as more attention is given to the holiday, which predates Hispanics in the Americas, pushback is occurring. In response to a question about whether there are any “cool” Day of the Dead events in northern New Mexico, one commenter on the Facebook bulletin board Española Valley Gossip decried people dressing up and calling attention to themselves on a sacred day.
“It’s a family celebration, NOT a day where you paint your face like a skull and put flowers on your head. JUST SAYING,” wrote Vanesa Loya.
Estefania Riggs, who served as head of bilingual education for the folk art museum for 15 years, agrees. “It is getting too commercial,” Riggs said as she painstakingly assembled the altar dedicated to Girard. A native of Mexico City, Riggs moved to Santa Fe in 2003.
She noted that, in Mexico, Dia de los Muertos extends over two to three days as families build altars in their homes with food, drink and flowers to help their deceased loved ones on their journey through the next world. At the end, all of the food and drink are consumed by the living, Riggs notes.
“Dia de los Muertos is really a celebration of life,” Riggs said. “It isn’t dark. It’s about providing sustenance for loved ones. Some families will spend days and nearly a month’s wages decorating their ofrendas.”
It is also a time for families to visit cemeteries, light candles and clean the gravesides of family members, she said.
Although the holiday dates back to pre-Christian times, one of the key figures in Day of the Dead celebrations didn’t arrive until the beginning of the 20th century. Known as La Catrina, the tall skeleton with the fancy hat and feathers was the creation of artist José Guadalupe Posada, a political cartoonist. Posada was famous for drawing wealthy-looking skeletons as a way of reminding people that everyone would end up dead, not matter how much money they had.
There will be many Catrina imitators wandering around the Plaza and the Railyard in the next week as the City of Santa Fe, El Museo and other venues observe Dia de los Muertos, Santa Fe style.
Among the interesting observances are:
A collaborative event Oct. 29 produced by The Lensic, the City of Santa Fe and others that includes family-friendly activities, including face painting and sugar skull decorating, on the Plaza from 4 to 6 p.m. A screening of Tim Burton’s “Corpse Bride” will take place at The Lensic. We recommend reserving tickets in advance for the movie.
Teatro Paraguas’ lineup of live music, cuentos (folktales), dancers and other performances, which will take place on Nov. 1 from 7 to 9 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 2 and 3, at 2 p.m. at 3205 Calle Marie. There is a freewill donation at the door and children under 12 are free.
A launch of Judith Fein’s book “How to Communicate with the Dead: How Cultures Do It Around the World.” The event will take place at El Museo Cultural, 555 Camino de la Familia, from 7 to 9 p.m. on Nov. 1.
All Souls Psychic Faire at Paradiso, 903 Early Street, featuring dozens of readers of different genres, including Lisa de St. Croix, an artist who will build a Day of the Dead altar. Tarot, palmistry and astrology practitioners will be present at the free event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 2. Most readers are charging $20 a session.