November 1st I got a kitchen pass from Heather and headed out to Living Arts in the Brady District to check out their Day of the Dead celebration. I first went two years ago and I thought it was wonderful.  Dia De Muertos (Dia De Los Muertos is a back translation from English I read) is a day where people in Mexico honor and remember their relatives and close friends who have died.

Often the dead are remembered via Ofrendas (Offerings) which are altars built to honor the dead person. It may have photographs of the deceased or possessions and often contain favorite foods or beverages and if it is a child, a toy. Living Arts in their “Altared Spaces” Exhbit displayed Ofrendas made by people for their loved ones. In fact they solicit the public to put up Ofrendas.

Some were for people who had a long life and many children and grand children.

And others were for people who passed away way too young.

They were all works of art.

The Ofrenda above is for those people who died while trying to cross the border.

I love the concept of honoring lost ones with an Ofrenda.

Living Arts also had murals painted just for the event. I love them for their humorous macabre riff.

Dancing skeletons

Here is one in honor of dogs. Our dogs just don’t live long enough if you ask me.

The murals are beautiful. Even the ones with gas meters in front of them.

There was dance also. Ballet Folklorico Sol Azteca of Tulsa put on a great performance of folk dances.

The costumes were colorful

And the dancers were lively

It was beautiful and I had a front row seat for some reason.

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And there was all sorts of other things going on. Food vendors, crafts, other performers. You can bet that I’ll be back next year!