Dia De Los Muertos 2018
The 2018 event was organized in collaboration with Bard Graduate Center to coincide with their exhibition “Agents of Faith: Votive Objects in Time and Place”. The ofrenda consisted of three sections. The central panel, was open for everyone to add their own personal objects to this panel to commemorate the dead. The left panel was dedicated to migrants coming across the border to the US — migrants who have either died or gone missing, their remains never found. This panel consisted of objects donated from Colibrí Center for Human Rights — objects that included flowers with the names of migrants and items that have been discarded at the border. The ofrenda’s right panel was dedicated to victims of Hurricane Maria, with photos and objects given and found during my visits to Puerto Rico.
Altar/Ofrenda
24’(w) x 8’(d) x 12’(h)
Altar/Ofrenda
24’(w) x 8’(d) x 12’(h)
Traditional Mexica blessing of the altar performed by “Cetilizti Nauchampa Quetzacoalt InIxachiltlan“.
Altar/Ofrenda (detail)
Left panel dedicated to migrants who have either died or gone missing.
Altar/Ofrenda (detail)
Dia de los muertos ferris wheel celebrating death.
Altar/Ofrenda (detail)
Left panel dedicated to migrants who have either died or gone missing.
Center Altar/Ofrenda
My daughter Isabella adding a photo of her great grandparents Fernando and Maria Román.
Altar/Ofrenda (detail)
Photo a visitor added to the altar of a loved family member.
Altar/Ofrenda Memorial Wall
Visitor writing a special message and the name of a passed loved one.
Ashé Dance Group.
Ashé Dance Group Drummer.
Ashé Dance Group Choreographer Adia Whitaker and her daughter Yaxche.
Altar/Ofrenda (detail)
Photos visitors added to the altar of a loved family members.
Altar/Ofrenda (detail)
Flowers for visitors to add to the altar
Mia Román (my sister) paying respects to the altar.
A ceremonial performance and traditional blessing of the altar performed by “Cetilizti Nauchampa Quetzacoalt InIxachiltlan“.
Member of “Cetilizti Nauchampa Quetzacoalt InIxachiltlan“ explaining the traditions and ritual before the ceremony begins.
All photos by Shannon Taggart for article in Hyperallergic