The traditional Mexican holiday, Dia des los Muertos
(Day of the Dead), will be marked with an exhibit at the Carlsten Art Gallery
at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
The exhibit will be offered Monday, Oct. 28, through
Sunday, Nov. 3, at the gallery on the second floor of the Noel Fine Arts Center
on campus. The display will include traditional and contemporary Dia des los
Muertos alters created by members of the Latino Student Alliance, Spanish Club,
International Club and Carlsten Gallery Student Advisory Committee at
UW-Stevens Point as well as students at the Stevens Point Area Senior High
School.
A free, public reception will be held Friday, Nov. 1,
from 5-7 p.m., with a gallery talk by UW-Stevens Point History Professor Anju
Reejhsinghani, face-painting and art activities for children, Mariachi music
and refreshments, including pan de muerto (a traditional Mexican sweet roll).
The gallery is open free of charge, Monday through
Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Thursdays from 7-9 p.m. and on weekends from
1-4 p.m. More information on the gallery is at www.uwsp.edu/art-design/galleries/index.aspx.
Dia des los Muertos, celebrated throughout Mexico and in
parts of the United States, is connected to ancient Meso-American beliefs
surrounding death and rebirth. The Aztec ritual was moved to coincide with All
Saints Day and All Souls Day, and includes visiting a cemetery where loved ones
are buried to clean and decorate graves and celebrate the deceased with food
and music.