The traditional Mexican holiday, Dia des los Muertos
(Day of the Dead), will be celebrated with an exhibit and reception at the
Carlsten Art Gallery at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
The exhibit will be offered Thursday, Oct. 30, through
Sunday, Nov. 2, 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 ofrendas (altars) 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 Saturday, Nov. 1,
from 6-8 p.m., with a gallery talk, face-painting, Mariachi music and
refreshments, including pan de muerto (a traditional Mexican sweet roll).
During the reception, Ana Runnion, Spanish instructor for the Department of
World Languages and Literatures, will speak about the Day of the Dead holiday
at the gallery at 6:20 p.m. Los Gavilanes, a mariachi band from
Madison will be playing throughout, and the food for the event is provided by
El Ranchito Mexican Restaurant in Stevens Point.
Sponsors for the event: Division
of Student Affairs, College of Fine Arts and Communication, Department of World
Languages and Literatures, LSA (Latino Students Alliance),
Spanish Club, Carlsten Gallery Student Advisory Committee.
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.