The Centro Artistico y Cultural invites you to participate in our yearly event, the Dia de Los Muertos Celebration, which includes a series of community workshops specific to both traditional and contemporary themes. The understanding of Mexican culture is an invaluable tool that integrates its diverse population with recognition of our human frailties, our joys in life, and our family and community.
Culture and tradition are the basis of knowledge, ideas, and skills that enable a group of people to survive in their environment. These services provide the greater community an opportunity to enter into the heart/mind of our Mexican and indigenous roots and to explore the fact that we all share the same human needs and values. Our rich historical and cultural tradition of celebrating our deceased provides participants with a sense of belonging to a community. It offers everyone, children and adults, the chance to engage in a celebration that places them in an historical timeline and fosters a safe place to discuss the feelings of mortality and continuity.
It is in this spirit of unity and celebration that we hope you can join us!
EVENTS:
Music Workshop by CEIBA, "Latin American roots music", 6:00 - 8:00 pm
CEIBA formed in 1999 at La Pena del Pueblo, a workers' cultural project at La Mujer Obrera (now Centro Mayapan), with the purpose of reclaiming and disseminating the musical genres of Latin American folk, neo-folk, and New Song marginalized by the commercial music industry. The cultural, historical, and artistic value of this music and the poetry of its lyrics encourage us to explore a vast and rich human geography formed by the confluence and conflict of Indigenous, European, African, and Semitic traditions. The Americas have as many cultures and struggles as the macaw has colors. CEIBA interprets corrodes, sones, huaynos, pirecuas, cumbers, guajiras, joropos, polkas, says, takiraris, danzas, waylas, albazos, and condombes. Core musicians are Jena Camp, Raul Garcia, Norma Orozco, and Lorenzo Guel-Camp, son of CEIBA's co-founder and musical director Lorenzo Guel (1961-2009). Norma and Rubi Orozco also dance the zapateado.
Music by Dr. Iya Khan, Outdoor Stage, 9:00 pm - 12:00 am
Dr. Khan has been a professional musician for over 25 years. He was a big smash in Las Vegas for ten of those years with his band "Iya Khan and Would-be Kings". He played all the casinos and hotels, was a house band at the House of Blues in Las Vegas, and toured the U.S.A. and Europe. He plays a "smokin" guitar, has a voice like a rock and roll angel, and it's hard not to get up and dance when he plays. He is a talented songwriter and lyricist, and can create and record music tracks for other artists.
Gallery Opening, David Andersen, "Tonto y Gureo", 6:00 pm - 12:00 am
David Anderson began his early career working as an Entomologist for Environmental Labs where he expedited USDA grants that studied pesticides. After several years working in this field, he changed directions and decided to become an artist. After graduating with his MFA degree in Painting in 1988, Andersen worked as a studio instructor and full time Director of Galleries at five universities and colleges, including the University of Texas, El Paso. He is currently Professor of Art at Clackamas Community College, where he directs the Drawing and Painting programs.
Hands-on Events & Public Participation:
- Community Altar
- "World's Largest Painted Skull" with artist Israel Armendariz
- Skull painting Station
- Buena Vista Azteca Dancers
- Papel Picado by Mary Lou Valencia on display
- Dead Bread, Roasted Corn, and Cafe el Chuco to pour over coffee
Check out the video from last year's Dia de Los Muertos, 2012:
