Día de los Muertos at The Center

Presented by:

The Center presents

Día de los Muertos at The Center

Celebrating cultural traditions with visiting artist, Nelda Reyes

Oct 28-29 | 5:30-7:30 PM

Free & Open to the Public

The community is invited to participate in a collaborative project to build an “Ofrenda” at Center for the Arts and learn about the Day of the Dead traditions with visiting artist, Nelda Reyes. A native of Mexico City, Nelda is a professional performer and educator specializing in cultural programming. She is visiting Jackson in October to teach in the local schools, sponsored by the Teton County Library. In addition, she will lead free workshops for adults and teens at The Center. The poems and sugar skulls created in the workshops will be placed on the community altar in The Center Courtyard.

Day of the Dead is celebrated October 31st – November 2 throughout Mexico, Latin America as well as the United States. The holiday honors and celebrates those that have passed away in a colorful and festival way. Artists also have a long history of participating in Day of the Dead and celebrating this cultural tradition. For example, Frida Kahlo and Jose Guadalupe Posada as well as many contemporary Latino artists.

“The Center is excited to be able to host visiting artist Nelda Reyes for Day of the Dead creative workshops at The Center,” stated Oona Doherty, The Center’s Creative Initiatives Director. “This is a rare opportunity to learn about a Latino cultural tradition from a professional working artist, educator and native of Mexico City.”

To sign up for the free workshops, please contact: [email protected] or call 307-734-8956 ext.128. Recommended for ages 14 and up, and adults are also encouraged to participate.

Sugar Skulls
Monday, October 28th

5:30-7:30pm, Art Association Gallery

Participants will sculpt and decorate their own edible sugar skulls with color sugar paste and name it after a beloved person. Throughout Mexico, Day of the Dead is a commemoration of joyful remembrance and sugar reminds us of joy and happiness. Sugar skulls will be created to add to the community altar. To sign up for the free workshops please contact: [email protected] or call 734-8956 ext.128.

Calaveras: Day of the Dead Poems

Tuesday, October 29th

5:30-7:30 pm, Art Association Gallery

Calaveras are comic poems used to honor or satirize a person, group or institution, making fun of death itself. In this workshop, participants will learn about the Calavera literary tradition and write their own Calaveras poem for the community altar. To sign up for the free workshops please contact: [email protected] or call 307-734-8956 ext.128. Recommended for ages 14 and up and adults are also encouraged to participate.

The Day of the Dead programs are presented in collaboration with Jackson Hole Writers, Art Association, One 22, Children’s Learning Center and the Teton County Library.