Dia de los Muertos
featuring the artists of Taller Rueca Gráphica of Centro Municipal de Artes, Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico
Exhibit: October 30 - November 28, 2004
Reception: Saturday, October 30, 2004, 6-8 pm
La Peña is presenting its annual Dia de los Muertos exhibition and this year it features the artists of Taller Rueca Gráphica from the Centro Municipal de Artes, Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico. These artists are Cecilia Sanchez Duarte, Pilar Gonzalez, Oscar Vega, Cecilia Garcia, and Francisca Villalobos. The exhibit will begin on Saturday, October 30 th and run through November 28 th at La Peña Gallery with the opening reception taking place on Saturday, October 30 th from 6-8 pm.
More than 500 years ago, when the Spanish Conquistadors landed in what is now Mexico, they encountered natives practicing a ritual that seemed to mock dead. It was a ritual the indigenous people had been practicing at least 3,000 years. It was a ritual the Spaniards would try to unsuccessfully eradicate. It is known today as "DIA DE LOS MUERTOS" and is celebrated in Mexico and certain parts of the United States. Unlike the Spaniards, who viewed death as the end of life, the natives viewed it as the continuation of life. Instead of fearing death, they embraced it. To them, life was a dream and only in death did they truly awaken.
The celebration of Dia de los Muertos is full of symbols, history and traditions that the artists of Taller Rueca Gráphica will present in a unique manner through their various printmaking techniques and instillations. Their goal is to recreate this historical tradition and express the roots of their culture which gave fruit to the culture of Mexicans today.