The end of October ushers in the holiday season, with days of remembrance, Thanksgiving, and religious observances soon to come. The first holidays on the fall calendar — Halloween and Día de los Muertos — will look different this year, but we are still finding ways to creatively observe these traditions!
In observance of Día de los Muertos, artist Hector Dionicio Mendoza will be creating an installation at Montalvo called Veinte/Veinte, an ofrenda, or altar, that serves as a space to reflect on and honor memories of loved ones. The altar will be installed in Montalvo’s Oval Garden from Wednesday, October 28 through Wednesday, November 4.
You are invited to participate by sending photographs of loved ones passed on or before October 27, to be placed by the artist respectfully as part of Veinte/Veinte. You can also visit while the altar is installed and add photos or mementos representing loved ones lost yourself.
An important element to memorials celebrated during Dia de los Muertos is the ofrenda, an altar created to commemorate your loved ones. In our online Making an Ofrenda workshop on Monday, November 2 from 6-7:30pm, you can learn how to create your own memorial that can be placed within your household.
Your altar will be made with handmade and decorative materials, using a combination of different techniques and methods. Once the piece is finished, you will learn how to personalize and display additional mementos and adornments.
If you're looking for more ways to get creative at home throughout the fall, take a look at our complete schedule of online classes for adults and teens, including sessions on printing, artmaking with Sharpies, sculptural collage, wreath-making, and more!
If you're a parent, you're likely looking for some fun projects to engage your kids with this time of year, especially if trick-or-treating is out of the question. Great news: we have some options for you!
Whether you plan to visit Montalvo to see the ofrenda that will be installed on our grounds in the coming week — or if you'd like to try creating your own altar at home, we have a great new activity guide for you and your family!
In addition, we have also created two Montalvo At Home step-by-step projects to create fun and festive Halloween decor at home with your kids. These can be done with simple, basic art supplies and are a perfect way to get creative while celebrating the fall holiday season:
Our weekly series Scratch Space: Virtual Conversations on the Role of the Radical Imaginary has featured some truly fascinating conversations with artists offering new perspectives on social issues, race, history, and more.
This coming Thursday, October 30 from 12-1pm, our conversation Reinventing Ritual will feature artists Hector Dionicio Mendoza, Amalia Mesa Bains, Viviana Paredes, and Pilar Agüero-Esparza discussing their shared interest in ritual, memory and tradition. We will consider the Mexican tradition of Día de los Muertos in the time of Coronavirus, examine the importance of ritual during moments of uncertainty, and explore new models for remembrance and connection.
If you'd like to get caught up on the whole series of Scratch Space episodes, visit our YouTube Channel:
