Laredo Celebrates "Día de los Muertos"

For eighteen years the Laredo Center for the Arts has celebrated the "Día de los muertos" or "Day of the Dead" by offering the public an extended view of what is known to be a Mexican tradition.   This year on November 2, 2011, from 11am-4pm, the LISD's Vidal M. Trevino Magnet School of Communications and Fine Arts, and students from Open Art Studio will participate in this unique and annual celebration.

Despite the mournful subject, this holiday is celebrated in a joyfully and colorful way.  Rosie Santos Sponsorship and Event Coordinator at Laredo Center for the Arts explained, "Día de los muertos is a chance for people to honor their loved ones who passed away by building an altar with different items that belonged to that person, or things that they once liked to eat and drink." By creating this altars,  " People say their spirit comes to the altar and at the same time they get to rejoin with their loved ones." Santos added. 

This year's event, the LISD's VMT Magnet School and students from Open Art Studio will take part by building sugar skulls, catrinas which are humorous images of contemporary figures depicted as skeletons, often accompanied by a poem, and papel picado a decorative craft made out of paper cut into elaborate designs.  Some students will also be attending this event with their faces painted as a symbol of mocking the dead.

In previous years, the Laredo Center for the Arts has usually made a big push in providing some advertising with stories of Día de los Muertos.  However, this year the celebration will be different.  Santos said, "It seems everybody just lost interest, because we've done this event every year but this is the only time that we have downsized it and it's just a small student exhibit."  Santos added, "In the past, it is a rich tradition that was carried on and everybody here was really excited about Día de los Muertos so it is something that we have always done."

Even though it will be a minor celebration, this is a great opportunity to visit the Laredo Center for the Arts to partake and support the art exhibits of students who will join to celebrate this Mexican holiday.  Santos explained, "The Laredo Center for the Arts will always encourage it and will try to continue on it as long as people want to be in involved."  Santos hopes that "maybe next year there is more community involvement and this way the event can grow bigger."

For more information on the Laredo Center for the Arts call Rosie Santos, Sponsorship and Event Coordinator, at (956) 725-1715 or stop by 500 San Agustin Avenue in historic downtown Laredo; open Tuesday - Saturday from 11am - 4pm.

(Claudia M. Torres may be reached at cayitamtoles@dusty.tamiu.edu)