Tag Archives: Dia de los Muertos

Santo is Coming to Town

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Artwork by Gualberto Orozco

Poster Artwork by Gualberto Orozco

Día de los Muertos – Arte y Lucha in Detroit
November 1 – December 13, 2014
Reception: Saturday, November 1st, 7-10pm
Whitdel Arts, 1250 Hubbard St, Detroit, MI 48209

Santo El Enmascarado de Plata (Rodolfo Guzmán Huerta, 1917-1984), a professional wrestler-movie star known as El Santo, starred in several movies in the lucha libre genre between 1958 and 1984, becoming an iconic figure for generations in Mexico, Latin America and the United States. His performances mirrored the aspirations of the less-privileged classes in which they could see themselves as protagonists in a struggle to survive the contradictions and inequities in contemporary society. This Day of the Dead collective art exhibition explores Santo’s battles against vampires, monsters, zombies, aliens, mad scientists and witches, emphasizing the unique nature of the lucha libre film genre to stage and represent popular values and attitudes.

Please join us for an opening reception for the artists on Saturday, November 1st, 2014

Juan Javier Pescador and Gabrielle Pescador created the ofrenda to El Santo. Their ofrendas have been featured at the Detroit Institute of Arts, the National Museum of Mexican Art, Michigan State University Museum, the Swing Space Gallery and other venues.

Exhibiting artists:

Kia I. Arriaga
Jeffrey Bowman
Sylvia Hernandez
Quetzally Hernandez Coronado
John-Michael Korpal
Dan McCormack
Tim Péwé
Sam Sefton
Rachel Wallis

This event is free and open to the public. All ages welcome. Open gallery hours are Saturdays during exhibitions, noon-3pm, or by appointment. For more information, e-mail Gualberto Orozco at gualberto@whitdelarts.com. For a full schedule of exhibitions and events at Whitdel Arts, please visit http://www.whitdelarts.com.

Getting Ready for the DIA

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I’ve been working nonstop on the Dia de los Muertos ofrenda to Aurelio Rodriguez. Javier and I have to be ready to install on Tuesday morning at the Detroit Institute of Arts in the Diego Rivera Galleries. We’re almost there. We have painted the construction boards and the sign, stenciled the ground, strung flower garlands and measured like crazy. Adios Aurelio

The giant baseball card turned out really well. The skulls are decorated and just need a bit of touching up. A bit more flower business to take care of and some drilling.  Then I think we’re set. Day of the Dead Skulls

DIA DE MUERTOS AND THE MEXICAN REVOLUTION

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Rivera Mural Detail

The Mexican Revolution generated a cultural renaissance for the country’s indigenous roots, a new appreciation for cultural rituals in the working classes and a repositioning in visual arts away from European standards in search for the Mexican identity across time.

In 1921 Diego Rivera returned to Mexico after years in Spain and France, to lead the Mexican Muralist movement, already started in public schools and government buildings. One of the commissions was at the Public Education Ministry in Mexico City in 1923. Rivera envisioned three large segments dedicated to popular festivities in Mexico, one of which was the Day of the Dead. Rivera’s frescoes set the trend for the incorporation of the Día de Muertos into the visual arts.

Rivera Mural SEP (detail)