October 7, 2016 (Detroit)—The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), in collaboration with the Mexican Consulate of Detroit, will exhibit 14 ofrenda altars, or offerings, created by local artists from Friday, Oct. 21, to Sunday, Nov. 6 in celebration of the Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead), which honors the life and memory of lost loved ones. This year’s display, “Ofrendas: Celebrating el Día de Muertos,” marks the fourth consecutive year of the popular program.

Themes of the ofrendas include memorials to family members and friends; the origins of the Mexican Día de Muertos tradition; Mexican inventors, scientists and writers; Edsel and Eleanor Ford and their relationship with Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo; the people and places of Detroit’s southwest Delray neighborhood; and Alzheimer’s victims, among others. The altars, which range in size from five to 10 feet tall, will be constructed from a variety of media, including found objects, papel picado (paper cutouts), artificial flowers and food, LED candles, sugar skulls, photos, sand, clay, wood and more.  

The DIA put out a call to artists for proposals, and submissions were judged by a selection committee of DIA staff and local community members of Mexican heritage. The artists chosen for the exhibition have wide-ranging experiences and occupations—from seasoned artists and teachers to art enthusiasts, entrepreneurs and community group members. Many have designed ofrendas for other museums, galleries and community centers.

“Celebrating this important cultural artistic tradition is just one of the ways we are working toward bringing all members of our communities together” said Salvador Salort-Pons, DIA director. “Visitors from all backgrounds will be able to make their own personal connections to each of these ofrendas, as well as to the area artists who created them. We love to work with our local artists and feature their creativity and our rich cultural diversity.”

New this year, the DIA is asking the public to submit photos of lost loved ones on Instagram for consideration of inclusion in an exhibition slideshow. To participate, post a photo with the name of the deceased, the years he or she lived and the hash tag #DIAofrendas2016. In addition, visitors can create retablos, or devotional paintings, and paper flowers to leave in the exhibition’s community ofrenda during drop-in workshops offered on Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. throughout October.

Other Día de Muertos themed programs at the DIA include sugar skull workshops on Fridays in October from 6 to 9 p.m., puppet performances by Marionetas de la Esquina on Saturday, Oct. 22 and Sunday, Oct. 23 at 2 p.m., cultural demonstrations of Aztec traditions on Saturday, Oct. 29 and Sunday, Oct. 30 at 2 p.m., dance performances by Ballet Folklórico de Detroit on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 1 and 3 p.m. and a talk by the ofrenda artists on Sunday, Nov. 6 at 3 p.m. Festivities are free with museum admission, which is free for residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.

For more information about the artists and the concepts of their altars, contact Larisa Zade at lzade@dia.org.