Day of the Dead Exhibit

October 14 - November 14, 2003

Exhibit of Dias De Los Muertos
A Mexican
Memorial Celebration


José Guadalupe Ruiz Aguilar Posada was born in Aguas Calientes, Mexico on February 2, 1852 to parents of Indian descent. Posada was the creator of most of the images used for Days of the Dead in Mexico. A famous engraver, Posada popularized the figure of death in the world of art and deeply influenced Mexican popular culture for generations to come.José Guadalupe Posada drew many of the well-known images of skeletons used in folk art. Here are some examples of folk art inspired by Posada’s La Catrina, a fashionable woman of society. Yet, in his own time, he was considered a mere artisan, a commercial illustrator producing images on short deadlines for the penny press.

After his death in 1913, he was largely forgotten, but his work was rediscovered a decade later by Jean Charlot and the artists of the Mexican Renaissance, who recognized a predecessor in Posada and acknowledged him as "the Artist of the Mexican people." Today José Guadalupe Posada’s work is internationally recognized.

 

Skeletons (Calaveras)

The miniatures presented are hand-made of wood, clay and glass in the central part of Mexico. Many are satirical comments on society, humorous notes on traditions, or sharp political commentaries.

Arturo (“El Negro”) Durango Moreno became the head of the police forces of Mexico City during the administration of Miguel de la Madrid. Known for his showy military uniforms, Mopreno obtained power by knowing what all the skeletons in the closet of many PRI party bosses were. A man of truly Baroque corruptibility, he became a symbol of the total corruption of the PRI party and could be said to have hastened its end.

 

 

 

Papel Picado

In Mexico, papel picado (perforated paper), refers to the traditional art of decorative cut paper banners. Papel picado are usually cut with sharp “fierritos” (small chisels) from as many as fifty layers of colored tissue paper at a time. Designs may incorporate lattice-work, images of human and animal figures, flowers, and lettering.

 

Folk art made by the Castillo family in Puebla, Mexico.

 

Papier mache skulls from Mexico.

 

Please view more pictures of the altar and the exhibit here.

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Virtual exhibit created by Edo Williams
 
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