Next Saturday, October 29, 2011 is the Art Center’s El Dia de los Muertos/Day of the Dead Celebration! In anticipation of the event, we’ve asked altar artist, Richard McGowan, to share with us, and you 
, what El Dia de los Muertos means to him.
From Richard McGowan:
I love being a part of El Dia de los Muertos for what the exhibit represents-the enduring nature of love. That understanding was impressed on me ages ago by Jessica Lowry. I attended El Dia de los Muertos as an assignment for a Spanish class and when I saw her altar, for her Uncle Con, it knocked me over.
The altar had cornstalks, a cigar, Autumn vegetables and fruit, a razor… anyone looking at Jessica Lowry’s altar met her Uncle Con. We knew him and the contents of her heart. Jessica trained me.
In Loveing Memory of Grandma Bloch by Cassidy and Jamie McGowan
And I ‘trained’ my son, who has designed several altars. This year, he and his wife created an altar for her grandmother. Anyone looking at their altar will meet Grandma Bloch. Like Jessica Lowry’s Uncle Con, Grandma Bloch grew up on a farm. She loved the color pink; she was a secretary for 31 years; she enjoyed playing cards, quilting, and crosswords puzzles; she rooted for her Wisconsin teams, the Pack and the Brewers; most of all, she loved her family and her family loved her.
The same can be said for Genevieve Lickona, my friend’s granddaughter born prematurely last November.
I got caught in her struggle to survive, asking my friend Tom for news. When Genevieve died in February, it broke my heart as it did her family’s. Genevieve’s short life appears to have little by way of presenting a personality, but for this: Genevieve was loved by many.
The Littlest Angel by Richard McGowan
My altar, therefore, displays that love, an enduring love founded in faith. The pink felt backdrop is in the shape of a church, with a cross on top and a shroud for cover. A Bible, rosary, and angels show the faith Genevieve was born into. A saint anchors the altar.
I’d like to think that the altar opens hearts to Genevieve.
I know that the many altars in this year’s exhibit certainly opened mine to the wonderful people who have passed through this world.
Richard J McGowan lives in Indianapolis with his wife Barbara. They have the blessings of three children and one grandchild. He teaches ethics at Butler and has been part of the El Dia de los Muertos exhibit in past years.
The Art Center’s El Dia de los Muertos altar and shrine exhibit is on display until November 27, 2011. Visit www.DayoftheDeadIndy.org for more information. And, be sure not to miss the Dia de los Muertos celebration on Saturday, October 29, 2011 from noon-5pm. The event attracts more than 4,000 people to the Art Center for a day of traditional Mexican food and desserts, music, shopping in the Mercado, and hands-on art activities for the whole family, including: sugar skulls, mural, papel picado banners, embossed tin jewelry, face painting, and more! The altar and shrine exhibit will be up along with exhibits by three other artists. The celebration is free and open to the public, but donations are appreciated (just $10 for Skull Buddies, plush dolls made volunteers as a way to help raise funds). Shuttles to and from Park Tudor School run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 317.255.2464 for more information.
The Day of the Dead Altar Exhibit
The Indianapolis Art Center’s altar exhibition provides the community an artistic interpretation of Mexican Day of the Dead altars normally displayed in homes. Artists, community members, schools, organizations and individuals of all backgrounds respect and honor this tradition by creating both traditional and contemporary altars. Some altars incorporate many or all of the customary elements such as marigolds, food, water, papel picado, candles, incense, personal mementos and photos displayed in a tiered fashion under an arch. Other altars showcase new interpretations of the altar’s design or structure but still make use of traditional offerings. All the altars featured at the Art Center honor individuals who once walked the earth, respecting what we believe to be the heart of this beautiful tradition.
The Art Center and Day of the Dead Programming
The Indianapolis Art Center began providing Day of the Dead programming in 2000 as a response to the growing Hispanic and Latino populations in Indianapolis. It started as a way to engage this community through a celebration of culture, tradition, and artistic experiences. However, throughout the years the Art Center found Day of the Dead programming to bridge numerous communities, connecting people of all backgrounds through the universal experience of death. Communicating the history and importance of this celebration through art activities that reflect the tradition and engage children and adults in discussion regarding their own beliefs has connected people from all walks of life. The Art Center serves an educational role regarding Day of the Dead and continues to strive to bring people of all backgrounds together.
