Scottsdale Dia De Los Muertos now 4-day salute to Hispanic heritage
Staff Reports | Digital Free Press
Scottsdale Dia de Los Muertos is set to bring together world-class artists and the local community to create a vibrant, visually entertaining, larger-than-life, cross-cultural experience with community activations of art, altars and performances.
Scottsdale Dia De Los Muertos, which is from Oct. 23 through Nov. 2, is a culmination of several groups coming together for one cause. They are:
- LORE Media & Arts;
- Scottsdale Arts;
- City of Scottsdale;
- Old Adobe Mission; and
- Mexican Consulate General in Phoenix.
Events include the Scottsdale Dia de Los Muertos Artares y Ofrendas, an 11-day, interactive walk-through event; “Fiesta de Muertos y Danza,” a single-evening performance of theatrical folk ballet at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, and the new four-day Civic Center Art Installation Experience.
The installations feature Dia de Los Muertos- and Mesoamerican-inspired murals and fine art panels, painted by top-tier artists from the Valley of the Sun and throughout the southwest, as well as artists from Los Angeles, Mexico City and Oaxaca de Juarez, Mexico.
Specialized folk-art designer Rogelio Santibáñez Arellanes, from the city of Oaxaca de Juarez departments of culture and art, will also present a new series of Scottsdale Community Altars with traditional offerings and collaborative artistic partnerships.
“As we enter our seventh year celebrating the expanded Scottsdale Dia de Los Muertos season of festivities, we continue by intention to dedicate ourselves to establishing new local and international cultural partnerships while honoring the sacred memories of our loved ones through art and specialty performances in Old Town Scottsdale,” said Robert Ramirez, founder of Scottsdale Dia de Los Muertos and LORE Media & Arts spokesperson.
The new experience at Scottsdale Civic Center runs from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27, through Monday, Oct. 30. Admission is free and open to the public. It features large-scale fine art installations, Mesoamerican-inspired sculptures and traditional altars in the outdoor space north of Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. 2nd St., Scottsdale. More details can be found at CivicCenterLIVE.org/events.
Revitalized Civic Center hosts Scottsdale Dia De Los Muertos celebration
A longer, 11-day installation, “Altares Y Ofrendas,” will be installed at the historic Old Adobe Mission, 3817 N. Brown Ave. This expanded installation of elaborate art and altar displays celebrates the rich, ancient traditions of Dia de Los Muertos. “Altares Y Ofrendas” is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, Monday, Oct. 23, through Thursday, Nov. 2. Admission is $15 but free for children 10 and younger.
“Fiesta De Muertos Y Danza” will be performed at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, in the Virginia G. Piper Theater at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. 2nd St., Scottsdale. Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet Company will combine art and ritual, transporting audience members through regions of Mexico and its richness and wonderment of cultures while honoring the origins of Dia de Los Muertos’ celebration of life, loss and remembrance. Admission starts at $49.
Scottsdale Dia de Los Muertos is now officially recognized by and in partnership with the Consulate General of Mexico in Phoenix and the Office Ministry of Tourism of Mexico for all Dia de Los Muertos activations.
