SFYT Celebrates Day of the Dead
SFYT’s altar as part of Mission Cultural Center’s 35th annual Day of the Dead exhibit and celebration.
Commemorating Loss
Day of the Dead has become a much anticipated Mission neighborhood tradition thanks in part to the wave of migrants from Latin America, the Caribbean, and Chicanos that sought to preserve and promote traditions, customs, and beliefs. The festive pre-colonial indiginous holiday is a time to celebrate the dead, by visiting them or creating altars for the spirits to visit us, and making an Ofrenda to the spirits, with various elements from the dead’s favorite foods to cherished items. Other traditional altar elements: salt for purifying the soul, Marigold flowers to welcome the dead, Papel Picado to announce the arrival of the spirits. These traditions offer an opportunity for the living to collectively mourn and remember our ancestors and those that have recently passed and emphasize the importance of community healing.
In 1972 René Yañez and Ralph Maradiaga curated the first Day of the Dead exhibition at the Galeria de la Raza in the Mission District of San Francisco. Throughout the years, the practice grew popular among the new residents. During the 1980’s the Marigold Project began to organize public altars at Garfield park. In 1997 Yañez curated the Rooms for the Dead at the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts; wherein, artists were given a 6x6 space to set their ofrendas, simultaneously creating a labyrinth of altar installations for the living to walk through. These traditions have evolved but the message is consistent: to honor our ancestors and to commemorate our loss.
Mi Fiesta, Lloraré si Quiero
San Francisco Youth Theatre (SFYT) students and teaching artists created this ofrenda to honor losses youth have endured over the past year. The COVID-19 pandemic and shutdown created a myriad of challenges for youth–both large and small: a year without school, friends moving away, parents who lost jobs, graduations, family visits, celebrations and of course, the devastation of losing loved ones.
Mi Fiesta, Lloraré si Quiero (It’s my party, I can cry if I want to) represents two years of missed birthday parties for our youth. If you are ten years old, this is 20% of your life. As children experience their families’ and community's struggle with grief, anxiety, and uncertainty, their own feelings can be overlooked. Our youth need love, support and opportunities to create art to heal from the trauma the pandemic has inflicted on them. In this exhibit, SFYT students, ages 7-18 express their feelings and create artwork to commemorate their losses.
Lead Artist: Alex Bargas @alexbargas_studio
Contributing artists: Susana Aragón, Dyana Díaz, “Yiyo” Ornelas, Emily Klion, George Brooks &
SFYT students from Sanchez Elementary School, SF International High School, and SFYT onsite classes.
SFYT’s altar is part of Mission Cultural Center’s 35th annual Day of the Dead exhibit and celebration: Ni Tanto Ni Tan Muertos— Neither So Much, Nor So Dead,
Reception: November 2, 2021
Admission $5 to $10
Exhibition dates: October 12 to November 19, 2021
Gallery Hours: Tuesday to Fri 10:30am to 7:30pm, Saturdays 10:30am to 4:30pm
Proof Of Covid-19 Vaccination Will Be Required.