Dia de los Muertos • El Paso and Southern New Mexico

Thursday, November 01, 2007

Dia de los Muertos 2007 - El Paso - El Paso Public Library

Photos from the El Paso Public Library, Downtown Branch. Part of the Culture Cruise to Die For, November 1, 2007.

Dia de los Muertos 2007 - El Paso - El Paso Museum of History

Photos from the El Paso Museum of History. Ofrenda dedicated to Teresita Urrea. Part of the Culture Cruise to Die For, November 1, 2007.

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Three excellent Dia de los Muertos books for children

I wanted to show three of the best Dia de los Muertos books for children (and adults, too). Calavera Abecedario: A Day of the Dead Alphabet Book by illustrator/author Jeanette Winter is filled with fantastic illustrations. The alphabet portion is wrapped within the story of three generations of family that make paper mache calavera for Dia de los Muertos. A great choice for young ones, but even if you don't have children at home, it's still an excellent choice and very fun.

Calavera Abecedario

Day of the Dead complements Calavera Abecedario perfectly. Jeanette Winter provided illustrations for Tony Johnston's book, which is the about the the preparation and celebration of Dia de los Muertos.Ideal for ages 4-8.

Day of the Dead

The Festival of Bones / El Festival de los Calaveras by Luis San Vicente is a fun one, with lots of nods to the woodcuts of Jose Guadalupe Posada. Presented in English and Spanish, the skeletons come to life and will delight your children. Appropriate for ages 5 to 8.

The Festival of Bones

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Esqueletos from Cesar Ivan to go on sale downtown; paintings at Lumenbrite Café

I received a nice email from El Paso artist Cesar Ivan that he'll be selling his handmade skeletons at the downtown Dia de los Muertos festivities. Think I'll have to get one! They look great!

Also, here's a link to a Dia de los Muertos poem by Cesar, as well as some of his Dia de los Muertos-inspired paintings.

Cesar Ivan paintings

Cesar is showing some of his paintings at Lumenbrite Café, so check 'em out!

Monday, October 08, 2007

2007 Dia de los Muertos events at Centro Mayapan

One of El Paso's best places to learn about Dia de los Muertos is at Centro Mayapan. This year's festivities will be held on Saturday, November 3 from 3 to 10PM.

One of the best parts of Centro Mayapan's Dia de los Muertos event is the music. This year, the theme is based around the the musical style of son jarocho, which comes from Veracruz, Mexico. If you're not familiar with son jarocho, it is amazingly complex folk music played on instruments such as the requinto jarocho, a four-stringed guitar similar to a ukelele and the arpa (harp). Popular son jarocho songs include El Cascabel ("The Little Bell") and La Bamba. I play sones jarochos and sones huestecos (another style of Mexican folk music) on my porch whenever I'm relaxing or working outside. They are both styles that I have truly come to love.

The group performing at this year's Centro Mayapan Dia de los Muertos event is Son de Madera — one of the most renowned son jarocho groups. I have two of their albums, and I can certainly say that they are one of the best groups in my collection.

Centro Mayapan will also have altars, food — including many styles of molé (a blend of chocolate and chile) and champurrado (a sweet, hot beverage made from cornmeal), vendors and dancing.

Centro Mayapan is located at 2000 Texas Avenue. For more information, call Lorenzo at 533-9710.

I'll see you there!

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Finding Dia de los Muertos items in the El Paso area

There are not too many places to find Dia de los Muertos figures and artwork in El Paso. Here are a few that I know of, but be aware that the selection is probably very limited. If you are aware of others, please drop me a line and let me know.

Casa de Emma (5034-A Doniphan in Placita Santa Fe). One of the best places for Mexican Folk Art, there's a small but selection of small clay figures and larger Catrinas. Items can be found year-round. UPDATE: Note: Sadly, Emma closed her shop in Summer, 2009.

El Paso Museum of Art Gift Shop - Downtown El Paso in the Museum of Art - A small selection of items year-round, which tends to pick up toward Dia de los Muertos.

Collectibles (4700 N. Mesa) on North Mesa has a couple of seasonal items.

GaleriAzul and Galeria on the Plaza in historic Old Mesilla (just outside of Las Cruces) carry items year-round.

Spirit Winds (2260 S Locust St, off of University) in Las Cruces has a nice selection of Day of the Dead items.

Now, of course, items for the ofrenda (altar) are a different matter. Whether its offerings of food, cigarettes, candies, toys, liquor or whatever the deceased loved one may have loved in the earthly world, look no further than a small tienda or supermarket.

Copal, the resin incense often burned during Dia de los Muertos can be found at any of the Cool Arrows locations throughout El Paso.

Monday, September 17, 2007

Excellent El Paso Dia de los Muertos photographs, 2005 & 2006

I found this very nice set of El Paso Dia de los Muertos photos on the web. Some are from the 2005 Texas Rasquache Festival, some are from last year's festivities. Would love to hear from the photographer to give proper credit!

El Paso Dia de los Muertos photos

El Paso Dia de los Muertos 2007 events calendar

Here's the City of El Paso's banner for Dia de los Muertos 2007 events, plus link below for the full calendar.

City of El Paso's Dia de los Muertos web page

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Masks y Mas - Albuquerque, NM!

I travel up to Albuquerque two or three times yearly. One of my "must-stops" is Masks y Mas on Central Avenue, in the heart of "the Drag," which is the University of New Mexico's college strip. Still, despite my 38 years, I love it. Masks y Mas is quite possibly, the best resource for Dia de los Muertos items in the United States. Here are some photos of just a sampling of their wares. Visit them at www.masksymas.net. Or call (505)-256-4183.

I caught my favorite band, Los Lobos, at the Albuquerque Zoo (the second time my wife, daughter and I have seen them there) on August 18. A great show as always.

Dia de los Muertos is fast approaching, and the word is, the festivities here in El Paso will be even more than last year. But if you're visiting Albuquerque, definitely stop by Masks y Mas. It's phenomenal.

I added one of these clay skulls to my ever-expanding collection!

A huge selection of Catrinas!

Monday, November 13, 2006

More photos of the Dia de los Muertos celebration at La Mujer Obrera, El Paso, Texas, 2006

Friday, November 03, 2006

Beck plays unannounced show at Black Market's Dia de los Muertos art show!

Here's one that will go down in El Paso lore. Beck played an unannounced, impromptu gig at El Paso's own Black Market. I was heading to the Black Market for the Dia de los Muertos art show anyway, and got a tip from my buddy Zach Passero that Beck was there and was going to play a short gig. I didn't have a camera with me; I was at a store getting a new battery for my car. I quickly snapped up a $5 idiot camera and squeezed into the show. Beck played a 45-minute set on borrowed instruments, kicking it off with "Black Tambourine." Other songs included "Where It's At," "Devil's Haircut, "Que Onda Guero?, "Nicotine and Gravy," "Hell Yes" and tracks from his new album, The Information. Sorry for the image quality, but luckily Zach had his digital SLR with his, and promised to get me some photos to post. Wow! What a great night!!!!

Thursday, November 02, 2006

Dia de los Muertos links

Untitled work by Cesar Ivan

Here's a mixed-media work by El Paso artist Cesar Ivan. It's one of many featured featued at the El Paso Muesum of Art, now through December 10. I visited the show yesterday... definitely one to catch, and part of the Dia de los Muertos celebration here in El Paso. The SpAG (Space Available Art Gallery... located at 2419 North Stanton) is also featuring similar works by other El Paso artists through November 8. The Hal Marcus Gallery also has a Dia de los Muertos display. Photo courtesy of Cesar Ivan.