Art Center East Celebrates Día de los Muertos with Sixth Annual Community Ofrenda and Youth Art Exhibit

Description

LA GRANDE, Ore.,– Art Center East (ACE) will host its sixth annual celebration of Día de los Muertos, a traditional Mexican holiday that honors loved ones who have passed away, with a Community Ofrenda (altar) and Y outh Art Exhibit, on display November 1-9, 2024. This year’s event begins Friday, November 1, with a free opening reception for the youth art exhibit from 6-8 p.m. The exhibit will feature more than 300 pieces of Día de los Muertos artwork by K-12 students from Union, Wallowa, and Umatilla counties. Y outh artists, their families, teachers, and friends, and members of the public are all invited to the opening reception. On Saturday, November 2, community members can enjoy visiting the exhibit and community ofrenda during quiet candlelit reflection time from 6-8 p.m. 

Ofrendas are altars adorned with colorful marigolds, photos of deceased loved ones, and sometimes offerings of favorite foods and symbolic items to celebrate the lives of those who have passed away. ACE invites people of all ages to contribute to the community ofrenda by bringing photos and/or mementos of their loved ones to place on the altar for the duration of the exhibit. Items may be brought to ACE beginning Friday, November 1, at noon. Items must have a name and phone number clearly printed on the back, and must be picked up by the owner no later than 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 9. 

Día de los Muertos is an annual celebration during which families remember and honor their ancestors with food, music, and vibrant artwork. Recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the holiday has deep roots in both pre-Hispanic indigenous traditions and the Catholic observances of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. 

ACE staff encourages K-12 teachers across Eastern Oregon to help students learn about the significance of Día de los Muertos and its artwork. This year, approximately 22 educators will participate, resulting in a wide range of student artwork that represents cultural themes and art styles associated with the holiday. Children and teens who visit the exhibit November 1-9 and who participate in the interactive stations available will be eligible to win prizes such as gift certificates to La Fiesta Restaurant in La Grande, ACE “Take & Make” Art Kits, and more. 

The annual event, which ACE first hosted in 2018, is part of the organization’s ongoing effort to share the rich traditions of Día de los Muertos with the wider community. ACE’s Día de los Muertos celebration has brought together various local organizations and volunteers over the years, including Eastern Oregon University’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) staff, Latino Impact student club, and La Fiesta Restaurant in La Grande who have painted faces, prepared Día de los Muertos “Take & Make” arts learning kits, offered traditional food items for sale, and helped build exhibit displays in previous iterations of the event. 

The Community Ofrenda and Y outh Art Exhibit will be on display November 1-9 in ACE’s Main Gallery. Art Center East galleries are open to the public and admission is always free. Art Center East is located at 1006 Penn Avenue in La Grande. For more information, visit artcentereast.org. 

About Art Center East: Art Center East, based in La Grande, Oregon, was founded in 1977 and is a member-based nonprofit arts services organization that brings arts opportunities and education to residents of ten Eastern Oregon counties. Housed in an historic Carnegie Library building, the organization hosts art classes, art exhibits in three galleries, and community events such as Día de los Muertos celebrations, literary readings, and the organization’s annual Handmade Holidays Makers Market that features work of local artists and artisans. ACE’s Artists in Rural Schools Program engages K-12 students across Eastern Oregon and the Community Music Program offers ensemble opportunities and private music lessons to community members of all ages. 

Art Center East programs are supported by members, community donations, local and regional businesses, and regional and statewide foundations. For a list of Art Center East supporters and for more information, visit artcentereast.org. 

Media Contact:

Nicole Felty 

Communications Coordinator 

Art Center East 

260.609.7354 

communications@artcentereast.org 

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