Celebrating the dead is never livelier than during the Museum of Northern Arizona’s Celebraciones de la Gente, its annual Hispanic festival. This year’s festivities open with a copal incense blessing by traditional Aztec fire dancers from Mexico City, followed by a weekend highlighting Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead.
Partnering with Flagstaff’s local Nuestras Raices organization, the 2nd Annual Celebraciones de la Gente promises an event dedicated to promoting Mexican/Mexican American/Hispanic culture through music, dance, artist demonstrations, graffiti artists at work, local historic photography and discussions, children’s crafts, cultural speakers, and numerous programs focusing on how to pay homage to the dead.
“This celebration helps bring back traditions that are getting lost,” says Delia Muñoz, a Nuestras Raices member. “It reinforces our mission to draw on northern Arizona family histories, talents, photos, and traditions as tools for cultural transmission to the people of northern Arizona.”
Munoz is working on gathering more than a dozen Dia de los Muertos altars from northern Arizona families to display in the Museum’s historic courtyard. A larger community altar for the public to contribute items honoring their lost loved ones will also be on display. In addition, a separate altar will honor all veterans.
Dia de los Muertos is a holiday held throughout Mexico, Latin America, and the Southwest around this time of year to celebrate transformation to the afterlife and lure the dead home for a visit to honor them with celebrations, altars, and prayers. Preparing an altar by placing photographs, marigolds, candles, and favorite foods and drinks of loved ones also provides a special time to remember and to transform grief into acceptance.
Dia de los Muertos traditions reach far back to ancient times in many cultures, including the Aztecs. During the festival, In Tlanextli Tlacopan will perform dances in full Aztec dress and tell ancient tales each day. The folklore group Nosotros will fill the air with original and traditional Latino Americano sounds. The Guerrero Family will be on hand to musically celebrate and educate audiences on Dia de los Muertos traditions and violin virtuoso Quetzal Guerrero will perform Latin jazz.
Three Folklorico groups from Flagstaff will delight audiences: Ballet Folklorico Mexico Lindo, Ballet Folklorico Mesa School, and Ballet Folklorico De Colores. Educational, yet fun, cultural discussions throughout the day will include “Making Sugar Skulls to Adorn Altars,” “The History of Silversmithing in the Southwest,” “Local Hispanic History,” “Salvadorian Storytelling,” “The Meaning of Dia de los Muertos,” an altar building workshop, storytelling by Lupe Anaya, and a Sunday tinwork workshop with master artist Fred Lopez from Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Quetzal Guerrero
Quetzal Guerrero’s electric violin music blends strong Latin influences with elements of hip-hop and jazz in an enchanting performance. This young, talented musician from Phoenix, at 23 years old, is already a veteran, having jammed with Latin music greats such as Tito Puente, Jorge Santana, and Lalo Guerrero. His birth name, Quetzal derives from the Aztec-Nahuatl language and it means “precious feather.” Quetzal has opened for the Barrio Boys, Los Illegales, Fey, Christian Castro, Vicky Carr, Acoustic Alchemy, Jorge Santana, and Paul Rodriguez. He will perform in a duo, as well as with his family during the Guerrero family’s music presentation.
Nosotros
Immerse yourself in an atmosphere of natural sounds from Latin American cultures, created by the simple, indigenous musical instruments of Nosotros. Whether it’s a big Argentinean drum called a “bombo” or deer hoofs made into a rattle called a “chak-chak,” this group will surround you with traditional folk sounds. Their music includes a repertoire of rhythms, ranging from festive to mournful. Originating in 1976 in Guadalajara, Mexico, award-winning Nosotros continues to participate in numerous Latin American festivals, while expanding their knowledge and exchanging experiences with musicians around the world.
In Tlanextli Tlacopan
Traditional Aztec fire dancers from Mexico City, In Tlanextli Tlacopan, represent the glory of Aztec and Mexican cultures through dances honoring ancestors and history. The phrase In Tlanextli Tlacopan (pronounced In Tee-lawn-next-lee Tee-laaa-co-pawn) represents the Aztec/Mexicah traditions.
“We want people to know the splendor of the Aztec/Mexicah peoples is alive and well and not an imagination of the past,” says dance leader Martin Tellez. “We have all learned the tradition of La Danca Azteca (Aztec dancing) from our barrio of Tlacopan in Mexico City.
Southwest Eclectic Artist Association
Not the kind of name you’d expect for a group of graffiti artists, however that’s exactly who comprises Flagstaff’s Southwest Eclectic Artist Association. Looking for respect for their art form, the spray paint artists find it at the Museum for the second year, by creating a Dia de los Muertos mural on a movable wall located outside the Museum’s front entrance. Ongoing graffiti demonstrations keep both young and older audiences entertained as spray paint forms into skeletons, depictions of ancient cultures, and other colorful cultural images.
Children’s Activities
Celebraciones de la Gente is a perfect time to educate kids on Hispanic traditions. In addition to the regular programming, activities just for kids includes piñata breaking, skull face painting, and the Children’s Corner where they can make and take home a craft for free
Hispanic Tinworking Workshop
Sunday, October 30, 2005, 1– 4:00 p.m.
$50 Members and $60 Nonmembers
Explore the elegant, artistic tradition of Hispanic tinwork with Fred Lopez, a master artist from Santa Fe, New Mexico. Experiment with various techniques of tin punching, soldering, and polishing while creating a beautiful tinwork mirror or picture frame. Participants provide a hammer. Please contact Tracy Anderson at 928/774-5213, ext. 220 or tanderson@mna.mus.az.us to register by Thursday, October 20
For more information on how to participate in altar building, call Delia Munoz at 928/523-6840. Artists and vendors may call Diane Rechel, Museum of Northern Arizona Heritage Program Manager at 928/774-5213, ext. 217.