Day of the Dead Exhibition

2nd Friday Art Walk Reception:
* November 9, 5:00 – 8:00 pm

Exhibit Dates:  November 9 – December 20

Falkirk Cultural Center is pleased to present five murals by Oaxacan-born artist Ernesto Olmos on the theme of Diá de los Muertos.

[Pictured: Cosmologia, portion]

Artist’s statement (excerpts):

COSMOLOGIA

This mural is based on the cosmology, or worldview of death in the world Nahuatl of Mexico and Central America. Our ancestors believed that how we died determined where our soul went, and not as many religions’ belief based on how we behave in life.

Este mural está basado en la cosmovisión de la muerte según el mundo Náhuatl de México y Centro América. Nuestros ancestros creían que depende como morimos así era el lugar adonde iba nuestra alma y no como la creencia de algunas religiones basadas en cómo nos comportamos en la vida.

EL MERCADO DE MUERTOS

This mural represents the preparing for the arrival of loved ones’ spirits.

Este mural representa la preparación de las familias para la llegada de los espíritus de nuestros seres queridos que han fallecido.

LA COMPARSA

The third mural represents the theatrical troupe, represented as a procession where participants perform and mock different characters such as the devil and death among others.

En el tercer mural se representa una procesión donde los participantes actúan en una obra teatral muy divertida, en la cual se hace burla de los diferentes personajes de la sociedad incluyendo, el diablo y la muerte entre otros.

LA OFRENDA O ALTAR DE MUERTOS

The altar is an offering for the spirits and to Mother Earth. The arrival of our loved ones spirits coincides with the harvest. Besides being an offering to the spirits is also offering to the earth, as thanks for the subsistence she gives us.

El altar es una ofrenda a los espíritus y a la madre tierra. La llegada de nuestros seres queridos fallecidos, coincide con la cosecha. A parte de ser una ofrenda para los espíritus, también es ofrenda para la tierra, dando gracias a ella por el sustento.

EL CEMENTERIO

Depending on the traditions of different places, some people go to the cemetery at the start of the celebration to receive the spirits. Others meet in the cemetery on November 2nd to return the souls to his grave.

Dependiendo de la creencia de los pueblos, algunos van al cementerio al principio de la celebración del Día de los Muertos para recibir a los espíritus de sus seres queridos. Algunos pueblos se reúnen en el cementerio el 2 de noviembre para regresar las almas a su morada.

Ernesto Hernandez Olmos is a multi-talented artist, specializing in many cultural art forms of the pre-Columbian peoples of Meso-America including music, dance, storytelling, sculpture, painting and making traditional instruments out of wood and clay. Ernesto was born in Oaxaca, México, and received his degree in art at “La Escuela de Bellas Artes” of the University of Oaxaca, and is an accomplished muralist with many standing artworks around the Bay Area. Ernesto is founder and director of Xaguia Gura and co-director of Balamoatl, projects dedicated to the diffusion of indigenous Meso-American culture, music and dance.