Chandler, AZ: The Vision Gallery, Xico Inc. and The Calaca Center are proud to join in collaboration to present Dia de los Muertos: A Day of the Dead Celebration and Festival on Saturday, November 3rd from noon to 8:00 PM in the Dr. A.J. Chandler Park in Historic Downtown Chandler. The collaboration of these three organizations combines the talents and experience of 31 years of one of the longest running Day of the Dead festivals in Arizona, from Xico, Inc., (formerly known as Xicanindio del Artes of Mesa), eight years of Day of the Dead Exhibitions and Celebrations, (including Vision Kidz educational workshops, artist lectures and demonstrations), from Vision Gallery, and four years of experience from ongoing cultural programming from the Calaca Cultural Center.

The Festival will feature hand-built altars, entertainment, arts and crafts Mercado featuring vendors with one of a kind artworks created by selected Arizona artists, the Vision Kidz area with hands-on activities, including sugar skulls, calacas and papel picado. Performances by Great Arizona Puppet Theater of, “Funny Bunny’s Day of the Dead Holiday Adventure” will delight children and adults alike. Additional programming for the Fesitval will include a Community Altar and 5:00 pm processional, an altar blessing, a Hispanic Filmmaker’s Forum, and demonstrations by working artists. The Calaca Cultural Center will present, “The History of Dia de los Muertos Exhibition”, a temporary exhibit featuring a historical view of the holiday. Our Dia de los Muertos stage during the Festival will present the talents of Zarco Guerrero, Mardi Dance Company, Gonzales, local organizations and bands, followed by the well-known sounds of Barrio Latino, 6:00 - 8:00 PM.

In addition to the one day festival, The Vision Gallery will present a two week exhibition,from October 22nd – November 4th, featuring hand-built altars and offrendas by Marco Albarran, Gloria Arvizu Thompson, Jose Benavides, Jorge Rodriguez Eagar, April Edwards, Zarco Guerrero and Carmen De Novais, Kathy Cano Murillo and Patrick Murillo, Spencer Mahaffey Maat, Ruben Maqueda, Juan Olalde and Catie Raya, and artworks by Rafael Navarro and Yvonne Torres Villareal.

Admission for both events are free. The Vision Gallery is located at 80 South San Marcos Place, Chandler, Arizona. Gallery hours for the exhibition are Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Saturdays, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.

The Day of the Dead is a celebration in Mexico, South America and parts of the United States where family members engage in decorating gravesites and creating altars in honor of family and friends who have passed away. Using flowers and familiar items, families partake in picnic festivities, honoring their dearly departed, by sharing memories and stories about the histories of those who have passed before us. It is a celebration honoring ancestry.

The Vision Gallery will host artworks for sale that commemorate this colorful holiday, offer gallery tours for small groups, and encourage participation in a community altar.

Where: Vision Gallery, 80 South San Marcos Place, Chandler

What: Día de los Muertos: A Day of the Dead Celebration and Festival

When: Dia de los Muertos Celebration and Festival: Saturday, November 3rd,
Noon to 8:00 PM
Vision Gallery Día de los Muertos Exhibit: October 22nd through November 4th

All events are Free Admission

Gallery Hours: Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturdays, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Information: Call 480-917-6859

For image requests, please contact Candee Lewis, 480-917-6859.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 26th, 2007 at 3:09 pm and is filed under Day of the Dead Celebrations. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.