Comcast & The Unity Council Present An Oakland Greater Bay Area
Celebration of Arts & Traditions

What: The Comcast Presents Día de Los Muertos Festival is a celebration produced by the Unity Council to preserve the Latin American tradition of honoring and remembering the dead. Stretching over nine city blocks, the twelfth annual event will be attended by an anticipated 100,000 people from around the Bay Area. The festival will feature four stages, live Latin music from top regional and local performers, traditional dance, hands-on activities for children, a delectable array of food, hand-made specialty goods and more. In following with this year’s theme of “Honoring The Memories”, twenty-two memorial altars created by professional artists and community groups will be on display.

Where: The festival will take place on International Boulevard between Fruitvale Avenue and 40th Avenue, and in the Fruitvale Transit Village Plaza in Oakland. Admission is free. Festival attendees are encouraged to take BART to the Fruitvale station, as parking will be limited. Bicycle parking will be available at the Fruitvale BART station, courtesy of the East Bay Bicycle Coalition.

When: October 28, 2007 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Who: The Unity Council, in partnership with major event sponsors Comcast, Citibank, AAA of Northern California, PG&E, Kaiser Permanente, Safeway and Washington Mutual.

Why: The festival highlights altars created by local professional and community artists to commemorate the passage of loved ones. Congresswoman Barbara Lee has inducted The Unity Council’s Dia de los Muertos Festival into the U.S. Library of Congress as a “Local Legacy” for the State of California. The festival is also recognized by the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and California Main Street.

Festival highlights:

Diverse musical lineup, ranging from world-class artists to local youth performers on four entertainment stages with live Latin music and dancing. Featured artists will include Danza Cuauhtonal, Banda Perla La Gitana, Los Mismos, La Familia Son, Ojada and more.

Approximately 150 exhibitors, ranging from local artisans to non-profit organizations to food vendors will line the streets and offer up their goods and services.

Specialty areas with different themes will be placed along International Boulevard and in the Fruitvale Village. Traditional altars, created by professional and community artists, will be located on International Boulevard at 34th Avenue, along the De La Fuente Walkway at East 12th Street, and on International Boulevard at 38th Avenue. The Kaiser Permanente Children’s Pavilion will offer numerous interactive activities to engage children, while the PG&E Community Pavilion will focus on providing information about local social services. The Celebra La Ciencia Pavilion will include interactive science activities for children by the Chabot Space and Science Center, the Lawrence Hall of Science, Explorit and several other groups.

at 16th & Mission BART Plaza
Friday November 2nd, 2007
3:00-5:00 pm
Plaza 16, 16th Street BART Station,
16th and Mission Streets, San Francisco, CA 94110
Free and open to the public

San Francisco — The Mission Community Council is pleased to announce the Dia de los Muertos Celebration at Plaza 16, a free, public cultural event on Friday November 2nd, 2007, from 3:00 to 5:00 PM. The event will take place at Plaza 16, the 16th Street BART Station’s southwest plaza, in the Mission District of San Francisco, CA.

Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead is a traditional celebration of Mexico where ancestors are remembered and honored. Highlights of the celebration at Plaza 16 are Aztec dancing, a community alter and mural, and healing arts performances. This celebration was developed as a collaborative effort of community members and organizations to be a free event for the community.

The public is invited to enjoy musical performances, participate in building the community alter, and learn about the rich culture of the Indigenous Mexico. The Mission Community Council has also invited various Mission District non-profit organizations to display information and resources that benefit the diverse population of the Mission district.

Performances by:

Mama Coatl/ Silvia Parra Percussion, Voice and Ritual “As a more recent immigrant from Mexico, MamaCoAtl has hit the ground running. She brings her bold feminist spirituality consciousness to our community events. She has broken performance boundaries in her unique way of exploring mixed-language usage (Spanish and English) and blurs the line between spoken word and song.” Nina Serrano, Poet.

The Marsh Youth Theater - provides youth ages 4-15 with a high quality theater arts experience integrating music, dance, drama, stagecraft and performance into one holistic program. Open to all young performers without audition and regardless of financial limitations, MYT exposes children to the vast world of multicultural arts by working with a diverse group of professional performing faculty. The Marsh develops new performance, providing artists with an intimate venue and an environment that encourages experimentation.

Barbara Heredia local activist, artist, musician, and native of Uruapan Michoacan, Mexico.

Nancy Esteva, Poems for our Dead People.

Mario Patiño Musica Andina. Music originating from natives of the Andes Mountains in Bolivia, Peru, and Columbia.

Information Tables from organizations like:

· Planned Parenthood Golden Gate - Planned Parenthood Golden Gate is a non-profit health organization that has been helping women, men and teens make responsible choices for 83 years. Since 1923, Planned Parenthood Golden Gate has been committed to delivering the highest quality reproductive health care, teaching responsible and age-appropriate sexuality education and has been working diligently to protect a woman’s right to choose <http://www.ppgg.org/site/lookup.asp?c=esJMKZPKJtH&b=1185395> . Each year more than 65,000 women, men and teens visit Planned Parenthood Golden Gate’s eight health centers.

· Hermanos de Luna y Sol - Latino gay/bisexual men in the U.S. have been highly and disproportionately affected <http://www.caps.ucsf.edu/projects/HLS/hlsrisk.php> by the AIDS epidemic. The program “Hermanos de Luna y Sol” (HLS) was designed as a culturally-appropriate HIV risk-reduction intervention that targets immigrant, Spanish-speaking gay/bisexual men <http://www.caps.ucsf.edu/projects/HLS/hlstarget.php> in the San Francisco, CA Mission district.

· Movimiento Marcha Primero de Mayo” Amnistia Incondicional – movement for the amnesty of immigrant residents and workers.

· Movimiento Oaxaca – The movement in support of the people of Oaxaca.

· California Health Collaborative - To ensure that under served women 40 years and older are screened for breast cancer and women 25 years and older are screened for cervical cancer on a yearly basis. To decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with breast & cervical cancer by detecting the disease early.
· Mission Neighborhood Health Center - Mission Neighborhood Health Center dares to imagine a vision of equity, parity and inclusion of Latino Hispanics and their neighbors in the pursuit of culturally competent health care, proactive prevention education and universal access to well being for the emerging generations of the third millennium.

· The Marsh Youth Theater - provides youth ages 4-15 with a high quality theater arts experience integrating music, dance, drama, stagecraft and performance into one holistic program. Open to all young performers without audition and regardless of financial limitations, MYT exposes children to the vast world of multicultural arts by working with a diverse group of professional performing faculty. The Marsh develops new performance, providing artists with an intimate venue and an environment that encourages experimentation.

Dia de los Muertos celebration at Plaza 16 is organized by the Mission Community Council as a part of the Plaza 16 Project. The Mission Community Council is a collaborative network of over 35 Mission non–profit organizations, businesses, faith groups, and public departments committed to promoting the vitality of the Mission District. The project aims to create a safe and beautiful place by promoting community-oriented cultural activities. This past February, the group organized Love Your Mission Neighborhood Day a free community event featuring local break dancers, visual art, activities and community performances.

The event is free and open to the public. It is also wheelchair accessible.

Exhibition of Altars by Mary Jane Solis, Lissa Jones, Rick Moreno and Phyllis Carrasco and photographs by Mary J. Andrade at the Martin Luther King Jr. Library, 5th floor. The library is located at 150 E. San Fernando St.

The exhibit will open on Oct. 19th to Friday November 9, 2007.

Opening Reception on Friday, October 19th, 4-6 p.m.
This exhibit is presented by San Jose Multicultural Artists Guild, San Jose State Library and the Martin Luther King Jr. Library.

For more information call: 272-9924.

Last year’s Day of the Dead presentation was a huge hit at SJSU – MLK Library. This year’s celebration will take place in the charming CET Theater at 701 Vine Street in San Jose. It will be the 33rd Annual Festival de la Vida Celebration!!

Elena Robles will present a talk and show some of her photographic investigations for Day of the Dead over the last 24 years…in slides of images from inside the more remote areas of Mexico. The rest of the show this year will be more even larger than last year, with student and professional entertainers, mariachis, and a formal Ceremonia Azteca.

It is a great show for students, families, adults and kids. There is something for everyone and the public can participate, too, by bringing a small picture of those whose memory they wish to honor to place on the ofrenda before the program starts or during a moving procession (after the intermission) to the verses of a beautiful song, sung by a beautiful woman: professional vocalist Vanessa Molina.

There will be a special musical homage to Cesar Chavez, Dr. Anthony Soto (from SJSU and founder of CET); among the many workers who came to this valley and worked hard to open doors of opportunity for our children. Some of the singers who were part of that great movement in the 60’s,70’s and 80’s will be in the show singing some amazing songs and accompanying a large group of teens and children as they sing the classic movimiento song, De Colores.

On one of the two performance evenings (still negotiating), a artisan from the Mexican State of Puebla, whose family has been involved in the art of making sugar skulls for 7 generations, will be demonstrating his traditional craft and selling personalized sugar skulls. There will be artisan silver jewelry from Taxco and bilingual books for sale. El Gigante Awakens will have a table selling that amazing video of the May 1, 2006 march. You will be able to place future orders for delicious Pan de Muerto (muertitos) by the dozen for family, friends or classrooms.

And last, but not least, Mariachi Jalisco will continue to play for an additional half hour after the last folklórico dance, taking requests from the public as people talk with the artists, get autographs, buy goods, and view the ofrenda.

The organizers hope the public will come and support the Immigration and Citizenship Program. All tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door – and completely tax-deductible!!

Tickets are available at Center for Employment Training, 701 Vine Street in San Jose in the ICP Office. If you have a large group or want to RSVP, tickets can be held at the Will-Call window that night for a pre-event price of $10.

Museum Celebrates Days of the Dead Old & New Oct. 10–Dec. 2, 2007

The Oakland Museum of California’s 14th annual Days of the Dead festivities begin Wednesday, October 10, with the opening of Ancient Roots/Urban Journeys: Expressions for Días de los Muertos. This year the skulls, skeletons, marigolds, and candles mix it up with low-rider and hip-hop culture.

Guest curator Anjee Helstrup-Alvarez, associate director/curator of San Jose’s Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana (MACLA), encouraged artists to reinterpret the spiritual holiday. Ancient Roots/Urban Journeys includes Days of the Dead imagery and expressions from pre-colonial Mesoamerica (Oaxacan-style altars) to its contemporary Californian configurations (mixed media and graffiti art).

The exhibition depicts the holiday’s evolution with themes as diverse as Aztec and Mayan mythology to low-rider bicycle culture and the perils of illegal immigration. Several ofrendas (altars) will be created by local artists, schools, and community groups.

“Chicano culture and contemporary Chicano folk art are woven throughout Ancient Roots/Urban Journeys,” says curator Helstrup-Alvarez. “Both have street credibility, and offer a new take on the concept of the ofrenda.

“Violent death is a reality for many urban youth. The R.I.P. T-shirts in the exhibition were produced by kids from Oakland as a way of paying respect to their peers.”

The museum is creating special ofrendas for two longtime museum colleagues, community leader Chiori Santiago and Chicano activist Antonio R. (Tony) Salazar, and a recreation of the spontaneous street altars for slain journalist Chauncey Bailey.

The museum’s lively annual Days of the Dead Community Celebration, Sunday, October 21, 12–5 p.m., offers a colorful mix of music, a mercado (market), food, performances, a procession, public ofrendas (altars), and costumed revelers, in the courtyard and gardens. The celebration is free; museum admission is half-price all day.

The 2007 Days of the Dead events include gallery talks with the artists, the curator, and museum staff, on October 27, November 2, November 11, and November 18. For details on the Community Celebration or Días de los Muertos programs, visit www.museumca.org.

When: Wednesday, October 24th Where: Escuela Longfellow
5:00pm-8:00pm 5055 July Street
San Diego, CA 92110

What: ZONES OF FUN!!

• Activity Zone: Sugar Skull Decorations, Skull Mask Decorations and Jewelry Making (Bracelets & Medallions) , Magnet decoration

• Educational Zone: Classroom Projects display and explain the beautiful rituals and customs of the holiday

• Entertainment Zone: Performances by Longfellow’s own Ballet Folklorico and The Sophia Isadora Circus Academy (with several Longfellow performers)

• Plus Loteria – special Dia de los Muertos edition with prizes for everyone!

Cost: $5/per student will include all activities plus games of Loteria!!! Food and beverages will also be available.

Special Note: There is nothing scary or morbid about this festival. The use of skeletons and skulls are keeping with the traditions of this holiday – which at the heart of it celebrates the lives of people who have passed away. If you have any questions or concerns please contact Carrie Lopez (619) 571-7883 or email at cocolopez2@earthlink.net

WANT TO HELP? PLEASE CONTACT CARRIE LOPEZ AT ABOVE EMAIL/PHONE NUMBER

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HOLIDAY? TRY THESE WEBSITES:
WWW.DAYOFTHEDEAD.COM OR WWW.DAYOFTHEDEADBLOG.COM

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.