Day of the Dead at the Indianapolis Art Center

The Indianapolis Art Center began providing Day of the Dead programming in 2000 as a response to the growing Hispanic and Latino populations in Indianapolis. It started as a way to engage this community through a celebration of culture and tradition. The Art Center has found that Day of the Dead programming bridges all communities because death is an experience shared among all people. Communicating the history and importance of this celebration through art activities that reflect the tradition and engage children and adults in discussion regarding their own beliefs has connected people from all walks of life. The Art Center serves an educational role regarding Day of the Dead and continues to strive to bring people of all backgrounds together.

The Art Center provides five different components to its Day of the Dead Programming:

- Exhibition of altars and shrines

- Tours of altars

- Exhibition of a Latino artist's work in conjuction with Day of the Dead (this year's artist is John Parra)

- Workshops in the community

- Celebration

About Day of the Dead

The Mexican tradition, Day of the Dead, is a blending of both indigenous Aztec beliefs and Spanish Christian beliefs surrounding death. The Aztecs, Maya and other pre-Hispanic peoples of Central and South America saw death as part of the process of life. They honored the dead by inviting the spirits of the dead to return on certain days, placing food offerings on their tombs. When the Spanish arrived in Mexico, they combined the Aztec people's beliefs and rites regarding death into their religious calendar.

Day of the Dead is a family celebration, a reunion of the living with their deceased relatives. On November 1, departed children are remembered. This is known as the Day of the Little Angels or Dia de los Angelitos. Adults are remembered on November 2. Different regions of Mexico celebrate in different ways. In some villages a boisterous masquerade parade takes place while in other areas residents hold candle-lit vigils in the cemetary. Mexican communities in the United States also celebrate Day of the Dead, blending their traditional fiesta with modern festivities.

This year's Indianapolis Art Center Day of the Dead Celebration will take place on Sunday, November 1 from noon to 5pm. For more information on our celebration, please visit http://www.dayofthedeadindy.org/.