" Dia de los Muertos Celebration"

The Marfa Studio of Arts, Marfa, Texas

Community members learn to make
traditional tissue paper flowers

For the last four years, the Marfa Studio of Arts has hosted a “Dia de Los Muertos Festival” (Day of the Dead) on November 1, 2, and 3. The celebration of the “Dia de Los Muertos” includes the creation of a huge community altar with contributions by local artists, students, children and community members. Art classes are used this festival as their theme to create works for the altars. We celebrate this event with a free community reception. In 2003, included in this event was a multi-media performance of sound, voice, acting and sets created by the Marfa Studio of Arts staff called “Santo de Shafter”, a work written and directed by Paul Hunt.

For more information about this event, call the Marfa Studio of Arts
at (432) 729-4616

Garcia family ofrenda, 2002

Tradition of the Ofrenda

During the dia de los Muertos Celebration in Mexico, families
arrange ofrendas (altars) with
pictures, favorite foods, memorabilia of their departed
loved ones. The belief is that the soul returns to earth on this day to visit. The offerings are to welcome them.