Dia de los Muertos…

 

While on my walk downtown with Tracy and Kathy, I passed a building with paintings inside.   I was  looking through the windows at these amazing paintings and did my best to capture their beauty through the glass.  I believe this building was part of the ASU campus and we didn’t stop to go inside.

I am fascinated with the tradition of Dia de los Muertos and found these works of art breathtaking.  I did do some post production effects to them, but feel I maintained the spirit and beauty of the artwork.

More than 500 years ago when Spanish Conquistadors landed in what is present day Mexico, they encountered the indigenous people practicing a ritual that had been happening for 3,000 years.  The Spanish conquerors tried to eradicate the practice believing it mocked death.  They were unsuccessful and then attempted to Christianize the tradition by moving it to November 1st – All Saints Day. 

The celebration had originally lasted for a month in what was the ninth month of the Aztec solar calendar – roughly August.  It was presided over by the goddess Mictecacihuatl.   

“Unlike the Spaniards, who viewed death as the end of life, the natives viewed it as the continuation of life. Instead of fearing death, they embraced it. To them, life was a dream and only in death did they become truly awake.”

“In rural Mexico, people visit the cemetery where their loved ones are buried. They decorate gravesites with marigold flowers and candles. They bring toys for dead children and bottles of tequila to adults. They sit on picnic blankets next to gravesites and eat the favorite food of their loved ones.”
Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/articles/dead-history.html#ixzz2AzvwTtTu

This artwork was powerful and beautifully done. The tradition of honoring our dead, touches my heart whether it’s done on Dia de los Muertos or Memorial Day.