Otters followed a trail of marigolds to the Visual and Public Art (VPA) building, where they were greeted by vibrant papel picado, elaborate ofrendas and photos honoring loved ones who have passed.
With calavera face paint, hot chocolate and pan dulce greeting attendees, the Día de los Muertos celebration was underway. Hosted by the Otter Cross Cultural Center (OC3), El Centro and VPA, the event on Friday evening honored loved ones who have passed away while educating participants about the culture and significance of Día de los Muertos.
Attendees enjoyed hot chocolate as they admired the artwork and received calavera face paint from student volunteers. Soon, the sound of an Aztec dance group filled the VPA building. A highlight of the event, the dance group not only performed but also explained each dance’s meaning and how it honors spirits and ancestors.
Inside the VPA building, a large ofrenda art piece, created by an OC3 student coordinator, was displayed alongside smaller ofrendas made by students in Professor Hector Dio Mendoza’s Día de los Muertos workshop. Each student dedicated their ofrenda to a specific loved one, incorporating personal touches like photographs and handmade clay items, making each display unique. The Día de los Muertos class, developed by Amalia Mesa-Bains, a founding faculty member of the VPA, offered an artistic perspective on the tradition.
“It brings a lot of warmth to my heart because I know that there are many students behind all of those things, and they’re putting their heart into it to truly have representation on campus. I really, truly appreciate it,” said Nelsy Montes-Romero, a fourth-year collaborative health and human services major.
Alongside student projects, altars created by various clubs were also on display, each altar uniquely reflecting the club’s interpretation.
While celebrating Día de los Muertos, the event also aimed to encourage those unfamiliar with the tradition to engage and learn. “Yes, it is a cultural tie, but it also ties into community. We wanted to bring other people of the community to take part in it,” said Mikayla Castillo, a fourth-year psychology major and one of the event organizers.
“So building an altar for whatever theme that people had or was based on their club and stuff was something that we thought would be important to kind of bring in other people who might not normally attend Dia de Los Muertos,” Castillo said. With over 90 attendees, one key takeaway that Mendoza hoped to impart was this:
“I’m hoping they understand the importance of life and the significance of remembering, because, at the end of the day, that’s the only thing we take with us.”