2015 Dia de Los Muertos Exhibit at Walker's Point Center for the Arts

I have been honored to be asked to be a contributing artist to the Walker's Point Center of the Arts annual Dia de Los Muertos show for the last three years.  This year the curator Juan Lopez selected food as an ofrenda (offering) as the theme.  Having recently taken multiple workshops from Andrea Matus de Meng at Art is You in Minneapolis, I decided to apply what I learned to the art I was going to make for the exhibition.  

Bare cradled panels or block of wood are prepared for the collage process.  I made up a number of bases because I intended to make many--but ultimately only made three.  

A trip to my basement yielded an old kitchen drawer that will become the backdrop for the collage on the panel.  

One of my favorite things to do is to frame things with what I call barn nails.  

Another trip to the basement found a Mexican tin candle holder and an old drawer pull to adorn the outer frame.  

I asked Denice for some help because I knew we had some candles somewhere in the basement.  She pulled our her candle storage bin and showed me some nice little candles that would have worked until I saw this fruit-thing.  I thin it is perfect.  

Ofrenda #1

At the same time, I was working on a second effort.  

In the basement, I found another food related thing that could work as a backdrop--an old wicker picnic basket.  

Ofrenda #2

Here is the completed collage for the third piece.  

An old serving tray will become the backdrop.  

I found a Mexican tin cross frame and an old holy water font to add to the work.  

Ofrenda #3

I attended the opening of the exhibition on Friday, October 16, which found the Center filled to the brim with people enjoying the art and the many ofrendas that the Center has commissioned for this season.  The exhibition is available for viewing until November 21st.