Day of the Dead Celebrated in Peninsula School of Art Exhibition

The Peninsula School of Art celebrates the traditional Hispanic festival of Dias de los Muertes in the exhibition “Days of the Dead,” on view from October 2 through November 14. The opening reception for the exhibition will be on Saturday, October 3 from 5 – 7 pm. A talk with Minneapolis artist, Liz Pangerl, entitled “Day of the Dead 101″ will immediately precede the reception at 4 pm. The exhibit and all associated events are free and open to the public.

The Days of the Dead exhibit highlights the works of featured invited artists: Sandra and Wence Martinez, Peter Ciesla, Juan Carlos Frias, Neva Sills, Polly Sills, Osara Artists Collective, Allin Walker, Margaret Lockwood, Kristine Diekman and Russ Cockburn.

Cockburn is providing the structure for a 10′ high altar where the community is invited to place non-returnable momentos, photocopied images and non-perishable food items to benefit the Hispanic Resource Center. The base of Cockburn’s altar will be of hay bale construction with bamboo creating a frame for white sheets to form the top of a skull. The altar will be lit from within to add drama to the exhibit.

Eighteen other artists, who volunteered to create altars in memory of loved ones will also have their work on display.

The opening reception will include traditional customs, such as the lighting of candles and sampling of authentic Mexican foods, provided in part by members of the Hispanic Resource Center.

In conjunction with the exhibit in the Guenzel Gallery, the Madeline Tourtelot Archives & Study Center (in the former Madeline Tripp Tourtelot studio) on the school’s campus, will feature photographs and films with Mexican themes produced by Tourtelot, the school’s founder; in addition to prints of works created by famous Mexican muralists.

The school and Guenzel Gallery are located at 3900 County Hwy F, in Fish Creek. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 am – 5 pm. For more information visit http://www.peninsulaartschool.com.