ESCONDIDO: Celebrating loved ones lost with music, art and dance

By RENEE RAMSEY - For the North County Times | Saturday, November 1, 2008 10:23 PM PDT ∞

Maria Villalobos has her face painted during the 14th annual Dia de los Muertos celebration Saturday at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido. Visitors participated by leaving personal objects in memory of loved ones. The event also included art activities for children, live entertainment, free admission to the center's museum, and free pan dulce and Mexican hot chocolate. (John Koster - For the North County Times)

ESCONDIDO ---- Hundreds of North County families came together at the California Center for the Arts on Saturday night to celebrate the memories of deceased relatives and friends with music, dance, art and flowers on El Dia de Los Muertos.

The Escondido art center's 14th annual Day of the Dead celebration featured elaborate art displays and lively dance performances by students from Escondido and San Pasqual high schools.

Younger children crowded around tables and booths to make colorful paper flowers, glue glitter on paper skull masks and decorate 600 sugar skulls ---- taking frequent breaks for hot chocolate and pan dulce, or sweet breads.

The wide diversity of the crowds confirmed that in Escondido, a tradition born in Mexico has become a cross-cultural, community-wide celebration.

"There are so many cultures represented in our schools," said Aira Villalobos, an art teacher at Escondido High School. "It’s important for students to understand each other and collaborate, to share their cultures. I love the positive energy and families coming together."

One courtyard was transformed into a grid with space for 150 ofrendas, or altars, where individuals, groups of friends and families created memorials with photographs, candles, flowers and mementos of loved ones lost.

The grid is an interactive installation, titled "Death Comes to Everyone, A Participatory Offering," created by Mexican artist Eloy Tarcisio.

 "I love it when it’s dusk and all the candles are lit," said Vicky Basehore, an arts center executive . "It's a peaceful, serene feeling. It’s quite beautiful. There such a nice community feel to this event."

Earlier in the day at another courtyard high school students had created dozens more miniature ofrendas.

Many shrines were dedicated to grandmothers and grandfathers. One, titled "Imagine," was dedicated to the John Lennon.

A giant altar created by several students at Escondido High School was dedicated to the Frida Kahlo.

"To me, she is one of the greatest Mexican artists," said Samanta Helou, 16, a junior at Escondido High who had created several art pieces for the Frida Kahlo altar.

Lauren Fischer, 17, a senior at Poway High School, was kneeling at one ofrenda, using beans to spell out the name of a friend who had died.

 "This is really nice. It’s a good way to introduce children to death," Fischer said about the Day of the Dead tradition. "It’s more about celebration than mourning."

Irving Murillo, 17, and fellow seniors at San Pasqual High School had created a giant mural for the event. "It’s about remembering our ancestors, to honor them with our art," Murillo said.

El Dia de Los Muertos dates back thousands of years and is not unlike celebrations by other names that are held throughout the world to honor ancestors.