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Día de los Muertos — Poster of the Week


Día de los Muertos

Melanie Cervantes

Dignidad Rebelde

Silkscreen, 2008

Oakland, CA

34835


Día de los Muertos, celebrated on the 1st and 2nd of November is a time to remember loved ones who have died. Its origins are attributed to an Aztec festival dedicated to the goddess Mictecacihuatl (known in English as “The Lady of the Dead”), celebrated in what is now Central Mexico. As part of the Spanish Conquista, the Catholic Church tried to destroy indigenous culture, including music, art, language, and religion. Instead of disappearing, the festival merged with “All Saints Day.” In the 1970s, the Chicana/o movement revived the festival as part of their efforts to reclaim and celebrate their indigenous history.


Melanie Cervantes produced this poster in 2008 as an ofrenda (spiritual offering) to all the people who had been killed in recent wars. She explained it by saying, "It is important to me that people realize that not only women and children are being killed but that the soldiers of war are also dying all for the benefit of a few war profiteers. It saddens me that as the economy worsens, military recruiting strengthens."


Since last year's In Memorium tribute, CSPG has lost the following friends, supporters, and artists whose vision inspired our work. We miss them and pledge to continue their commitment to a better world.

Felix Beltrán

Tim Drescher

David Lance Goines

Henry Frederick Klein

Noel Madrid

Joe Maizlish

Myron Orleans

Eleanor Osgood

Stan Rosen

June Sale

Paul Schrade

Paula Soloman

Arnold Springer

Irena Varjabedian


And all those who have been killed in the wars, famines, and genocides of the past year.


¡Presente!

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