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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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