LA GRANDE — Art Center East will host its sixth annual celebration of Día de los Muertos, a traditional Mexican holiday that honors loved ones who have passed away, with a Community Ofrenda and Youth Art Exhibit, on display Nov. 1-9.

This year’s event begins Friday, Nov. 1, with a free opening reception for the youth art exhibit from 6-8 p.m. The exhibit will feature more than 300 pieces of Día de los Muertos artwork by K-12 students from Union, Wallowa and Umatilla counties. Youth artists, their families, teachers, friends and members of the public are all invited to the opening reception.

On Saturday, Nov. 2, community members can enjoy visiting the exhibit and community ofrenda during quiet candlelit reflection time from 6-8 p.m.

Ofrendas are altars adorned with colorful marigolds, photos of deceased loved ones, and sometimes offerings of favorite foods and symbolic items to celebrate the lives of those who have passed away.

ACE invites people of all ages to contribute to the community ofrenda by bringing photos and/or mementos of their loved ones to place on the altar for the duration of the exhibit.

Items may be brought to ACE beginning Nov. 1 at noon. Items must have a name and phone number clearly printed on the back, and must be picked up by the owner no later than 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9.

About

Día de los Muertos is an annual celebration during which families remember and honor their ancestors with food, music and vibrant artwork. Recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the holiday has deep roots in both pre-Hispanic indigenous traditions and the Catholic observances of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

ACE staff encourages K-12 teachers across Eastern Oregon to help students learn about the significance of Día de los Muertos and its artwork. This year, according to ACE, approximately 22 educators will participate, resulting in a wide range of student artwork that represents cultural themes and art styles associated with the holiday.

Children and teens who visit the exhibit Nov. 1-9 and who participate in the interactive stations will be eligible to win prizes such as gift certificates to La Fiesta Restaurant in La Grande, ACE “Take & Make” Art Kits and more.

The annual event, which ACE first hosted in 2018, is part of the organization’s ongoing effort to share the rich traditions of Día de los Muertos with the wider community.

ACE’s Día de los Muertos celebration has brought together various local organizations and volunteers over the years, including Eastern Oregon University’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging staff, Latino Impact student club, and La Fiesta Restaurant in La Grande who have painted faces, prepared Día de los Muertos “Take & Make” arts learning kits, offered traditional food items for sale and helped build exhibit displays in previous iterations of the event.

Visit

The Community Ofrenda and Youth Art Exhibit will be on display Nov. 1-9 in ACE’s Main Gallery. Art Center East galleries are open to the public and admission is always free.

Art Center East is located at 1006 Penn Ave. in La Grande. For more information, visit artcentereast.org.

Community Ofrenda

An ofrenda is an altar adorned with marigolds, photos of deceased loved ones and other symbolic offerings to celebrate the lives of those who have passed away. The community is invited to contribute to an ofrenda at Art Center East, 1006 Penn Ave., starting at noon on Nov. 1.

For details, visit artcentereast.org.