Arts and Souls
Rooted in Mexican cultural traditions while remaining contemporary, Dia de los Muertos exhibitions in San Francisco have a character all their own. Opening this week is one of the major local Day of the Dead gallery presentations, SOMArts Cultural Center’s annual show. More than 80 artists, displaying a wide range of perspectives, have created altars and installations that honor the dead. In sync with the focus of curators Rene and Rio Yanez, they transcend the traditional memorial altar and explore social issues and subjects such as personal and community loss. This year’s exhibition, “
Today is the Shadow of Tomorrow,” calls attention to the human toll of institutional racism and violence. Creative, eye-catching, and soulful, the featured works include Victor-Mario Zaballa’s illuminated altar crafted from
papel picado and Ana Rivero Rossi’s reproduction of Picasso’s
Guernica, featuring Mexican newspapers containing drug-trafficking-related stories. An unveiling event will include a procession, an artist market, and performances. Talent will include poet and performance artist Denise Benavides (emcee) and music and theatre ensemble Loco Bloco.
— Anita Katz
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