El Destino se Escribe en la Tierra/Destiny is Written on the Earth October 30, 2009

Exhibit: October 30 – November 21, 2009
Opening Reception: Friday, October 30, 6-8 pm

Home Funeral Workshop: Sunday, November 1, 1-4 pm

La Peña presents “El Destino se Escribre en la Tierra/ Destiny is Written on the Earth”. The annual Dia de los Muertos celebration will be on display at La Peña’s gallery in Downtown Austin from October 30th through November 21st. The opening reception is Friday, October 30th from 6-8 pm and will have a performance by Silvia Palacios and other musicians honoring the late Mercedes Sosa. “Bringing After-Death Care Back Home” is a workshop on Sunday, November 1st starting at 1 pm that deals with home funerals and how people can care for those who have recently crossed over.

Día de los Muertos is a holiday drawn from the ancient Aztec, Mayan and Zapotec cultures that focuses on gathering family and friends to honor, pray for and remember friends and family members who have crossed over to the "other side", known in our western culture as death. The traditional celebration occurs on the 2nd of November simultaneously with the Catholic holiday of All Souls' Day on Nov 2nd. Traditions are centered around building elaborate shrines honoring the deceased, using a variety of implements such as personal photos, sugar skulls and skeleton figurines, colorful banners known as "papel picado," candles, incense such as "copal," and favorite foods and beverages of the departed. One of the most important components, the marigold or "zempasuchil," is the traditional yellow-orange flower used for Day of the Dead shrines. It is believed that their strong scent invites and draws near the spirits of the deceased and their bright yellow color leads the souls to the shrine. This event is an opportunity for the living to demonstrate to the dead that they are lovingly remembered, and to share a day with them in remembrance of times gone by. It also serves as a potent reminder to those still living of the impermanence of this life.

This year’s exhibit features works by Rene Anguiano, Felicia Aleman, Rita Maria Contreras, Courtney Enriquez, Anel Flores, Adriana Garcia, Marie Garza, Mary Jane Garz, Victor Longoria, Celeste de Luna, Felicia Morin, Peter Ortiz, Adriana Perez, Elena Stoupignan, Vanessa Velinda Ramos, Hector Treviño, and Oscar Vega. The Travis High School students of John Spence will also showcase their artwork.

The “Bringing After-Death Care Back Home” workshop will deal with home funerals and how friends and family members can care for the recently deceased themselves. It will answer questions such as: What is a home funeral like? Is it legal? Is embalming necessary? What paperwork is required? What do I do when someone dies? And more… For more information on the workshop, contact Sandy Booth at (512) 440-7979 or Donna Belk at (512) 992-8043.

La Peña is an interdisciplinary cultural and educational organization dedicated to the enhancement of art in all its forms. La Peña's mission is to support artistic development, provide exposure for emerging local visual artists, musicians, poets and other performing artists, and offer Austin’s visitors and residents the full spectrum of traditional and contemporary Latino art.

Official Website: http://www.lapena-austin.org