Oakland Museum of California presents 'VIVO: Days of the Dead 2010' October 6, 2010

Oct. 6-December 5; Museum hours: Wed/Sat/Sun 11am-5pm; Thu/Fri 11am-8pm

Installations and ofrendas (altars) by ten artists and local school and community groups focusing on current local and international issues highlight VIVO: Days of the Dead 2010, the 17th Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) Days of the Dead observance and exhibition, on view October 6-December 5, 2010. This year's theme, Vivo, celebrates the living and our dynamic connections to those who have gone before: our ancestors, leaders, loved ones, friends, and others. A special community celebration with an opening ritual, music, dance, food, entertainment, gallery tours, and an arts and crafts market is slated for Saturday, October 23, from 12 to 4:30 pm, included in regular OMCA admission.

OMCA's annual Dias de los Muertos Celebration has been one of the Bay Area's most popular community events for 16 years, drawing thousands of participants annually to mark the traditional Meso-American celebrations and give them a contemporary artistic twist.

This year the theme, Vivo, will inspire ten Bay Area artists to create new works that evoke the interactions of the living and the dead specifically for the exhibition that will be on view in OMCA's Gallery of California Art. Featured will be new work by artists Raul Aguilar, Cristianne Dugan Cuadra, Ana Fernandez, Robert Garcia, Erika Hannes, Jesse Hernandez, Carlos Anthony Lopez, Avery Mazor, Virgo Paraiso, and Tino Rodriguez. Thematically, the altars and installations will confront national and international events as well as universal issues affecting communities. In addition the contribution of school groups and Alternatives in Action will add community flavor to the installations. Many of the installations include opportunities for the public to interact with and contribute to them, weaving their own voices, stories, memories and thoughts into the evolving fabric of the work.

Official Website: http://www.museumca.org