Raquel Almazon, “LA NEGRA”, Image by Bobby Plasencia
Días de los Muertos
Opening Ceremony: Altar Activations
Hi-ARTS invites you to The Art of Remembrance: Días de los Muertos Celebration! Throughout the month of October, we welcome you to join us in honoring and celebrating the lives and memories of our ancestors. Through Ofrenda (Community Altar), The Art of Remembrance: Shrine-Making Workshop, and our Opening Ceremony, this celebration of the departed serves as a collective expression of our love and Remembrance. These offerings are designed to bring us together to remember, grieve, and process the ideas of death in community.
Inspired by the vibrant traditions of Mexico and other Central American communities, Día de los Muertos is a multi-day holiday in which families and friends gather to remember and pay respects to those who have passed away, celebrating their lives and keeping their memory alive. Celebration of Souls: Alter Activations is part of our ongoing Días de los Muertos celebration taking place October 17 through November 3, 2024. This form is to regester for our Opening Ceremony.
Celebration of Souls: Altar Activations
October 17, 2024, 5-8pm
*Participants will be able to move freely between all activations.
Nichos for the Ancestors | Nichos para los Antepasados
Hi-ARTS Studio | 5-7pm
In our workshop, Visual artist and arts educator Mincho Vega will facilitate the creation of nichos, small folk artwork found throughout Latin America. These small altars can be made to honor one's ancestors or a specific person from history. Mincho Vega will begin with a brief history of nichos and ofrendas and then lead visitors in creating and decorating their nichos.
Joining Mincho Vega is Mexican-born artist Aurelia Fernandez who will facilitate a Mexican Paper Flower Making Workshop. Colorful Mexican paper flowers and the intricate papel picado (cut paper banners) are used in both secular and religious celebrations throughout the year including weddings and holidays. All ages welcome! While supplies will be provided, feel free to bring any type of materials inspired by your loved one’s life, such as photograph copies, momentos or letters.*
Death Café
Black Box Theater | 5-7 pm
Let’s eat cake and talk about death. The Death Café is a global movement that invites people, often strangers, to gather around a cake, and tea discussion of death with the objective “to increase the awareness of death while inspiring one another to make the most of their finite lives. While this conversation will be facilitated, this is ultimately a group directed discussion and will have no formal agenda, or object — and is instead for you to share and discuss what’s on your mind.*
Living to Honor: Que Vivan Los Muertos!
Hi-ARTS Gallery Foyer | 7pm
Performance by Raquel Almazan
As the world grapples with ongoing death, Raquel Almazan invites us to ask, “how do we integrate memory, loss and the resiliency to continue into space as a community. Almazan will move the collective through a ritual process of remembrance, activating connection with personal Muertos into a physical path that leads to photograph and/or object ofrenda offering.
Directions | Hi-ARTS is located in ElBarrio Artspace PS109 at 215 E. 99th Street in New York, NY. The event will take place in Hi-ARTS' Studio, located on the basement level of the building.
• Q Train to 96th Street
• 6 Train to 96th Street Station
• M101 Bus Lexington Ave & east 100th Street
• M102 Bus Lexington Ave & east 100th Street
• M2 Bus 5th Ave/E 102St
Accommodations | El Barrio Artspace PS109, home of Hi-ARTS, is ADA accessible. Should you require any additional accommodations for our events, please contact our Programming Department at programs@hi-artsnyc.org or call 718-497-4282 no later than 72 hours prior to the event.
Health & Safety | We are cultivating both wellness and mindfulness. We encourage those who feel more comfortable masking, to do so. While Hi-ARTS will not be asking for Proof of Vaccination, or for a negative text, we encourage you to take a Rapid or PCR test within 24 hours of arrival to Artspace PS109. Should you desire or need, we can/will provide a rapid test at the door. If you are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, or not feeling well we ask that you please stay home and recommend that you take a COVID-19 and seek medical attention.
Photo Consent | By entering El Barrio's Artspace PS109, home of Hi-ARTS you recognize that your likeness may be recorded via photo, video and/or audio and that your likeness may be used on Hi-ARTS print and/or digital media for documentation, marketing, and/or outreach initiatives.