Honoring the Departed: A Whimsical Celebration of Life and Death
Offerings, music, workshops and storytelling shows make up this year’s celebration to honor the deceased.
Well, grab your marigolds and calaveras, folks! It’s that time of year again when the spirits come out to party, and we’re not talking about your uncle after a few too many at Thanksgiving. The celebration of the Day of the Dead is not just a colorful holiday; it’s a cherished tradition that’s been recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity—like kickflips and belly dancing, but much more dignified, I assure you!
A Cultural Buzz in Monterrey
Monterrey, Nuevo León, is gearing up for a spectacular tribute to those who have shuffled off this mortal coil. This year, CONARTE is jumping in with both feet and a fistful of sugar skulls, bringing together a delightful cornucopia of activities. Think of it like a cultural buffet, without the food poisoning!
All activities are free of charge. You heard me—FREE! So, if your wallet’s thinner than a ghost in a windstorm, fear not. The festivities will take place across several venues, including the Arts Center, Children CONARTE, the Nuevo León House of Culture, and the Nuevo León Pinacoteca. If you can’t find a place to celebrate, you might want to check if you’re actually dead.
Remembering the Legends
This year’s celebrations have a shade of poignancy, as we remember two luminaries: Francisco Toledo and Efrén Nogueira. The installations in their honor will be found in the Generators Ship of the Arts Center and the Pinacoteca, showcasing offerings that fuse contemporary art with traditional customs. It’s like if Picasso met Día de los Muertos at a cocktail party—an absolute treat for the eyes!
The Altar of the Dead in honor of Francisco Toledo will kick off on Wednesday, October 30, at 5:00 p.m. with a performance aptly titled “Francisco Toledo, visiting the land of the dead” at 5:30 p.m. Just when you thought your Wednesday couldn’t get any weirder, it delivers.
For the Little Ghouls and Boys
Parents, listen up! Make sure to drag your kids along to Children CONARTE on Saturday, November 2, starting at 4:00 p.m. They’ll be treated to a storytelling session of “Death with Light Feet,” as well as performances from Mime Joy and Percha Teatro. Now, if that doesn’t tickle your fancy, I don’t know what will—except possibly a jump scare from a startled cat.
A Musical and Magical Tradition
Then, on Sunday, November 3, brace yourself for an extravaganza outside the Arts Center, kicking off at 5:00 p.m. There will be a mask workshop, a tour of stories and legends, and a musical show courtesy of Sandunga Didactic Concert. It’s like a field trip for your soul—just without the school bus!
Art Meets Commemoration
The Pinacoteca De Nuevo León will also be showcasing an offering in honor of Maestro Efrén Nogueira. His work, much like a good cheese, has aged to perfection. You can visit this homage from Monday to Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.—unless it’s Tuesday, because that’s when the ghosts take a break.
Stories, Songs, and Spectacles
The concert “Ofrenda de Cantos y Cuentos,” featuring Juan Guzmán and Julio Javier Balderas, on Saturday, November 2, at 2:00 p.m., promises to blur the lines between life and death through songs and stories. It’s the kind of existential crisis you didn’t know you needed!
To wrap up the whimsical shenanigans, don’t miss the presentation of Cuenti Drags, a storytelling showcase discussing loss and grief, featuring a varied cast of talents on Sunday, November 3, starting at 12:00 p.m. Who knew death could be so entertaining?
Digital Participation
If you can’t physically attend, fear not! The Adolfo Prieto School will be sharing a video capsule through CONARTE’s Facebook, which will air on Saturday, November 2, at 10:00 a.m. Nothing like enjoying a ghost story in your pajamas, am I right?
More information can be found at conarte.org.mx and on their social networks @conartenl.
So, put on your best face paint, crack a few smiles, and prepare to celebrate life, death, and everything in between—where the only thing scarier than the costumes is the thought of missing this incredible event!
Offerings, music, workshops and storytelling shows make up this year’s celebration to honor the deceased.
All activities are free of charge.
Monterrey, Nuevo León. – The celebration of the Day of the Dead is a tradition that transcends time; declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 20023, this celebration is an important part of Mexico, which is why CONARTE joins this festivity with a program of activities that highlights offerings, music, workshops and storytelling shows .
This program of activities will take place at the Arts Center, Children CONARTE, the Nuevo León House of Culture and the Nuevo León Pinacoteca.
Among this year’s activities, teachers Francisco Toledo and Efrén Nogueira are especially remembered, with the installation of offerings in their honor, in the Generators Ship of the Arts Center, located inside the Fundidora Park and the Pinacoteca of Nuevo León, respectively.
The Altar of the Dead in Honor of Francisco Toledo is an offering made in collaboration with students and teachers from the Faculty of Visual Arts of the UANL, and it is a Contemporary Art project based on the Mexican traditions and customs of this celebration. It will be inaugurated this Wednesday, October 30 at 5:00 p.m., followed by the performance “Francisco Toledo, visiting the land of the dead” at 5:30 p.m.
Children CONARTE, on Saturday, November 2, starting at 4:00 p.m., will have a consecutive narration of the story “Death with Light Feet,” in addition to the presentation of Mime Joy and Percha Teatro.
On Sunday the 3rd, outside the Arts Center, there will be a magical afternoon full of tradition and fun starting at 5:00 p.m. There will be a mask workshop, a tour of stories and legends, and a musical show offered by Sandunga Didactic Concert, the latter at 6:30 p.m.
Pinacoteca de Nuevo León has its Offering in honor of Maestro Efrén Nogueira (Mexico City 1923 – Monterrey 20121), an outstanding watercolorist with a long career as a teacher and producer, which can be visited from Monday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. hours (on Tuesday this space remains closed).
The concert “Ofrenda de Cantos y Cuentos”, by Juan Guzmán and Julio Javier Balderas, is a show of songs, stories and games that allows us to understand how inseparable life and death are; It is scheduled for Saturday, November 2 at 2:00 p.m.
In the presentation of Cuenti Drags, the narration of stories that talk about loss, grief and the tradition of the Day of the Dead is contemplated. Daniel Niño participates as presenter, as well as Arcano, Chelsea Green, Ponysaurio, Neherenia and Sahel Paradide. The appointment is Sunday, November 3, starting at 12:00 p.m.
The Adolfo Prieto School also has a presence in the celebration with the dissemination of a video capsule made by the Communication team that will be transmitted through CONARTE’s Facebook, on Saturday, November 2 at 10:00 am.
More information at conarte.org.mx and social networks @conartenl.
