For many the first touch of autumn in the air brings thoughts of Halloween. Prescott has an amazing history of celebrating that holiday, with the decorated houses of Mt. Vernon Street drawing recognition statewide. Less well known but bringing comparable fun are our local annual observances of the Mexican Day of the Dead, Dia de los Muertos.
A small yet vibrant celebration promises to bring the essence of Mexican culture to life this year, beginning on the evening of November 1, when local art enthusiasts and community members are invited to gather at the Art Hive for a unique, free celebration hosted by acclaimed artist Julio Peres from Mexico City.
Known for his evocative and deeplypersonal artwork, Peres will infuse the gallery with the rich traditions of this holiday deeply rooted in Latin culture, honoring the lives of deceased loved ones. “It’s a celebration of life and, most important, it’s the one day of the year that our departed loved ones are allowed to come to earth and spend time with us.” With a background that marries contemporary art and traditional practices, Peres promises to create an immersive, interactive experience that transcends borders and brings the essence of this vibrant celebration to our community.
Visitors will step into a world where traditional iconography meets modern expression. The exhibit will include a traditional ofrenda (altar) with photos of departed loved ones. Attendees may contribute their own personal framed photos (8x10” or smaller). The gallery will also showcase a series of Peres’ paintings exploring themes of memory, loss and celebration, with both contemporary and traditional takes on what the holiday means to Peres and the influence of his upbringing in Mexico City.
Peres shares the thought process behind his piece, “Me da Mi Calaverita” (named for the colloquial way of saying ‘trick or treat’): “Basically I'm coming from a lower-income background, and this is what it was like. It reflects us as people, with made-up customs because over there we have no money … so we have to get creative with cardboard boxes, and just everybody has paint laying around. We get creative and we create colorful masks and whatnot, and I try to keep it a little more ethnic. It’s modern Mexican, but it still brings back the little touches of tradition. If you tell a Mexican on Day of the Dead “me da mi calaverita,” most likely they’ll pull out their wallet and give you a peso or something.”
No Dia de los Muertos celebration is complete without music and dance, and to close the evening on a high note the event will feature a dance. There will be a cover charge to attend the dance that will be waived for anyone arriving in traditional sugar-skull face paint. An artist on site will be offering face-painting as another way to involve the entire community. The dance promises to bring a joyful conclusion to a meaningful celebration, emphasizing the holiday’s spirit of joyous remembrance and community bonding.
More than an art exhibition, the event will be a heartfelt invitation to come together as a community, to honor those who’ve gone before, and to celebrate the richness of life. Julio Peres’ artistry and the interactive elements of the evening promise a memorable and poignant experience for all who attend, reminding us of the power of art to connect us with our cultural roots and each other.
Whether you're familiar with Dia de los Muertos or new to the tradition, this celebration is an opportunity to experience its beauty and significance firsthand. As Peres says, “There’s going to be art for all types of people.”
The Art Hive Gallery’s Dia de los Muertos art exhibit will run November 1-2, with the dance following on November 2, at 203 N. Cortez Street in Prescott. More at arthive.space.
