Two Events = One Big Night!
ARTWALK & DIA DE LOS MUERTOS STREET FESTIVAL
By Michelle Smythe
On Friday November 2nd ArtWalk and Dia de los Muertos Street Festival will join forces to present one huge downtown block party with lots of fun and entertainment for young and old alike. ArtWalk will be centered, as usual, at La Retama Park located at Peoples and Mesquite Streets, with the Dia de los Muertos Street Festival happening only one block away on Mesquite and Starr Streets. Both events begin at 5:30 p.m. Don’t miss this exciting night filled with art, food, demonstrations, kids activities, dancing, and live music, music, music!
The 5th Annual Dia de los Muertos Festival goes on until midnight in the 400 & 500 blocks of Starr and 600-700 blocks of Mesquite Streets. The festival includes an Hecho a Mano (made-by-hand) Art Expo, Kids’ Activity Corner, Art Demonstrations, live music, Mariachis, Folklorico dancers, a community altar, food, drinks and more. Live music for 2012, sponsored by Andrews Distributing Co., includes popular bands Latin Talk and Los Bad Apples among others.
Dia de los Muertos (DDLM) or the Day of the Dead is a traditional holiday in Mexico when deceased friends and family members are remembered and celebrated. It is a poignant time, both solemn and joyous, with colorful artistic traditions, pageantry, and whimsy despite the sobering subject. Dia de los Muertos is a joyful remembrance in which death is recognized as a natural part of the cycle of life.
Wear a costume, or have your face painted at the event! At 6:00 pm, Dia de los Muertos revelers will parade down People’s Street through ArtWalk then over to Starr Street ending at the main stage at Starr and Chaparral.
Dia de los Muertos Festival is expanding thanks to funding from the Coastal Bend Community Foundation and Texas Commission on the Arts. Throughout the month of October, K Space Contemporary will be hosting workshops in traditional crafts such as papier mache’, sugar skulls, and papel picaco. In addition, the Kid’s Corner at the festival will feature more activities, including a rock climbing wall and a game of Piñata busting. Other new enhancements include the parade and a Dia de los Muertos themed fine art exhibition.
The Dia de los Muertos art exhibition, curated by Lynda Jones, will be displayed inside K Space Contemporary along with the 2012 Extravagancia de Piñatas. 25 contemporary artists from South Texas have been invited to create artworks inspired by Dia de los Muertos. Extravagancia de Piñatas is a youth piñata contest. This exhibit is delightfully colorful and large scale, and benefits local schools because winners receive money for classroom art supplies.
Our Hecho a Mano Art Expo features over 60 artists offering original arts, crafts, jewelry, and numerous Dia de los Muertos related trinkets. This is one of the best events in the city to find unusual and original art, gifts, decorative items, and jewelry. Anyone interested in being a vendor can find guidelines and registration information www.diadelosmuertoscc.com/vendor-information.
TAMUCC’s Printmaking students will demonstrate woodblock printing on paper and t-shirts. These students will also build a community altar to which visitors may add memorial notes, drawings or photos for loved ones who have passed. TAMUCC Art Department’s “Hold Steady Crew” will demonstrate iron casting and will offer visitors an opportunity to create their own small iron sculpture.
We are accepting sponsors and seeking vendors and volunteers. Information about Workshops, Vending and Sponsorship is available at www.diadelosmuertoscc.com.
Dia de los Muertos Street Festival is coordinated by the Electra Art*Axis Tattoo, K Space Contemporary, Corpus Christi Downtown Management District, and House of Rock. Sponsors at this time include Andrews Distributing, Scott Ellison Law Offices, Gignac & Associates, Dr. Harley F. Moody, Jordan & Austin Anderson and Grande Communications. Proceeds from the event benefit K Space Contemporary, a 501 (C) 3 non-profit arts organization.