For 2 weeks I traveled to Oaxaca and Mexico City. A workshop lead by Michael de Meng with Mija Matriz as our tour guide led to some fantastic side trips. It would be hard to pick my favorite but one of the cemetery trips included 2 barn owls, flying overhead, squawking the entire time. Between the numerous visitors and nightly fireworks, I think they were over any Day of the Dead celebrations.
Parades were held every day - somewhere. In fact, our vans were caught up in a small town, literally stuck as the locals held their parade and a band played in the parking lot. We didn't mind.
face paintings were at an all-time high with impressive details
The incredibly beautiful center of Oaxaca with its ancient cathedrals and cobblestone streets were festooned with Dia de los Muertos decorations. Marigolds, Catrina's, and lots of paper mâché skeletons inspire all visiting artists.
a couple of blocks were closed for this massive street display
November marks the beginning of the dry season, so it's relatively safe to put paper mâché work outside. There was a small rainstorm when I arrived, and a few were covered with large sheets of plastic for protection.
The cemeteries were coming together, November 1st and 2nd mark the holiday with entire families decorating gravesites.
gladiolus and tuberose were well represented as well as marigolds and celosia
Ofrendas are built to remember all who have passed. Photographs, favorite food and drink are laid out to welcome them home. Some are very elaborate, some much simpler.
As I collect more photographs, there will be a part 2, which will include some fieldtrips, wall art, and Mexico City. Our fieldtrips included a mescal distillery, Alebrije carver, a paper mill, and a visit to Josefina Aquilar - a clay folk artist. We even had the chance to decorate our own Pan de Muerto, created in a style that is from the small town of Mitla.
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