Happy Dia de Los Muertos!

Today is the Dia de los Muertos, when the gates of Heaven open and the spirits of the dead visit their loved ones on earth. 

Celebrated in many regions around the world, the elaborate celebrations in Mexico are the most well known, and most spectacular. Families weed and plant; paint and repair the cemetery plots where they will gather this night to celebrate. Offering mass, songs, stories, food and drink - this is a festive celebration honoring and remembering the departed. Not spooky of morbid in any way, it aims to acknowledge death as a part of life, and encourage one to live life to the fullest  - as death will come. 

Decorations abound with marigolds/cempasúchil or flower of the dead.

Families create ofrendas (offering tables/altars) at home that welcome the spirits with food and libations. Mementos and pictures, marigolds, candles... The four elements are represented: fire/candles, water/beverages & alcohol, earth/fruits & vegetables air/papel picado flags.

Day of the Dead ofrenda altar from Old Town San Diego. Pix by JDR

Sugar skulls are an iconic Day of the Dead image. Made of sugar, chocolate... you name it - they are meant to represent a departed soul. They are also exchanged amongst the living in the context that "our friendship/love will be stronger than and survive beyond death".

sugar, chocolate, icing! Oh my...

Day of the Dead has become increasingly present in popular culture here in the states the last few years. Shown below are highlights from my collection - including the bride and groom we had on our cake table at out wedding. Love that will last beyond death... While many of my pieces come from Austin TX and Albuquerque NM where I have family, I found some great stuff at Target this year...

Calacas and calaveras

The Day of theDead theme inspires me greatly - as you may have guessed by now. This year after my annual batch of polymer skull pendants I have been working on sugar skull tiles! I am glazing them as we speak...

Jenny's polymer pendant skulls and new ceramic tiles. 

Lesley found some fabulous sugar skulls in jewelry and clay from fellow artists near and far:

Maku Raku

Staci - Louise Originals

Joan Miller Porcelain
The Jewellery Girls Place

Javier Martinez

Graves Co.

So today, wherever you are, remember your loved ones that are no longer with you. According to Mexican legend, there are three types of death: The first occurs when all bodily functions cease and the soul leaves the body; the second occurs when the body is interred, returning one’s physical shell to the earth; and the final, most definitive death, occurs when no one remembers you. Raise a glass, tell a tale, remember them fondly... and know they are with you. 

Previous posts: 

Linda's Day of the Dead in Oaxaca

Jenny's Sugar Skull tutorial

For more info:: Dia de Los Muertos article

Freeform Friday: Dia de los Muertos

Dia de los Muertos in Old Town San Diego. Ofrenda altar, paper mache calavera, ceramic Muertos figurine, papel picado. (Images - Jenny Davies-Reazor)

I have always been drawn to the Dia de Los Muertos. I have lived in a city where it is celebrated exuberantly; I have taught it as an art/culture project. At this time of year, I set up altars in my home to remember the loved ones that are no longer with me... I think acknowledging death is healthy - as this holiday strives to recognize death as a part of life - to be respected, honored, but not avoided or made taboo. In Mexico and many other locations near and far, families gather. Graves are weeded and decorated. Altars arranged with photos and favorite foods of the departed. And through stories, jokes, symbols and memories - the departed are with the living once again. 

Sugar skulls are an iconic item created, decorated, gifted, and offered at this time of year. Traditionally covered in colorful patterns of icing, colored foils, and even rhinestones - they can get extremely elaborate! Skulls, or calaveras such as these pictured here were my inspiration this week. 

Sugar skulls. 

The original sculpting...

The first batch I created was in porcelain... and I have impressed designs and patterns into the clay. Loops are also embedded for stringing, etc. I have not applied the clear glaze and fired them for the second glaze firing yet...

The second batch (shown below) is polymer. I wanted to build patterns up - which I can do with porcelain of course... but I wanted to stick things in! That inherent difference between the clays has piqued my renewed interest in polymer of late.

Floral and impressed designs

A plethora of pretties. Glass beads and gems embedded in polymer. 

I regret to say there is no completed reveal as of yet. Dia de los Muertos isn't until November 1st! I have a little time. But if you feel the need to shop for sugar skull inspired pretties - let me tempt your palette with these sweet offerings from fellow artist/jewelers/component makers: 

Shopping for sugar skulls: Gaea beads, Joan Miller porcelain, Green Girl Studios, Earthenwood Studio. 

I hope you have enjoyed this festive, colorful post. Were you familiar with the Day of the Dead? Enjoy the season as leaves turn and the air feels crisp... and I leave you with one more stunning beauty...

Ceramic "Catrina" Calavera. Image: Linda Landig

These dazzling detailed sculptures depict a female skeleton known as "Catrina" named after the famous zinc etching by Jose Posada in 1910.

"La Calavera Catrina" print by Jose Posada.