The Night Comes Alive for Dia de los Muertos Exhibit

Día de Muertos Centro Cultural (20)

The night came alive Thursday November 2nd  for the opening night reception of the Dia de los Muertos art exhibit at the Mexican Cultural Center in Denver. The packed crowd was abuzz with oos and awes as the viewed the lavish displays of a variety of alters was put together by artist Norberto Mojarin.

Marcela de la Mar, Executive Director, Mexican Cultural Center

Marcela de la Mar, Executive Director, Mexican Cultural Center

Marcela de la Mar, Executive Director for the Mexican Cultural Center, told the crowd about the meaning of all the various elements that go into the making of the alters explaining the significance and symbolism of Earth, Wind, Water, Fire, and the elaborate details of the flowers, food, sugar skulls (read more about and see photos HERE).

Berenice Rendon Talavera, (center) the General Consul of Mexico in Denver

Berenice Rendon Talavera, (center) the General Consul of Mexico in Denver

Berenice Rendon Talavera, the General Consul of Mexico in Denver welcomed the attendees who were also treated to tamales, , Mexican chocolate, pastries and candies.

The Consul General has been a career member of the Mexican Foreign Service since 1977 and joined the Matías Romero Institute in 1987; academy dedicated to the training of Mexican diplomats.

She served as Ambassador of Mexico in El Salvador and Ambassador of Mexico in Ukraine; In addition, she was Consul General at the consulates of Mexico in Brownsville, Texas, and Las Vegas, Nevada. He has received National Decorations from the Governments of the Italian Republic and the Republic of El Salvador, as well as the Mexican Chancellery for “25 Years of Service”, in 2002.

In the Ministry of Foreign Affairs she worked in the General Directorates of Protection and Consular Affairs; of Bilateral Economic Relations, and for Western Europe. She was also Head of the Department of Nordic Countries, Adviser to the Assistant Secretary for International Cooperation, Assistant Secretary to Undersecretary “B”, and Area Director in the General Directorate for Europe. Prior to taking her current position in Denver, she was a Special Advisor in the General Directorate of Consular Services in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico.

Dia de los Muertos Mexican Cultural Ctr. Nov. 2, 2017 (127)

The exhibits designer Norberto Mojarin, better know as Beto has become well known for his creative talents as a hair stylist, fashion designer and artist. He operates his own hair salon, Beto’s on east Colfax in Aurora and is considered one of Denver’s top hair stylists. His fashion designs have taken the city by storm often stealing the spotlight at various fashion shows held around Denver.  (see some of his designs from a recent fashion show HERE).

“I owe everything I am to my grandmother” Beto told the crowd, “She taught me to be humble in all that I do and that is how I live my life” he added. Beto told Latin Life Denver Media that putting the various alters together took more than a month to complete incorporating a variety of elements from his own collections as well as those collected by the Mexican Cultural Center. “There is one alter that is dedicated to beauty and fashion, another is all about community.

Wind: Is represented with the movement of objects. In this case the colorful tissue paper cut into skull or flower cut shapes, lightly moves with the wind.

Wind: Is represented with the movement of objects. In this case the colorful tissue paper cut into skull or flower cut shapes, lightly moves with the wind.

 

Dia de los Muertos Mexican Cultural Ctr. Nov. 2, 2017 (65)

There is one for music that features the great Mexican actor and comedian Cantiflas as part of the Colorado Banda Show. Another alter is all about Beto’s spiritual dedication with numerous crosses and a statue of the Virgen de Guadelupe. Another favorite was the Aztec alter with dozens of miniature characters doing a variety of actions including the high flying  Danza de los Voladores (Dance of the Flyers), or Palo Volador (flying pole), an ancient Mesoamerican ceremony/ritual still performed today,

This exhibit will be open to the public through November 9th, with free admission for all from Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm

Mexican Cultural Center, 5350 Leetsdale Dr., Ste.200 Denver, CO 80246 T: 303.331.0172 www.mccdenver.org

 

Photos by Jonathan Garcia for Latin Life Denver Media


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Photos by López Rodríguez, Ulises Tadeo, Mexican Cultural Center, for Latin Life Denver