2021 SUMA Day of the Dead: Festival of Altars

After a virtual/take-home celebration in 2020, Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA) and its partners are bringing back Day of the Dead: Festival of Altars from Monday, Nov. 1 to Saturday, Nov. 6 with a multi-faceted approach of at-home activities, in-person events and immersive decorations.

Día de los Muertos, translated to Day of the Dead, is a Mexican and Latin American holiday celebrated each year between November 1st and 2nd. Friends and family gather together to remember those who have died, preparing altars and offerings to welcome their return to the land of the living for one night.

The newest addition to this year’s event is the Community Ofrenda where loved ones who have passed on may be honored. Participants are invited to bring a framed photograph of someone who has died to be featured on the altar. Submissions should be no larger than 4 x 6 in. and delivered to SUMA by 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 27 for inclusion in the ofrenda.

In addition to the activities throughout the Beverley Center, SUMA is offering a limited number of art kits that can help families build their own personal altars at home. The kits feature four activities and more information about the Day of the Dead. Art kits are available for pickup at SUMA starting Monday, Nov. 1, and are limited in supply.

Throughout the week, SUMA will feature a student exhibition based on the theme of alebrijes. Alebrijes were first created by artist Pedro Linares as brightly-colored Mexican folk art wooden animal sculptures. They have gained a reputation for scaring away bad spirits and guarding the home, leading them to become popular decorations for Day of the Dead.

The following events and activities are free and open to the public:

Movie Monday: The Book of Life

Sharwan Smith Student Center Theatre

Monday, Nov. 1 at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

The Book of Life, rated PG, is an animated comedy about Manolo, a young man who is torn between fulfilling the expectations of his family and following his heart. Featuring the celebration of Día de los Muertos, the film encourages us to celebrate the past while looking forward to the future.

Gallery Talk: Elementos Sinérgicos

Southern Utah Museum of Art

Thursday, Nov. 4, 5 p.m.

Join the curator and collector of the exhibition featuring work from Latin American to learn more about the art work.

Create Playdate

Southern Utah Museum of Art

Friday, Nov. 5, 10 a.m.

We will read Animal Talk: Mexican Folk Art Sounds in English and Spanish by Cynthia Weill and make our own alebrijes. This event is geared toward children ages 3-5.

Day of the Dead: Festival of Altars Celebration Event

The Beverley Taylor Sorenson Center for the Arts

Saturday, Nov. 6, 2-5 p.m.

Celebrate Day of the Dead with food, drink, hands-on activities, and special performances by the Ballet Folklórico Herencia Hispana.

This festival is free and open to the public through collaboration with Artisans Gallery, SUU Art and Design, SUU Languages and Philosophy, SUU Alumni and Community Relations, SUU College of Humanities and Social Sciences, SUU Center for Diversity and Inclusion, and Utah Shakespeare Festival. Masks are recommended in buildings at SUU. SUMA is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. More information about Day of the Dead Celebration can be found on SUMA’s website suu.edu/suma.