Centro Cultural Aztlan is pleased to continue the tradition in presenting our 47th annual Día de los Muertos with a dual exhibition.
Galeria Expresión I will feature Las Catrinas exhibiton by Frank W. Harris III, A series of paintings depicting the folkloric image of La Catrina in different Trajes Regionales or traditional regional regalia. Frank W. Harris, III, is a native San Antonian. After graduating from Jefferson High School, he attended the Art Institute of San Miguel de Allende Guanajuato and in 1983 he received a Bachelor’s of Art Degree from Trinity University. Frank’s works of art were influenced by his maternal grandmother Dona Petra Ortega’s collection of Mexican calendar art. His fascination with Mexican folk art and textiles became the subject matter of his paintings. Frank began his own collection of Mexican regional attire from every Region and State that make up the country of Mexico. This exhibition is the succession of his sold-out exhibition Mujeres Regionales in 2022, which was the result of his deep love of Mexican culture and decades of constant creative effort.
The 47th Annual Altares y Ofrendas Exhibition will be presented in our new Galeria Expresión II.
This event illustrates the artistic, cultural, and religious facets of this popular pre-Columbian Mexican tradition where death is seen as a natural part of life and this reality is approached with humor a celebration of life. Photographs of our dearly departed grace altars as well as offerings of food, marigolds, incense, candles, and other traditional offerings. Altar exhibit artists include: Henry De Leon, Hector Garza, Edna Lugo, Mauro Murillo, Manola Ramirez, Maria Ramirez, and Luis Valderas.
Join us for a fantastic tour of cultural traditions, history and artistic celebrations on Saturday, November 2, 2024, from 12-5pm. In addition to the exhibitions, participants will be able to enjoy our annual Avenida de los Muertos Arts and Crafts mercadito with over 30 artists and artisans, live music by Andy Bernal and The Artifax,Liza Ybarra, Armando Martines, and NYA students, student altars by St. Anthony High School Spanish Class, pan de muerto y mas!
Opening Reception:
Saturday, November 2nd 2024
COVID-19 has greatly impacted the work we do here at Centro Cultural Aztlan, and we have had to adapt quickly! The Cultural Expressions series will allow us to continue engaging the artistas de Aztlan who were scheduled to participate in exhibitions that were canceled due to Covid-19. We are taking steps to continue to bring valuable programming to the community via digital platforms through Facebook, YouTube and our website.
Since the closure of our gallery, many artists do not have the means—or place—to exhibit and sell their works. The Cultural Expressions series will help highlight their stories and their art, while making our Gallery available to our comunidad virtually.