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Event Name:
Day of the Dead Festival - Bare Hands Gallery  
Description: Fifth annual art and cultural festival honoring the Mexican celebration of lost loved ones; Designed for both Hispanic and non-Hispanic communities. A night of public art installation and performance not to be missed!
Date: November 2, 2007
Full Description:
 WHAT: A one-day festival honoring the Mexican holiday known as el Dia de los Muertos or the Day of the Dead. The annual commemoration at Bare Hands Gallery combines community art installation and procession with remembrance, creativity, performance, music and food to highlight this rich cultural tradition yielding an exquisite downtown art and cultural event.

ACTIVITIES:
3 - 6 pm Children's Craft Area (paper flower making, mask painting and sugar skull decorating)
5 pm - 12 am Music, Dance and Poetry on the performance stage
8 pm Day of the Dead Procession (around the block the gallery is located on)
5 pm - 12 am Altar Installation (individuals bring altars and memorabilia of their departed to install in the outdoor altar space)

El Día de los Muertos at Bare Hands Gallery honors the Mexican tradition in which families gather in local cemeteries to remember their lost loved ones. It is similar to what we in the southern United States refer to as Decoration Day. However, In Mexico, Day of the Dead is an artful, multi-faceted celebration. Each town has a unique way of commemorating the day, but certain symbols are constant. Altars of remembrance display photos of the deceased; their favorite things in life, such as foods, books, games, beverages, cigarettes; marigolds; prayer candles; salt; spices; and copal incense. Family and friends gather around these altars at home and in the cemeteries to share music, memories and prayers. The ancient belief is that the souls of the deceased will come to visit during Day of the Dead guided by the familiar colors and scents of food, incense and flowers. Other traditional elements include skeletons depicting the deceased doing everyday activities; monarch butterflies whose fall arrival in Mexico symbolizes souls returning to visit; flowers, particularly marigolds, adorning every altar and gravestone; sugar skulls which children decorate and place on altars, and bread of the dead a special bread baked for the occasion. The holiday is a celebration of those that have gone before us and of the memories they have given us. Day of the Dead acknowledges death as an aspect of life. The annual commemoration at Bare Hands Gallery combines community art installation and procession with remembrance, creativity, performance, music and food, honoring this rich cultural tradition and yielding an exquisite downtown arts and cultural event.

The Bare Hands Gallery event began in 2003 when artist Tracy Martin lost her father, photographer Spider Martin. She and her father loved to travel to Mexico and had often remarked to each other of the beauty of Day of the Dead. When Spider died suddenly in April 2003, Tracy knew the way to honor him was with an altar on Day of the Dead. She asked to install the altar at Bare Hands Gallery. And, so it began. A few hundred people came to honor Spider Martin in November 2003, and some of them asked about adding personal altars. Gallery director, Wendy Jarvis, and Tracy agreed that Day of the Dead should be an annual Bare Hands Gallery event, open to the public.

Day of the Dead has proven to be a popular event in Birmingham, enhancing cultural exchange between Hispanic and Non-Hispanic people in the community and facilitating a true community art installation by allowing visual artists and the general public to work side by side in the creation of public art. This year Day of the Dead includes over 100 artists, 70 volunteers, community memorial altars, a New Orleans Second Line and procession with giant articulated puppets, and music and dance performance

The art installations inside the Bare Hands Gallery and courtyard will remain on display until November 18 for free viewing, photographing and art review to schools and the general public. Elementary and secondary schools and local universities are invited to tour. Local elementary schools are invited to participate in Day of the Dead decoration building workshops in September and October prior to the festival. This year an online teacher resource guide for grades 2-5 will be available from the Bare Hands Gallery web site www.barehandsgallery.org

Community partners for the 2007 Day of the Dead include the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama (HICA), Jones Valley Urban Farm, Brad Morton, Advanced Automotive, and Davis Transmission. Current sponsors for Day of the Dead include; Alabama Power Foundation, Birmingham Arts & Culture Commission, Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, Davis Florist, Barton's Greenhouse & Nurseries, International Wine, La Cocina, Sol y Luna Cantina, and Homewood Gourmet.

Day of the Dead provides an annual opportunity to increase cultural understanding between the Hispanic and Non-Hispanic communities of the metro Birmingham region. The design offers a way to educate adults, as well as children, about the history, tradition, and art of Day of the Dead.
Phone Number: (205) 324-2124
Other Event Features: Kid-Friendly; Outdoor Event; Handicap Accessible
Location: BARE HANDS GALLERY
109 R Arrington Jr Blvd South
Birmingham, AL 35233
Geographic Area: Jefferson County
Time: 3:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Event Website: http://www.barehandsgallery.org
Price: $10 donation appreciated, not required

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