The Latino Cultural Arts Center (LCAC) in Denver, Colorado, invites the community to join in events during Latino/Hispanic Heritage Month for the launch of a community documentary trailer, an artisan marketplace for altar items, and art workshops across Denver celebrating Day of the Dead.
Ofrendas 2021 is a multi-faceted celebration of the ancient native and contemporary Mexican, Mexican-American and Guatemalan traditions behind Día de los Muertos. It is an invitation to co-create with local and international artisans, while celebrating and honoring our ancestors.
The LCAC is pleased to partner with the Colorado Art Therapist Association to facilitate workshops at Foothills Art Center of Golden, Escuela de Guadalupe, Mexican Cultural Center, Raíces Brewing Company, and the Sun Valley Youth Center. They are dedicating the Fall season (September 22nd – November 2nd) to mental health and emotional resilience.
Ofrendas Documentary Trailer Release
The Ofrendas Documentary tells stories behind Day of the Dead in Denver and across Colorado over the last 50 years. The mini-film features the history of Mexican/Chicano Denver, starting with Carlos Frésquez’ 1993 screenprint, “Westside Wedding”, at St. Cajetan church on what is now the Auraria Campus. Through the lenses of the Denver Catrina Troupe, Rosales Bakery, elders, young people, families and community leaders, we celebrate those who have passed and turn the collective losses into moments of remembrance, resilience and teaching.
In 2022, the Ofrendas Documentary moves across the state to elevate the richness and diversity around these traditions about life after death in Colorado. This educational tool will be unveiled next Fall for educators, students and families.
Ofrendas Mercado Shopping Event
The LCAC award winning retail stop, Hijos del Sol (HdS), is back with a fresh look and colorful new merchandise. The Ofrendas Mercado will be held at HdS, 2715 West 8th Avenue in Denver, Saturday, October 9th, from 11am-4pm. This shopping event brings the highest quality handmade items for your altar, whether you are beginning new traditions or continuing with old. You will find the best curated selection of clothing, jewelry & accessories, folk art, and more! Masks required.
The Ofrendas Mercado supports local and international artisans, while offering individuals and families the opportunity to honor their departed loved ones in a personalized way. For those who can’t make the Ofrendas Mercado, or are immunocompromised, they can set-up an appointment by calling Adrianna at 720-353-2233. Some of the collection is for view online at lcac-denver.org/hijosdelsol.
Maestra/o Series: Special Workshops by Mexican Masters in the Art of Traditional Olinalá Lacquerware
Coming from generations of lacquerware artisans in Olinalá, Guerrero, México, Flor Espinal and her husband, Vicente Castillo Dionicio, are traveling to share one of México’s oldest folkart traditions with Denver audiences. In this Maestra/o Series, participants learn about the beautiful process of lacquerware made in Olinalá from locally sourced wood, chia seed oil, ground stone and tree resin. Flor and Vicente will teach participants about this Indigenous tradition of decoration and embellishment. The hands-on experience of mixing pigments to make lacquer brings this artwork to life allowing us to take a piece of traditional Mexican culture home.
Workshops will be held at Hijos del Sol, 2715 West 8th Avenue in Denver, October 6th and 7th, from 6-8pm. All materials will be provided. Cost: Free for Members & $55 for Non-Members.
Participants can register for the Maestra/o Series online at bit.ly/Ofrendas2021.
The Collective Healing Power of Art
The LCAC is partnering with the Colorado Art Therapist Association to facilitate workshops at Foothills Art Center of Golden, Escuela de Guadalupe, Mexican Cultural Center, Raíces Brewing Company, the Sun Valley Youth Center around loss and resilience. We welcome a diverse audience to learn about the complexities and nuances of Day of the Dead traditions, along with the healing benefits of art and accessing mental health resources.
Ofrendas workshops are a fun and interactive approach to learning about Mesoamerican altar traditions. Participants can create hand-made nichos, construct barriletes, make incense holders, and paper lanterns. Participants can register for art workshops online at bit.ly/Ofrendas2021.
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
Nichos Workshop, Oct 2, 1pm-4pm: Sun Valley Youth Center, 1230 Decatur Street, Denver, 80204. Ages 8+, free event, masks required, food & drink provided. Register: https://www.lcac-denver.org/event-details/nichos-workshop. Nichos are small “scenes” that bring remembrance into the physical. With these little boxes, we honor the memory of a loved one who has passed. We recall and emphasize what we loved about that person and how they made us smile and laugh. Construct your own nicho in memory of someone to be honored on your personal altar.
Maestra/o Series: The Art of Traditional Olinalá Lacquerware
Oct 6, 6pm-8pm: Hijos del Sol, 2715 W. 8th Avenue, Denver, 80204. Ages 18+ , free for members, $55 for non-members, masks required
Register: https://www.lcac-denver.org/event-details/maestra-o-series-the-art-of-traditional-olinala-lacquerware. Coming from generations of lacquerware artisans in Olinala, Guerrero, Mexico, Flor Espinal & Vicente Castillo Dionicio will teach the hands-on experience of mixing pigments and carving techniques in the making of lacquerware. Afterwards, you’ll enjoy a little piece of traditional Mexican culture at home.
Maestra/o Series: The Art of Traditional Olinalá Lacquerware
Oct 7, 6pm-8pm: Hijos del Sol, 2715 W. 8th Avenue, Denver, 80204
Ages 18+ , free for members; $55 for non-members, masks required
Cempasúchitl Lanterns, Oct 8, 4pm-6pm: Mexican Cultural Center, 5350 Leetsdale Dr #200w, Denver, CO 80246, ages 8+, free event, masks required, food & drink provided. Register: https://www.lcac-denver.org/event-details/linterna-de-cempasuchitl-ensenada-en-espanol.
Incense Holder Workshop, Oct 16, 1pm-4pm: Sun Valley Youth Center, 1230 Decatur Street, Denver, 80204, ages 8+, free event, masks required, food & drink provided. Register: https://www.lcac-denver.org/event-details/incense-holder-workshop-2.
Cultivating Sustainable Spiritual Practices with Local Artist Karma Leigh, Oct 17, 12:00pm-3pm: Foothills Art Center, 809 15th Street, Golden, 80401. Ages 8+, free event, masks required, food & drink provided. Register: https://www.lcac-denver.org/event-details/cultivating-a-sustainable-spiritual-practice-with-artist-karma-leigh. Participants will paint a flower pot to hold a cempasúchitl plant. The intention is to cultivate a divine and mindful connection to Nature (La Naturaleza) alongside local artist Karma Leigh, a Chicana from Colorado who was blessed to grow up between two worlds; the urban life of the city and the natural wonders of the Rockies.
Taller de Barriletes (Enseñada en Español), Oct 19, 4pm-6pm, Mexican Cultural Center, 5350 Leetsdale Dr #200w, Denver, CO 80246
Ages 8+, free event, masks required, food & drink provided. Register: https://www.lcac-denver.org/event-details/barrilete-taller-ensenada-en-espanol. Acompáñenos para construir barriletes (papalotes) y aprender sobre las orígenes Mayas de La Feria de Barriletes Gigantes en Santiago Sacatepéquez y Sumpango, Guatemala. Cada año, barriletes gigantes y hermosas llenan el cielo guatemalteco para guiar a las almas de nuestros antepasados mientras nos acompañan para el Día de los Muertos.
Nichos Workshop, Oct 20, 5pm-9pm: Raices Brewing Company, 2060 W. Colfax Avenue, Denver, 80204, ages 8+, free event, masks required, food & drink provided. Register: https://www.lcac-denver.org/event-details/nichos-workshop-1.
Nichos Workshop with local artist Victor Escobedo, Oct 24, 12:00pm-3pm: Foothills Art Center, 809 15th Street, Golden, 80401, ages 8+, free event, masks required, food & drink provided. Register: https://www.lcac-denver.org/event-details/nichos-workshop-with-victor-escobedo.
Victor Escobedo’s body of work pays tribute to his experience being born in America to Mexican parents, time spent in the Yucatan jungle listening to his grandmother speak Maya, seeing ancient ruins, exploring Maya sites before tourism, and growing up in Los Angeles in the 80s and 90s. He is currently a Resident Artist at the RedLine Contemporary Art Center.
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