Mi Casa es Tu Casa 09

Mi Casa es Tu Casa 2009 will showcase and celebrate the rich art of altar-making and the diversity found right here in our own community by displaying altars installed by over 20 community groups.

Day of the Dead Events

Sunday, November 1, 2009

2pm: Viernes Cultural Community Commemoration of Day of the Dead, Watsonville Plaza
4:30pm: Procession starts, from Plaza to Gallery
5pm: Exhibit Opening Reception for “Mi Casa es Tu Casa” and Potluck at Pajaro Valley Gallery 37 Sudden Street, Watsonville, CA 95076

All events are free

Presented by: Pajaro Valley Arts Council and Viernes Cultural

 

Mi Casa es Tu Casa activity guide

Welcome!  The Mi Casa Teaching Guide 2009.pdf was written specifically around the Mexican tradition of Dia de Los Muertos.  We invite you help to expand this guide to include your traditions.  We are looking for short histories of your community/cultural traditions in altar making or honoring the dead; an activity guide for a children's art project that relates to the tradition; and/or relevant photographs.  Send your guide in Word format, with jpegs attached (if applicable) to Heidi Alonzo at heidialonzo@earthlink.net and PVAC will review it for inclusion on our website.

Press

For immediate release

Contact: Carmina Eliason

831-536-4436
carmina.eliason@gmail.com
http://www.pvarts.org/micasaestucasa09

Press page: http://pvarts.org/micasaestucasa09/press

 

Presented by:

Pajaro Valley Arts Council, Nonprofit 501(c)(3)

Viernes Cultural of Watsonville

Brown Berets                     

http://pvarts.org/micasaestucasa09/press

  • Title: Family Events for Day of the Dead
  • Date: Sunday, November 1, 2009
  • Location and Times:
    • 11am: Peace and Unity Gathering (Brown Berets), Watsonville Plaza
    • 12pm: Peace and Unity March (Brown Berets), Watsonville Plaza
    • 2pm: Peace Rally and Community Commemoration of Day of the Dead, Watsonville Plaza (Viernes Cultural and Brown Berets)
    • 4:30pm: Procession starts, from Plaza to Gallery
    • 5pm: Exhibit Opening Reception for "Mi Casa es Tu Casa" and Potluck at Pajaro Valley Gallery 37 Sudden Street, Watsonville, CA 95076 (Pajaro Valley Arts Council)
  • Admission: All events are free

Press Release Word Document: http://pvarts.org/sites/default/files/micasa09_pr.doc
Press Release PDF: http://pvarts.org/sites/default/files/micasa09_pr.pdf

 

Watsonville celebrates local and global traditions for Day of the Dead

              October 1, 2009, WATSONVILLE, CA -- Day of the Dead is an important event for many cultures around the world and each culture has its own way of celebrating loved ones who have passed on. Watsonville is no exception. In fact, even in this community we can observe a variety of ways to celebrate the lives of beloved family members and friends who are no longer with us. Family events sponsored by local organizations will occur on November 1, 2009. A Peace and Unity March sponsored by the Brown Berets will gather at the plaza at 11am and start marching at 12pm. At 2pm a Peace Rally and Community Commemoration of Day of the Dead presented in a joint effort by Viernes Cultural and the Brown Berets will include speakers, dance, music, art, outdoor altars, champurrado and pan de muerto (traditional bread made for Day of the Dead.)

From there, the public is invited to join in a procession at 4:30pm, to the Pajaro Valley Arts Council Gallery, located on 37 Sudden Street, where the Mi Casa es Tu Casa art exhibit will hold a reception at 5pm to celebrate the completion of over 20 community-built altars installed in the Gallery. Some of the groups include the Watsonville Wetlands Watch, Pajaro Valely High School Art Club, the Asian American Women’s Art Association, and SOMOS LGBT. The community is encouraged to bring a potluck dish that represents their culture. Mi Casa es Tu Casa 2009 will showcase and celebrate the rich art of altar-making and the amazing diversity found in our own community.

This year the PVAC Gallery is honored to be collaborating with several talented artists and community members. Jose Ortiz, who was curator of the Mi Casa es Tu Casa show for many years, will be teaching an altar-making workshop for those participating in the installation process.

As an exciting companion to the exhibit, Consuelo Alba-Speyer and John Speyer of Veremos Productions will be creating a 20-30 minute documentary that will record the altar installation process and related events, including the opening reception, in order to document the rich traditions of Day of the Dead in Watsonville.

Additionally a Teacher’s Resource Guide about Day of the Dead is available on the PVAC website and the community is invited to participate in this “living document” by submitting their own culture’s traditions around Day of the Dead and suggestions for children’s art projects.

Group tours led by Gallery trained docents are available by calling the Gallery. The Gallery is open Wednesday-Friday from 11-4pm and weekends from 12noon-4pm.

  • Exhibit Title: Mi Casa es Tu Casa: Celebrating Community Diversity
  • Exhibit Dates: October 21-December 6, 2009
  • Exhibit Location: Pajaro Valley Arts Council and Gallery, 37 Sudden Street, Watsonville, CA 95076
  • Gallery Hours: Wednesday-Friday 11am-4pm; Saturday and Sunday 12pm-4pm
  • Admission: Free
  • Presented by: Pajaro Valley Arts Council Gallery

The Pajaro Valley Gallery
The Pajaro Valley Arts Council's Office
37 Sudden Street
Watsonville, California 95076
831.722.3062

Pajaro Valley Gallery Hours
Thursdays & Fridays
11:00am to 4:00pm
Saturdays & Sundays
12:00 to 4:00pm

Free admission — Wheelchair accessible

The Pajaro Valley Arts Council is funded in part by a grant from The Cultural Council of Santa Cruz County