In celebration of Día de Muertos, two community ofrendas will be displayed through October at Anythink Brighton Library.
In Mesoamerican cultures, it was believed that after death, the soul embarks on a journey through Chicunamictlán, or the Land of the Dead. These ancient beliefs inspired artists Cal Duran and Val Ponce Najeria to create the ofrendas at Brighton.
“For this installation, we were thinking of taking people through a journey as well,” said Najera, who is Duran’s apprentice.
Located near the entrance, the first ofrenda centers around the tree of life and features butterflies, papel picado, skulls and marigolds.
“We really wanted to sort of play with the concept of nature,” Najera said. “The tree of life is a symbol found within a lot of different cultures. (It) represents the roots of heritage and people that came before us.”
Near the children’s area, the second ofrenda’s large skeleton piece includes a nicho (or shadow box) shrine in its center that is filled with found items—symbolically creating the body of this ancestor representation.
“We try to highlight the joy of knowing that we are connected to our ancestors,” Najera said. “Especially during this time, we have the opportunity to commune with them, and not only with our ancestors, but (with) the community around us.”
The ofrendas are intended to be interacted with and used, not merely observed. Community members are encouraged to “honor their ancestors in any way they see fit” and can bring in notes, photos or items in remembrance of those who have passed away.
“It’s always an invitation for people to come together and celebrate their loved ones and have a space to grieve in community,” Najera said.
Visit Anythink Brighton Library this October to see and interact with these ofrendas.
