Community Day of the Dead altar taking shape

Sheets of Plexiglas surround a display of photos, offerings and treasured memorabilia featured in the Dia de Los Muertos community altar at the Brownsville Heritage Complex.

The altar, which debuts today, commemorates Dia de Los Muertos or Day of the Dead, which traditionally occurs on Nov. 1-2. As part of the museum’s Dia de Los Muertos Cultural Series, the altar is part of a month-long look at the historical and cultural aspects of the tradition in the area.

Jessica Villescaz, BHC curator for special collections and archives, said the exhibit will start small, with just two submissions. She hopes it will grow into a three-tiered display honoring people in the community who have died. Community members are invited to add their own mementos to the items already on display.

“Just 20 years back you wouldn’t have found altars in the Valley. It’s something that’s very clandestine here,” Villescaz said. “We want the community to participate, to recuperate some of these traditions that have been lost.”

Manuel Medrano, a history professor at the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College, said Dia de Los Muertos celebrations are a fusion of indigenous and Spanish traditions. He said in Mexico, where the observance is widely celebrated, people remember loved ones by decorating the deceased person’s gravesite and preparing food such as pan de muerto to honor the dead. Medrano said that during the two-day celebration, people of all ages will gather marigolds and celebrate the deceased person’s legacy rather than their passing.

“Oftentimes when we think of the dead we think of something morbid or sorrowful, but this is a day of celebration,” Medrano said. “It’s such a neat tradition where instead of grieving the dead, you remember them for their laughter, for all sorts of things.”

Villescaz said that last year, 20 people participated in the museum’s commemorative altar and this year she’s hoping for an even greater turnout. She said that along with construction of the altar, the museum will host a variety of events and activities through a grant sponsored by Target. Upcoming events include an altar-making workshop on Oct. 9, and a Day of the Dead sugar-skull-decorating workshop on Oct. 20.

The Brownsville Heritage Complex is not the only local museum constructing an altar to commemorate the holiday. At the Museums of Port Isabel, staff is already taking altar submissions for a community display scheduled to debut at the Treasures of the Gulf Museum on Oct. 15.

Edward Meza, director of historical preservation for the city of Port Isabel, said people already are submitting items for the exhibit, which has been a tradition for the last five years. He said that the altars will be enclosed in a 6-foot long by 6-foot high area and will be open for public submissions on a first-come, first-served basis.

Meza said the museum, along with the city of Port Isabel and other local organizations, will present the fifth annual “Los Colores Del Muerte” Day of the Dead festival on Oct. 27 featuring arts and crafts, food, exhibits and entertainment.

“Every population in the world has been doing some kind of celebration that honors the dead,” Meza said. “It’s a very colorful celebration and holiday.”

The Day of the Dead altar at the Brownsville Heritage Complex will be displayed today through Nov. 15. For more information, call (956) 541-5560

The altars at the Museums of Port Isabel will be displayed Oct. 15 through Nov. 15. The deadline for submissions is Oct. 12. For more information, call (956) 943-7602.