BISD holds third annual Faculty Day of the Dead Art exhibit

A white skull with a slender guitar descending from its forehead rises from the flames; nearby, a crayon work shows a skeleton playing a guitar in the middle of a field of crosses over a rainbow of colors.

In another work at the third annual Brownsville Independent School District Faculty Day of the Dead Art Exhibition, skulls bounce out of a purple heart wrapped in a wreath of flowers while smoke spews from the top.

This exhibit first went on display at the Old City Cemetery Center at 600 E Jackson St. on Oct. 12, but the opening reception will take place today at 6 p.m. It is free and open to the public.

Although the event is called the "faculty" art exhibit, most of the paintings are by students from Brownsville’s middle schools and high schools, said Ted Estrada, supervisor of visual arts for BISD.

"There are five or six pieces that are faculty artwork," Estrada said. "This exhibit this year has a little more of student artwork than years before, and that is because we really pushed students at this time to create more for this specific event. There’s some really, really fabulous examples of high school and middle school students."

Rhiannon Cizon, assistant director of the Brownsville Historical Association, said some of the pieces are so extraordinary it was hard to believe students created them.

"It’s great to see the teachers encouraging the students to connect with their heritage and their roots and what Day of the Dead means to them," she said.

Other works depict a grimacing skull that seems to growl from a jungle of paint, smiling skulls surrounded by stars and flowers, and a "calavera," or skeleton, dressed in a military uniform.

Cizon’s favorite piece is a painting by art teacher Marco Sanchez that depicts a violet skull with purple and aqua paisley figures sweeping about the face; green lines spread like vines around the jaw and the eye sockets, and rays of red and yellow radiate from the skull.

"I love that one because it’s just so bright," she said. "And I think that, at least to me, embodies Day of the Dead. When you look at the decorations it’s not just the sugar skulls, it’s about the colors, and joy, and celebration. And it’s definitely something that you can’t ignore. It’s so ingrained into this city’s culture, it’s definitely something that you have to celebrate, and this painting definitely does it."

Cizon said that Day of the Dead is an important holiday because it encourages families to clean up around the tombstones and leave fresh flowers.

"It is more of a holiday and more of a celebration of the people who came before and those who we miss," she said. "It’s a day of remembering."

WHAT: Third Annual BISD Faculty Day of the Dead Art Exhibition

 WHERE: Old City Cemetery Center, 600 E. Jackson St.

 WHEN: Opening reception is Oct. 22 at 6 p.m.; exhibit runs through Nov. 20

 ADMISSION: Free

 HOURS: Wednesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

 FOR INFORMATION: 541-5560