Seattle Center Festál: Dia de Muertos Set for 10/27 & 28

Seattle Center Festál: Dia de Muertos - A Mexican Celebration to Remember Our Departed, 12 p.m. – 8 p.m., Oct. 27, and 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Oct. 28, in Seattle Center Armory/Center House, explores the cultural roots and contemporary influences of Mexico through live performances, spectacular sand paintings, special hands-on activities, foods, face painting and exquisite rituals.

This year's celebration honors La Catrina, the iconic image associated with the celebration of an elegant woman created 100 years ago by Mexican artist Jose Guadalupe Posada as a parody to show that in the end all are the same in the eyes of La Muerte (death) regardless of social class. Historian Julieta Perez Monroy, with the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in Mexico City, will give a special lecture on Jose Guadalupe Posada and La Catrina (2 p.m. on Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sunday).

Special features this year include:

A monumental sand painting (tapete de arena pintada) created by Mexican artist Isaac Hernandez together with local students and community members;
Several altars (ofrendas) to remember those who have passed away including: an altar to victims of domestic violence and hate crimes, an altar created by elementary school children, a regional altar from Oaxaca, an altar remembering a parent and more;
Performance by Wenatchee HS Mariachi group, Mariachi Huenachi, 4 p.m., Oct. 27;
Opportunities for the audience to learn traditional Dia de Muertos dances from talented performing artists, 6 p.m., Oct. 27 and 4:30 p.m., Oct. 28;
A group of artists from Mexico City's Taller 24 exhibiting artwork and the public will have the opportunity to work and talk with them directly in the printmaking workshop;
The 6th annual short films and animations presentation, Cortomuertajes e Animas-iones, brought to Seattle from Mexico courtesy of the Mexican Intitute of Cinematography.

The public is invited to contribute personally to the celebration by bringing pictures, poems and other offerings for departed loves ones to deposit on the community altar. Festival goers are invited to participate in a musical procession around the fountain where there will be the opportunity to call out and remember loved ones who have passed away, 7 p.m., Oct. 27.

The 20 Seattle Center Festál cultural celebrations highlight The Common forms of tradition and expression among ethnic communities in the Pacific Northwest, while underscoring their unique creative contributions, customs, foods and ideals. Each event offers moving entertainment and fascinating insight into a different culture of the world.

Dia de Muertos - A Mexican Celebration to Remember Our Departed is part of The Next Fifty at Seattle Center in 2012. The Festival is produced by Taller Mexicano para la Cultura y las Artes in partnership with Seattle Center. For a full event schedule, visit www.tallermexicano.org, and for more information on this cultural series and other Seattle Center public programming, click on www.seattlecenter.com.

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