October 14-November 4, 2023
Reception with the Artists: Sunday, October 15, 2023 (5-7 PM)
The Bath House Cultural Center presents Día de Muertos: A Love Letter for the Departed, an art exhibition inspired by the Mexican celebration of the Day of the Dead that features the works of close to seventy artists from Texas, Arizona, Oregon, and Mexico.
The tradition of the Day of the Dead is deeply linked to the human desire to stay connected to our loved ones even after they have left. The holiday is a time of celebration and loving remembrance that offers the community an opportunity to honor dear departed relatives and friends in public settings or intimate places. Although we are nowadays more familiar with the massive Día de Muertos celebrations that take place in cemeteries, community venues, and—increasingly more popular these days—in spectacular parades and processions, it is worth paying closer attention to the personal demonstrations of love that occur in more private ways and sites.
The idea of this exhibition is that the celebration allows us to convey a message of persistent love. The show focuses on works of art that are metaphorically or literally used as a love letter for the departed. The pieces of art and altars depict various Day of the Dead themes that are of interest to the artists and many of them include a message of affection in written form. The exhibition reminds the public that although the Día de Muertos festivity is experienced and observed collectively by many people, it is absolutely fascinating to get a glimpse of the less public, yet potent, manifestations of love for the dead that are ever-present during this time of the year.
The exhibition includes artwork by BJ Anderson, Rita Barnard, Angie Bolling, Maria Huron Brereton, Dwayne Carter, Angela Casanova, Vicki Charlotta, Maureen Cole, Lita Cruz, Sam Cusack, Enrique De Alamirano, Sophia and Estevan De La Rosa, Jorge Domínguez Cruz, Dan and Lori Dudley, Abieyuwa Eigbobo, Jeane Elliott Clayton, Frida Espinoza Müller, Jeremie Fletcher Bourcy, Linda Marie Ford, Jacque Forsher, Kierra Freeman, Leticia Garcia, Erik Gomez, Angel Gonzales, Erica Guajardo, Jim Hastings, Juán J. Hernandez, Jesse Hernandez, Josh Hickman, Duane Johnson, Colby Jones, Joanna Lea LaGrone-Headrick, Sandra Lara, Mavis Leahy, Nadia Leos, Linda López, Elizabeth Mahy, Daniela Maldonado, Cyndi McDonnell, Brenda McKinney, Alondra Mendoza, William Messimer, Marcela Mihaloglou, Beverly Ann (BAM) Moore, Angel Moreno, Bianca Mujica-Morales, Gloria Munson, Crystal Nelson, Amy Palmer, Lisa Jil Payne, Glenys Quick, Rocío Ramírez-Landoll, Reyes (Noin) Rivera, Roberto D. Romero, Raul Servin, Liphus M. Swindall, Kevin Torres, Jose Vargas, Keith Williams, Kathy Windrow, Nancy Windrow-Pearce, Wendy Woodring, and Sharon Zigrossi.
Enrique Fernández Cervantes, Visual Arts Coordinator and Curator of the Bath House Cultural Center and the City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture curated this exhibition.
Bath House Cultural Center Community Altar | Bath House Centro Cultural Altar Comunitario
Bath House Cultural CenterCommunity Altar
We encourage the public to contribute to our community altar from October 14th – November 2nd.
In conjunction with the concept of this year’s exhibition, Día de Muertos: A Love Letter for the Departed, we have a writing station where you can literally write a love letter for the departed to contribute to the community altar. Contributions to the community altar may be made during operating building hours, Tuesday- Sunday, 12:00-6:00 PM. Join us in our Día de Muertos community altar that allows us to convey a message of persistent love.
Contributions can include any DISPOSABLE images or objects that you are willing to leave at the altar such as:
- a photocopy of a loved one who has passed (largest size, 8×10 in,)
- a letter to a loved one who has passed on
- perishable items (artificial flowers, sugar skulls, tea-light candles, unopened beverages, disposable mementos, or knick-knacks)
Please do not bring:
- original – or only- copy photos
- flammable materials, perishable foods items, or keepsakes that you do not want to be thrown away
- large objects
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Bath House Centro Cultural Altar Comunitario
Animamos al público a contribuir a nuestro altar comunitario del 14 de octubre al 2 de noviembre.
En conjunción con el concepto de la exposición de este año, Día de muertos: Carta de amor para los difuntos, tendremos una estación de escritura donde literalmente se puede escribir una carta de amor para los difuntos para contribuir al altar de la comunidad. Las contribuciones al altar comunitario se pueden hacer durante las horas de operación del edificio, martes a domingo, 12:00-6:00 PM. Únete a nosotros en nuestro altar comunitario de Día de Muertos que nos permite transmitir un mensaje de amor persistente.
Las contribuciones pueden incluir imágenes o objetos DESECHABLES que esté dispuesto a dejar en el altar, como:
- una fotocopia de un ser querido
- una carta a un ser querido
- artículos no perecederos (flores artificiales, calaveras de azúcar, velas de té, bebidas sin abrir, recuerdos desechables, o Knick-Knacks)
Por favor, no traiga:
- fotos originales o única copiamateriales flamables
