Students at Sandia Preparatory School’s Spanish 4 class were eager to share a photo essay exhibit with the local community. They wanted to invite local members of the community to engage in the practice of honoring the deceased through images, music, and food.
The exhibition, entitled Día de los muertos, celebrated the lives of loved ones. Students were able to learn about the cultural differences and attitudes on death and the afterworld that many Mesoamerican indigenous groups and subsequently, many latino communities have. Students prepared masks that were then used to portray the deceased’s favorite activities. The simplicity and juxtaposition of the colors of the mask to the daily activities that are taken for granted gave the audience a perspective of the appreciation and admiration that these students have for their deceased relatives.