Join us for art activities and a special artist-designed ofrenda–a temporary altar named after the Spanish word for “offering”–on this Free First Saturday inspired by the Day of the Dead. Highlights include traditional Mexican art-making, music, and performances by In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre. Guest curator Allison Herrera builds a day that celebrates those who have gone before.
Enjoy free gallery admission and family fun for all on the first Saturday of each month. Activities designed for kids ages 6 to 12 are offered from 10 am to 3 pm.
Art-Making: Monoprints, 10 am–3 pm
Star Tribune Foundation Art Lab
Create a one-of-a-kind image using just your finger and ink in this contemporary spin on traditional Mexican printmaking.
Art-Making: Calaveras, 10 am–3 pm
Cargill Lounge
The calavera, which comes from the Spanish word for “skull,” is a traditional art form that lends color and symbolism to Day of the Dead celebrations. Sculpt and embellish your own skull figurine with clay, foil, and markers.
Performance: Skelton in the Closet, 11 am and 1 pm
Walker Cinema
This bilingual (Spanish and English) puppet show by In the Heart of the Beast is a celebration of love and the cycle of life. Follow the experiences of children who remember their grandparents and discover a connection that continues beyond death. Performed by artists Julie and Gustavo Boada. 45 minutes.
Performance: DJ Miguel Vargas, 10 am–2 pm
Cargill Lounge
DJ Miguel Vargas of KFAI’s Radio Pocho spins a sensational mix of musical styles that will get everyone up and moving.
Activity: Hecho y Muerto en México / Created and Deceased in Mexico, 10 am–3 pm
Cargill Lounge
In honor of those who have passed away, a Latin American tradition is to decorate graves or build ofrendas in homes, which is a type of altar with a collection of items to entice souls back to the mortal world. Local artist Maria Cristina Tavera creates an ofrenda in honor of Americo, a Mexican street artist who lived in Minneapolis for 20 years and passed away earlier this summer after returning to Mexico.