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DAYS OF THE DEAD ALTAR CONTEST

The first Days of the Dead Altar contest was held this year. These are the entries.There are more pix of my artwork than other peoples' cause it's my website!

My friend Lisa, who owns Sol Imports Mexican Folk Art store and I had a ball making and decorating sugar skulls this year. Lisa is also a teacher so she made up some blank ones for her kids to decorate too. I did a demonstration at her store for the gallery walk in the month of October, although Days of the Dead actually starts Nov. 1 with All Saints Day.

This was my home altar for Days of the Dead this year, with my departed relatives and friends on the top tier, the cats on the next, and an offrenda bowl at the foot.

My modified cat altar took second place in the contest. I thought it looked rather splendid. I created three little figures in Sculpey for the center part--La Cat-rina, The Purr-gin of Paw-de-mew-pe, and Furrida.

Cat altar middle and lower tiers Day of the Dead altars are supposed to have symbols of the four elements in their makeup. Candles or Christmas lights stand in for fire--I used Christmas lights because cats are apt to walk right into candles and catch themselves on fire without noticing until it's too late (I had some try it when I lived without electricity in Alaska. Fortunately, I was there to put out their tummy fur before much harm was done ) The papel picado flags around the second tier (I made those myself with cat cut out designs. Beatriz Goodacre taught a class in making papel picado last year so this was my first independent attempt) signify wind or air. There is a little dish with water in it for water and the fruits, flowers, and a little tin of kitty litter stood for earth.

This altar was created by local folk artist Ray Grier in honor of his family. Besides the skull he has pictures of his parents and toys and artifacts indicating the things they liked--painting and sewing for his mother, trucks and beer for his Dad. Ray took first place in the contest.

I don't recall who created this altar. If they see the picture and tell me, I'll add the information

Brenda, an artist who has a lot of work at Sol Imports Gallery, created this Frida Kahlo altar.

Again, I don't know who did this very nice skeleton altar.

This was a very simple but effctive altar--it's all done with mirrors!

Lisa wanted to make an altar that was not actually entered in the contest since she was the sponsor. She chose mermaids for her theme and, having access to the store with any mermaids she chose, made quite a showing.

Close-up of Lisa's mermaid altar. My pictures of Lisa and Jeff in their wonderful La Catrina and El Catrin costumes did not come out, alas. However, Lisa took first prize in the merchant's costume contest.

This marvelous artist chose the contest as an opportunity to exhibit his very effective and sometimes quite humorous folk art. One picture that didn't turn out was of his painting of muertos of Johnny Cash and June Carter

More cool artwork by the artist. I had his business card but can't find it now or I'd tell you his name.