It’s been tremendous, but it’s also been good for the universe and planet…” “COVID-19 has been tremendous,” Escartiz said.” A lot of people have died. The piece will straddle the line between some of the various themes that surfaced during the COVID-19 pandemic, including mortality, loss and rebirth. Alebrijes, which were most notably depicted in Pixar’s Coco, are not typically associated with Día de los Muertos, but possibly because of their significance to Mexican culture, the creators of the film chose to add them, Escartiz said.Īlthough Escartiz did not want to give too much away, he did tell the Pulse that this year’s installation will be bigger than his last installation in 2019 and will include large-scale celestial constructions that will envelop portions of the San Mateo County History Museum. The series was an homage to Linares, Escartiz said, and the folk legend Linares concocted during a dream involving the alebrijes the artisan said spoke to him. A giant alebrije figure crowns the roof of the Art Kiosk in Redwood City, part of "The Dream" by artist Fernando Escartiz. The display included a vivid and imaginative depiction of Escartiz’s interpretation of Linares’ alebrije the creature resting atop the history museum roof, mouth open, eyes wide. Two years ago, the artist brought large, brightly colored alebrijes – folk art of mythical creatures first conceptualized by Mexican artisan Pedro Linares – to Redwood City. It’s the second time Escartiz will feature his artwork on the Square. Just days before the Día de los Muertos holiday begins, Escartiz on Oct.30 will reveal his “Stardust” installation to Redwood City residents and other art enthusiasts. Foods and beverages, such as bread and tequila, are often placed on the ofrenda so that when the souls of the dead return, they can enjoy a meal. Families set up ofrendas - altars - with sugar skulls known as calaveras, flowers, candles and photos of those who have passed as a way to commemorate and celebrate their lives. “That’s where the connection between my latest piece and Día de los Muertos is, I believe.”ĭía de los Muertos is an annual multi-day Mexican holiday that begins on Nov.1 and celebrates loved ones who have died. “There has to be death for there to be life,” he said in Spanish on a phone call with the Pulse. The 42-year-old will bring his concept of rebirth to the Art Kiosk in front of the San Mateo County History Museum to challenge audiences to rethink what it means for something to die. That’s the idea behind Mexican Artist Fernando Escartiz’s new art installation “We Are Stardust” arriving later this month at the Redwood City Courthouse Square. It’s a tale as old as time itself, or so the saying goes. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.From cataclysmic destruction, new life emerges. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at for further information. INSKEEP: Fidel's grandfather was a big fan of bolero music, so, Luis Isabel Martinez, this is for you.Ĭopyright © 2021 NPR. They say he was a meek man, alguien bien calladito, but I always knew it took great courage to leave everything he'd known just to plant the American seeds that have now bore three generations. MARTINEZ: So this is the ofrenda that I wrote for Luis Isabel Martinez, my grandfather on my dad's side. He also added a tiny wooden figure of a bull because his grandpa's dream was to be a bullfighter. INSKEEP: This year, he's decorated his home altar with his grandfather's photo, some traditional marigolds and a shot of mezcal. And so for me, it's what got me into the celebration. For him, this day is about his grandpa.įIDEL MARTINEZ: It wasn't until my grandfather passed away a few years ago - I was wholly unprepared to deal with the grief and that loss. KING: Fidel Martinez is an editor on that team, and he says that this idea, which has taken off, grew from a conversation among Latino staffers at the Times. INSKEEP: In the spirit of el Dia de los Muertos, the Los Angeles Times web team built its own sort of altar, which allows readers to upload digital ofrendas along with a couple of lines of remembrance. It's a chance to celebrate the lives of people that we've lost, and one way that's done is by decorating an altar with an image of the person, along with things and food and drink that remind us of their life. This day is el Dia de los Muertos - in English, the Day of the Dead - which is mainly observed in Latin American cultures.
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