In Photos: Mexico's Gorgeous La Calaca Celebrations for Day of the Dead

Article by: Laura Mason|@masonlazarus

Fri November 06, 2015 | 00:00 AM


La Calaca , the Festival of Art and Death, took place October 30 through November 2 in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico for its fourth annual edition. Once again, the colorful public plazas and shaded parks of this pristine colonial town bore witness to artists, makers, and revelers from around the world for a participatory arts festival that honors and explores the profound philosophical themes and ancient traditions of Mexico’s Día de Los Muertos

During the day, these city streets were filled with colorful and traditional altars, and dozens of gallery exhibits, workshops, tours and theatrical performances. Public art was woven into venues throughout the city, and included a major urban arts exhibit exploring issues of urban renewal led by San Miguel graffiti-muralist Jesus Valenzuela, and the Pyramide De Muertos, a monumental community altar under the direction of Chilean artist Tomas Burkey and comprised of over 100 one meter tall nichos, handcrafted tin boxes housing individually created artistic dedications. 

Other major installations included a "digital altar" of community-sourced images by San Miguel artist Luis Eduardo Flores projected onto 17th century facades, "Espiritu de Michaocan," a collection of large-format photographs honoring the vanishing indigenous traditions of Mexico by Morelia-based Jesus Alexandre, and the internationally famous "Balloon Chain" of Robert Bose, which floated silently above the city's terraces and cupolas. 

In the evenings, processions of intricately painted and elegantly dressed catrinas wound through cobblestoned streets bursting with music and the lush aroma of cempazutchil (marigolds) were everywhere to attract and welcome the spirits of the dead.

The extensive calendar of programming for children and families, called calaquitas, brought puppet theater and folkloric dance to the beautiful Parque Juarez, while the Centro Cultural Allende was the site of Dead Talks, a conference of short lectures on topics of life and death. The week’s programming was inaugurated with a pre-Columbian ceremony led by Medicine Woman Dayanaa Paz at the Pyramide de Muertos, and culminated in La Calaca’s two increasingly world-famous parties, Xantolo and Muerte Elegante, which were set in majestic venues and featured musicians, acrobats, and dancers from throughout Mexico, and international musical artists Feathered Sun (Berlin), Bedouin (NYC), Timujin (London) and Lum (Tulúm). For more about La Calaca, the Festival of Art and Death, click here. 

La Calaca 2015 James Guzman Altar

Photo by: James Guzman

La Calaca 2015 James Guzman Altar

Photo by: James Guzman

La Calaca 2015 Alexa Firmenich Cemetery

Photo by: Alexa Firmenich

La Calaca 2015  James Guzman Little Girl

Photo by: James Guzman

La Calaca 2015 Altar

Photo by: James Guzman

La Calaca 2015 James Guzman Street Art 3

Photo by: James Guzman

La Calaca 2015 James Guzman Pyramid

Photo by: James Guzman

La Calaca 2015 James Guzman Altar

Photo by: James Guzman

La Calaca 2015 James Guzman Altar

Photo by: James Guzman

La Calaca 2015  James Guzman Altar 2

Photo by: James Guzman

La Calaca 2015  James Guzman Altar 2

Photo by: James Guzman

La Calaca 2015 James Guzman Altar

Photo by: James Guzman

La Calaca 2015  James Guzman Altar 2

Photo by: James Guzman

La Calaca 2015 Alexa Firmenich Cemetery

Photo by: Alexa Firmenich

La Calaca 2015  James Guzman Altar 2

Photo by: James Guzman

La Calaca 2015  James Guzman Altar 2

Photo by: James Guzman

La Calaca 2015 James Guzman Altar

Photo by: James Guzman

La Calaca 2015  James Guzman Altar 2

Photo by: James Guzman

La Calaca 2015  James Guzman Altar 2

Photo by: James Guzman

La Calaca 2015 James Guzman Altar

Photo by: James Guzman

La Calaca 2015 Alexa Firmenich Cemetery

Photo by: Alexa Firmenich

La Calaca 2015 Alexa Firmenich Cemetery

Photo by: Alexa Firmenich

La Calaca 2015  James Guzman Altar 2

Photo by: James Guzman

La Calaca 2015  James Guzman Altar 2

Photo by: James Guzman