MARTINEZ — Come October when most people think of Halloween, for Lorena Castillo, the month leading up to Día de los Muertos is a time for remembrance and reflection.
“One of my earliest memories in Mexico was visiting my relatives’ gravesites,” said Castillo. “We would walk there from our house singing songs and offering prayers. Once we arrived at the gravesites, we would clean and decorate with flowers and offer their favorite foods. We would spend several hours there singing and sharing stories of our loved ones that had passed.”
The San Francisco-born Castillo, a Martinez resident for 10 years, whose family hails from Guadalajara, Mexico, said she and her family still celebrate Día de los Santos on Nov.1, and Día de los Muertos on Nov. 2.
“My family moved back to Mexico when I was a baby and lived there for seven years and continue to visit every year,” she said. “We usually go to church and dedicate (the day) to my grandparents. I have several altars at my house throughout the year but I spruce them up during these times.”
Memories of this cultural ritual returned on a recent Saturday when Castillo built a nicho — a small altar — honoring her cat and her grandmother at a Mexican Folk Art workshop held at the Martinez Library.
It’s part of a month-long collaboration with the Martinez Arts Association, Artcelerator, Republic Services and the Martinez Library “to bring culture to our community in combination with art and craft,” Castillo said.
The organizations, who donate all materials, have been hosting the free library workshops for all ages for the last four years, she said.
“Participants learned about Mexican traditions of honoring the dead by creating small altars celebrating loved ones that had passed,” Castillo said. “Participants bring photos and memorabilia to decorate their small boxes/altars.”
Sandy Lione said she had always collected “Day of the Dead” decorations but was pleased at how her nicho, complete with a sugar skull adorned with a bandana and green grass turned out. She said her altar represents regeneration and makes a positive statement of death.
“Our bodies regenerate spiritually,” Lione said. “The grass represents life.”
Ana Gosney, who makes crafts out of recycled materials, said that while there’s some similarity celebrating Day of the Dead in her El Salvadorean heritage, this was her first time making paper flowers to decorate altars in the Mexican folk art tradition.
“This workshop is a very nice way to bring out the creativity of the community,” said Gosney, who lives in unincorporated Briones.
Other events in the Día de los Muertos celebration include an altar festival Oct. 28.
“The Festival of Altars is a community event where visitors can celebrate the memory of loved ones that have passed away,” Castillo said. “Visitors are invited to bring photos, flowers, and memorabilia to offer the large scale altars created by (participating) artists. Each one is unique honoring loved ones, animals, community members, celebrities and so much more.”
In years past, Castillo has participated in Día de los Muertos events in San Francisco, Petaluma, and Oakland.
“As an artist myself, I wanted to bring this colorful event to my town and my neighbors,” she said. “I understand that death is sad and often has negative connotations. I want to shed light to this stigma by celebrating the memory of loved ones that have passed. This is not a religious event or an event that glorifies costumes, but an event for families and friends to dance, sing, eat, create and rejoice in the memories of their loved ones.”
There is currently a call to artists for large-scale altars to be displayed during the Oct. 28 event.
“This year we are closing Main Street between Castro and Estudillo streets expanding the space for altars to be created,” Castillo said. “Visitors are encouraged to dress in Día de los Muertos motif. Visitors will enjoy traditional music, some foods, and the arts from Mexico.”
It’s also the second year that local dance troupe Ballet Folklorico will be entertaining visitors. Instructor Martha Gutierrez incorporates different attire and songs from the various regions of Mexico, Castillo said.
An art exhibit at the Martinez Library showcases Día de los Muertos-themed work by local artists, said Dorrie Langley, of the Martinez Arts Association who has been coordinating events and installations at the library.
Local artists Eric Carlstrom, also a featured artist in the Main Street Arts gallery this month, painter Grace Cohen, photographer Jeremy Woodson and Janet Edmonds-Barrella, a retired fifth-grade teacher from John Muir Elementary have works on display, Langley said.
Edmonds-Barrella’s pieces honor loved ones, such as “My Mac” which celebrates her horse that had to be put down.
“The painting was a place to put my grief and to celebrate him,” said Edmonds-Barrella. “I feel that we live in a culture that has distanced itself from death. It almost seems that people pretend that if they do not acknowledge death, it in some way will keep death at bay. I like to remember and celebrate those who have passed because I truly see it as a next stage.”
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Dia de los Muertos events
WHEN: Art exhibit at Martinez Library through Nov. 4; “Festival of Altars” 4-8 p.m. Oct. 28, on Main Street, Martinez
INFORMATION: Facebook.com/DiadelosMuertosMartinez