Dead Heat

D�a De Los Muertos exhibit returns with the monarchs

Comments (0) By Shannon Sutlief Thursday, Oct 21 2004

We imagine dead celebrities are granted VIP access to some big postmortem party. In this afterlife Green Room, Julia Child is serving hors d'oeuvres. Richard Avedon is taking candid photographs of Christopher Reeve, Janet Leigh and Rodney Dangerfield. Marlon Brando is hiding out, not wanting to be photographed. In the corner, staunch Republican Johnny Ramone is apologizing to Ronald Reagan for The Ramones' song "Bonzo Goes to Bitburg."

Dead head: Ruth González's "The Dead of the Media"

Details

The Bath House Cultural Center's 18th annual Día De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) exhibit runs October 22 through November 13. A reception with the artists is 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. October 23. Admission is free. The center is at White Rock Lake at 521 E. Lawther Drive. Call 214-670-8749 or visit www.bathhouseculturalcenter.com.

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We love Días De Los Muertos, the Mexican Days of the Dead festival, because the dead--everyone, not just celebrities--return home, brought on the wings of migrating monarchs, for a big party with their favorite foods, colorful marigolds, candles, sugar skulls, candy and more. On November 1 and November 2, altars are decorated with photos of the dead and offerings to remind them of their lives, and cemeteries are cleaned and decorated. The dead are happy; the living are happy. It's a cheerful celebration, despite the grinning skulls and gravestone scrubbing.

A local Day of the Dead tradition is the Bath House Cultural Center's annual art exhibit, which includes local, regional and international artists contributing Días De Los Muertos-inspired art. Paintings, photographs, mixed media and sculptures show the themes of the celebration and incorporate the symbols such as butterflies, skeletons, paper flags, skulls and candy. The exhibit takes on special meaning for the center, which will pay tribute to its cat, Nikki, who will have an installation in her honor during the exhibit.