Day of the Living Dead, in the State

Among the annual events marking the city’s Halloween/Día de los Muertos holiday, it is a decades-long tradition to gather at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art (SBMA) for a family-friendly day of activities and festivities, featuring live music, dancing and drinks in tow. Children of all ages and backgrounds come together on this sacred day, with and without direct links to the artistic agenda of the museum’s mission.

Starting last year, the now 35-year-old tradition expanded to include a more expansive move to the State Street public space, along with a deepening interagency collaboration with the Santa Barbara Museum of Contemporary Art (MCASB). . This relatively new pact between museums resulted in the prominent collaboration on art exhibitions earlier this year by conceptual photographer Janna Ireland, True Stories Indexcovering both museum locations.

At SBMA, on Sunday, October 20th (one week earlier than usual), from 11am to 4pm, there will be the usual exhibitions and timely altar decorations, as well as activities such as face painting and still life collages inspired by the famous artist Alfredo Ramos Martínez and the diorama newspaper niches (three-dimensional shadow boxes) inspired by the famous Mexican master Rufino Tamayo. Also part of the mix of activities are paper flower headdresses, which serve as costume decorations for the post-SBMA event parade.

With or without a headdress, the commemorative plan now unites the SBMA with the MCASB, as participants take to the streets for an Oaxacan ceremonial procession known as the “Calendar of the Day of the Dead,” ending in a joyous, joyful jumble of dance-inspired humanity. . on the Arts Terrace of MCASB territory, on Paseo Nuevo. Calenda is described as “a traditional celebration that represents the expression of joy, the strengthening of family, community and personal ties”.

It’s true: at the grand meeting of last year’s inaugural event, music and dance marked the way and livened up the day. Available for this year’s celebration are groups rooted in cultural rituals and performance practices from the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Guerrero, including the Banda de Viento de San Jorge de Oaxaca, the Lico Music Academy, Las Danzas de los Díablos and the group Rubios de la Mixteca Baja. Agua Azul, Danza de la Pluma San Pablo Güilá and the epic mask puppets from the creation of Oaxa Monos de Calenda.

The MCASB portion of the day’s event includes Oaxacan cuisine, art vendors, an altar of the dead, and a dance party led by Los Hijos de San Juan Mixtepec from 6:30 to 7 p.m.

A long-standing local tradition and now an even richer Mexican movable feast awaits. Call it “Old Mexico Day.” For more information, see sbma.net/learn/kidsfamilies/ffdand bit.ly/4eEmzEC.