Check out our photos from our family visit to Ofrendas: Celebrating el Día de Muertos at the Detroit Institute of Arts. This wonderful Day of the Dead art exhibition is a celebration of family and cultural traditions.

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Hi, friends! How are you?

Hope you had a good weekend. We attended the art exhibiton Ofrendas: Celebrating el Día de Muertos at the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) at the beginning of October– right after watching the Taiwanese musical Formosa Roadside Wedding Banquet.

If you’re interested in viewing the Ofrendas art exhibit, then you still have some time! The exhibit ends on November 10, 2019.

A few of my Instagram (IG) friends told me the art exhibit is also a yearly exhibit that is held in October. I learned something new because I didn’t know this!

This was our first visit to the Ofrendas: Celebrating el Día de Muertos and it won’t be our last!

Keep reading to learn more about what Día de Muertos means, EIGHT Day of the Dead activity ideas, and view photos of the Ofrendas: Celebrating el Día de Muertos art exhibit!

Ofrendas: Celebrating el Día de Muertos at the Detroit Institute of Arts.
“Grandparents Know It All” by Mexicanos y Latinos en Michigan! from Southeast Michigan
Ofrendas: Celebrating El Dia de Muertos
We attended the DIA Day of the Dead (another term used for Día de Los Muertos) art exhibit at the beginning of October.

WHAT IS EL DIA DE LOS MUERTOS?

El Día De Los Muertos (The Day of the Dead) is a traditional Mexican holiday that is celebrated in Mexico, the United States, and all over the world. Many people confuse El Día De Los Muertos with Halloween because the holiday falls on the same date as Halloween.

It is also a tradition to wear skull-themed face paintings (sugar skulls) and dress up so this may be another reason why people confuse Día de Los Muertos with Halloween.

“This year in the United States, the Day of the Dead is seemingly everywhere with colorful sugar skulls and skeletons being sold by major retailers, and a new animated Pixar movie, “Coco,” that prominently features the holiday.

Although it may appear similar to Halloween, these holidays are vastly different. Instead of focusing on fears and frights, the Day of the Dead is a celebration of life that centers on families gathering together to remember their dead, and inviting them briefly back into their lives.”

Quote from “What is the Day of the Dead?” from the National Council on Family Relations

The Day of the Dead holiday begins on October 31st and ends on November 2nd.

According to National Geographic, El Día De Los Muertos was first celebrated with the Aztec, Toltec, and other Nahua people several thousand years ago. Now the cherished holiday is celebrated around the world!

"La muerte agarra parejo (Death Takes Equally)" by Ecos de Mexico in Windsor, Canada
“La muerte agarra parejo (Death Takes Equally)” by Ecos de Mexico in Windsor, Canada
"La muerte agarra parejo (Death Takes Equally)" by Ecos de Mexico in Windsor, Canada
“La muerte agarra parejo (Death Takes Equally)” by Ecos de Mexico in Windsor, Canada
Day of the Dead Ofrenda Altar
“La muerte agarra parejo (Death Takes Equally)” by Ecos de Mexico in Windsor, Canada

WHAT IS AN OFRENDA?

An ofrenda (altar) is not an altar for worshipping, as some may confuse it to be. Instead, the altars are used as the centerpiece of the Day of the Dead celebration.

Offerings like food, family photos, and candles are placed on the ofrenda altar as a loving tribute and “to welcome the spirits back to the realm of the living” (National Geographic).

Ofrendas: Celebrating el Día de Muertos at the Detroit Institute of Arts
Ofrendas (altars) are used as the centerpiece of the Day of the Dead celebration. (Photo I took at the Ofrendas art exhibit at the DIA). Artist credit pending.
Día de Los Muertos
“Mikey” by Justin Mills
Día de Los Muertos Ofrenda
“Day of the Dead Ofrenda” by the Consulate of Mexico in Detroit

“If one of the spirits is a child, you might find small toys on the altar. Marigolds are the main flowers used to decorate the altar. Scattered from altar to gravesite, marigold petals guide wandering souls back to their place of rest. The smoke from copal incense, made from tree resin, transmits praise and prayers and purifies the area around the altar.”

Quote from “Top 10 Things to Know About Day of the Dead” by Logan Ward for National Geographic
Ofrendas: Celebrating el Día de Muertos at the Detroit Institute of Arts.
Zhen viewing an ofrenda altar at the DIA.
Day of the Dead Altar
“Tree of Life” by Wayne State University Center for Latino/a and Latin American Studies (Fall 2019 Students)
Ofrendas: Celebrating el Día de Muertos
“Tree of Life” by Wayne State University Center for Latino/a and Latin American Studies (Fall 2019 Students)
 "Tree of Life" by Wayne State University Center for Latino/a and Latin American Studies (Fall 2019 Students)
“Tree of Life” by Wayne State University Center for Latino/a and Latin American Studies (Fall 2019 Students)
"Desconocido (Unknown)" by Joanne Coutts from Detroit, Michigan
“Courage” by Mario Alberto Martinez Mendez from Royal Oak, Michigan

ABOUT THE DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS’ OFRENDAS: CELEBRATING EL DIA DE MUERTOS ART EXHIBITION

The Detroit Institute of Arts partners with Detroit’s Mexican Consulate to host the Ofrendas: Celebrating el Día de Muertos each year around the end of September or early October.

The DIA even offers educational resources to help teach your child about Day of the Dead! I’m using it for my kids’ homeschool studies.

Go to the DIA’s website page about the Celebrating el Día de Muertos art exhibit and scroll to the end of the page.

Click on the “LEARNING RESOURCES” image to view the lesson plan options. There are 5 lessons featured on Día de Muertos. It’s a great resource to have because the lessons also connect to the Ofrendas art exhibit.

Ofrendas: Celebrating El Dia de Muertos
Zhen loved the ofrendas art exhibit!
Day of the Dead Altar Art Exhibition
Travis and the boys viewing a Dia de Los Muertos art exhibit at the DIA.
Michala reads a Day of the Dead story to Zephaniah. The DIA had a book corner for little ones to read Day of the Dead literature.
Day of the Dead books for kids
There is a little book corner for kids to read books about Day of the Dead.

EIGHT MORE EL DIA DE LOS MUERTOS LESSON IDEAS

Whether you homeschool your children or your kids go to a private or public school, creating activities and lesson ideas about Day of the Dead is a great way to teach children about a new culture!

Here are a few more El Día de Los Muertos activity and lesson ideas.

  1. Attend an El Día de Los Muertos festival or community event.
  2. Check out from the library or buy books at your local bookstore to read about Day of the Dead.
  3. Create colorful and creative sugar skull face paintings.
  4. Make a Día de Los Muertos Friday y Diego Paper Collage. (We actually did this last year and had a lot of fun making it!)
  5. Create a DIY ceramic of foam sugar skull. You can find foam skulls at a craft store or Dollar Tree, usually around Halloween time. You can also order them online if you can’t find any at a local store.
  6. Watch a Día de Los Muertos read aloud video from Kid Time Story Time.
  7. For older children, click here to watch a 5-minute documentary about “Mexican Day of the Dead” by The British Museum.
  8. Get a Day of the Dead art pack like this one from Michigan creative Jenna of Call Her Happy.

Day of Dead art pack
Day of Dead art pack by Call Her Happy is only $5! (Photo courtesy of Call Her Happy)
día de los muertos
Jenna from Call Her Happy created this fun Día de Los Muertos art pack for kids! (Photo courtesy of Call Her Happy)

GO SEE OFRENDAS: CELEBRATING DIA EL MUERTOS ART EXHIBIT @ THE DIA!

Remember, the Ofrendas: Celebrating el Día de Muertos art exhibit ends on November 10, 2019, so make plans to see it soon! The DIA is open on the following days and times:

Tuesday – Thursday: 9 A.M. to 4 P.M.

Friday: 9 A.M. to 10 P.M.: (Friday Night Live! is a must-see, too!)

Saturday – Sunday: 10 A.M. to 5 P.M.

Monday: CLOSED

Special Note: Check the Detroit Institute of Arts website to confirm opening days and times, as their schedule periodically changes.

Click HERE for more information about the Ofrendas: Celebrating el Día de Muertos art exhibit at the Detroit Institute of Arts in Detroit, Michigan!


MORE PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE OFRENDAS: CELEBRATING EL DIA DE MUERTOS ART EXHIBIT

"Robert Wilbert, Artist" by Jeanne Penney from Detroit, Michigan
“Robert Wilbert, Artist” by Jeanne Penney from Detroit, Michigan
"Robert Wilbert, Artist" by Jeanne Penney from Detroit, Michigan
“Robert Wilbert, Artist” by Jeanne Penney from Detroit, Michigan
"11/11 10/20" by Madelyn Owens from Detroit, Michigan
“11/11 10/20” by Madelyn Owens from Detroit, Michigan
"A Sweet Offering for a Celebration of Love" by Higo Gabarron, Lorraine Ranchod, and Rachel Martinez-Finn from Shaker Heights and Clevland Heights, OH
“A Sweet Offering for a Celebration of Love” by Higo Gabarron, Lorraine Ranchod, and Rachel Martinez-Finn from Shaker Heights and Clevland Heights, OH
"La muerte agarra parejo" (Death Takes Equally) by Ecos de Mexico in Windsor, Canada.
“La muerte agarra parejo” (Death Takes Equally) by Ecos de Mexico in Windsor, Canada.
"Respect for Human Dignity: 43 Reasons" by Madonna University in Livonia, Michigan
“Respect for Human Dignity: 43 Reasons” by Madonna University in Livonia, Michigan
“Respect for Human Dignity: 43 Reasons” by Madonna University in Livonia, Michigan
"Christopher: The Healer" by Patricia Pfaendtner from Macomb Township, MI.
“Christopher: The Healer” by Patricia Pfaendtner from Macomb Township, MI.
Ofrendas Altar
“Christopher: The Healer” by Patricia Pfaendtner from Macomb Township, MI. (I really liked this ofrenda altar. It was so creative and incredibly sweet.
 "Christopher: The Healer" by Patricia Pfaendtner from Macomb Township, MI.
“Christopher: The Healer” by Patricia Pfaendtner from Macomb Township, MI.
 "Christopher: The Healer" by Patricia Pfaendtner from Macomb Township, MI.
“Christopher: The Healer” by Patricia Pfaendtner from Macomb Township, MI.
"Map of Migrant Deaths in the Arizona Borderlands 2001 to Present"
“Map of Migrant Deaths in the Arizona Borderlands 2001 to Present”

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All photographs, with the exception of the Day of the Dead art pack, are courtesy of Jennifer Hamra for Good Life Detroit.

Written by

Jennifer Hamra

Freelance creative Jennifer Hamra created her blog Good Life Detroit in 2015 after relocating from Tennessee to Southeast Michigan.

Inspired by her love for personal blogging and photography, Jennifer likes to share her favorite Detroit things, from cool places to visit (the hidden gems are her favorite!) to the amazing people she has connected with over the years.

When she's not busy juggling family life and her creative projects, you can find her at an art gallery, community event, farmers market, or spending quiet time at home with a good book and cup of tea.

Jennifer lives in the metro Detroit area with her husband Travis and their six children.

Connect with Jennifer on social media @goodlifedetroit on all social media platforms or via email at [email protected].