(9/11 Truth activist/artist Nikolas Sikelianos and other artists have constructed an altar in tribute to 9/11 Truth activist/artist Janette MacKinlay [February 26, 1948 – December 9, 2010] who was a real pillar of the Truth Movement and the Northern California 9/11 Truth Alliance.)
The centuries-old tradition of building altars to welcome and celebrate deceased loved ones fuses with present-day artists’ sentiments on the state of life and politics in the Day of the Dead 2012 exhibition at SOMArts Cultural Center. Elaborate, traditional altars and multi-dimensional art installations are on display in Calling on the Spirits to Face the Future: Día de los Muertos 2012 from Saturday, October 13 through Saturday, November 10. Visitors are invited to attend the opening reception, Friday, October 12, 6pm to 9pm, to enjoy music, interactive performance and the unveiling of more than 30 altars and installations. The exhibition is open from Saturday, October 13 through Saturday, November 10 at SOMArts Cultural Center, 934 Brannan Street, San Francisco, free admission.
Each year, more than 80 Bay Area artists from a breadth of cultural backgrounds participate in the Day of the Dead exhibition at SOMArts, examining local and global issues through altars and contemporary art installations that range from deeply personal to political and emphasize viewer interaction. Chosen by curators René and Rio Yañez, the theme Calling on the Spirits to Face the Future encourages artists to focus on positive forces as we approach the Tuesday, November 6, 2012 United States presidential election. The theme also draws inspiration from the Mayan belief in a period of rebirth and transition at the close of 2012, and inspires a material aesthetic and layout for the installations, guided by architect Nick Gomez.
Opening Reception: October 12, 6–9PM (tickets available through http://callingonthespirits-eac2.eventbrite.com/)
Exhibition: October 13 – November 10 (More details with additional special performances/events at the main website- http://www.somarts.org/callingonthespirits/)
