Ten community ofrendas fill the DIA for Día de los Muertos

The Detroit Institute of Arts has mounted its 14th Annual Ofrendas: Celebrating el Día de Muertos, a run the museum has staged for more than a decade. Ten community altars are on view, created by artists from communities across Michigan.

The holiday is a celebration of life.

The exhibition opened September 26 and runs through November 1. The altars fill the museum's Special Exhibition Central Galleries. Among the makers are Marlon Lara and Yoselin Serrano, along with Arnisha T. Smith, Jenni Souter, Doris DeMarco, Nathan Chavez, Carla Milch, Norbella Aguilar and others. The DIA put the show together with the Consulate of Mexico in Detroit, the Southwest Detroit Business Association, and the Mexicantown Community Development Corporation.

The museum says the exhibition invites people to experience el Día de Muertos traditions through the altars that honor loved ones, and it also includes installations that highlight cultural, social and community themes.

"Every ofrenda in this exhibition carries a story of a life, a family, or a tradition," said Julie McFarland, the DIA's executive director of public affairs and community engagement. "This year's 10 altars show the depth of talent and passion our artists and community partners bring to this exhibition, and we're honored to highlight this tradition at the DIA."

Getting in costs nothing for a wide stretch of the region. General admission is always free for museum members and residents of Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties.

The museum has paired the altars with a slate of programming. A Paper Flowers workshop runs Friday, October 2 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Ballet Folklorico de Detroit performs Saturday, October 3 at 12 p.m. A Sugar Skulls workshop follows Friday, October 23 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. On the closing day, Sunday, November 1, the exhibition ends with an artist talk.