Day of the Dead
Saturday, Oct. 11 - Sunday, Nov. 2, 2003

Explore traditional altars and sophisticated, complex art installations in this year¹s Day of the Dead exhibition at the SomArts Cultural Center in San Francisco. The display, Bringing Light to the Darkness, runs from Saturday, October 11 through Sunday, November 2 at SomArts Cultural Center, 934 Brannan Street (between 8th and 9th Streets), San Francisco. Bringing Light to the Darkness can be seen from noon to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. There is no cost for admission. Traditionally the Day of the Dead is a time to welcome deceased relatives and friends back to earth. It¹s a joyous time when the favorite foods of the dead person are placed on an altar or at the gravesite. In the traditional celebration of El Día de los Muertos, the

Bringing Light to the Darkness has spiritual and critical content that celebrates life and focuses on social issues. At somArts Cultural Center, the celebration of El Día de los Muertos includes traditional altars as well as sophisticated and complex art installations. Some 70 artists representing the diverse ethnic groups of the Bay Area will explore themes such as war and peace, personal mourning and the La Llorona myth. This 6th annual Days of the Dead exhibit is being dedicated by curator René Yañez to the death of the California Arts Council.

"La Llorona is the story of the woman, who in desperation brutalizes or kills her children and many of the artists have taken this myth and created powerful installations that make a statement about the abuse and neglect of children," Yañez says.

Yañez, in his 30th year of curating Day of the Dead exhibits, has assembled the works of the Bay Area artists in the show. "To me the challenge is to focus on fresh, new themes and bring in emerging artists," Yañez says. He and architect Nick Gomez have designed the art space, a labyrinth of 10-foot high walls with mini-enclaves in which the installations are displayed. Visitors will traverse this complex labyrinth with surprises around every corner.

Bringing Light to the Darkness explores ways to bring light to the bleak times in which we live.
"The darkness is the war/occupation in Iraq, the murders in Juarez, the violence directed at children and the cutbacks to the arts," Yañez says. The artists¹ installations reflect their "take" on bringing light to these serious issues.

One of the features of this exhibit is a schoolhouse with hands-on art activities. Tours are available for Bay Area K ­ 12 students. In addition, some college and art school classes will tour the show.

Featured in Bringing Light to the Darkness are:

o A remembrance of the U.S. personnel and Iraqi citizens who have died in the Iraqi war
o An installation piece about truth and reconciliation
o A powerful installation piece commemorating those murdered by anti-gay violence
o A piece in memory of a young person who overdosed on drugs