Fri October 7, 2016
A Promise Not to Forget: Día de los Muertos 2016 Exhibition Unveiling
SEE EVENT DETAILS
Now in its 17th year, the annual Day of the Dead exhibition at SOMArts Cultural Center offers one of the most internationally diverse Día de los Muertos celebrations in the United States. Merging traditional Mexican altars with contemporary art installations, the exhibition presents a superabundant array of perspectives remembering, honoring, and celebrating the dead. Inspired by cherished relationships, current events, and personal and collective histories, more than 25 altars by over 50 participating Día de los Muertos artists build a dense environment of creativity that creates space for meaningful reflection and community engagement.
Chosen by father and son curators René & Rio Yañez, this year’s theme, A Promise Not to Forget is a call to remember our ancestors and honor especially those whose lives have been unnecessarily lost due to violence. A Promise Not to Forget is dedicated to San Francisco poet, musician and activist Silvia Parra, known to many as Mamacoatl, and to Cynthia Wallis, departed partner of curator René Yañez. An artist in her own right, Wallis was well known as a photographer and Bay Area theater director. The third dedication to Martha Rodriguez honors the noted San Francisco visual artist who participated in SOMArts’ Day of the Dead exhibitions for several years.
A Promise Not to Forget will honor the victims of the tragedy at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando with several altars and interactive installations. Paying tribute to the queer, Latinx victims of violence at Pulse, A Promise Not to Forget will invite audience members to reflect on the possibility of a future without violence.
The exhibition unveiling, Friday, October 7, 6–9pm, $12–15 sliding scale admission, features music by Puerto Rican funk, rock and reggae band Manicato, comedy and spoken word by Baruch Porras-Hernandez, and other special guests. Advance tickets are strongly encouraged.
Exhibition highlights include returning artist Victor-Mario Zaballa, who will build a variation of a traditional Aztec structure called a Cuexcomates made of papel picado and fluorescent lights. Youth artists from Ryse Youth Center’s Media, Arts and Culture Department will create a collaborative altar honoring young people whose lives have been lost due to violence in the city of Richmond.
show less
Chosen by father and son curators René & Rio Yañez, this year’s theme, A Promise Not to Forget is a call to remember our ancestors and honor especially those whose lives have been unnecessarily lost due to violence. A Promise Not to Forget is dedicated to San Francisco poet, musician and activist Silvia Parra, known to many as Mamacoatl, and to Cynthia Wallis, departed partner of curator René Yañez. An artist in her own right, Wallis was well known as a photographer and Bay Area theater director. The third dedication to Martha Rodriguez honors the noted San Francisco visual artist who participated in SOMArts’ Day of the Dead exhibitions for several years.
A Promise Not to Forget will honor the victims of the tragedy at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando with several altars and interactive installations. Paying tribute to the queer, Latinx victims of violence at Pulse, A Promise Not to Forget will invite audience members to reflect on the possibility of a future without violence.
The exhibition unveiling, Friday, October 7, 6–9pm, $12–15 sliding scale admission, features music by Puerto Rican funk, rock and reggae band Manicato, comedy and spoken word by Baruch Porras-Hernandez, and other special guests. Advance tickets are strongly encouraged.
Exhibition highlights include returning artist Victor-Mario Zaballa, who will build a variation of a traditional Aztec structure called a Cuexcomates made of papel picado and fluorescent lights. Youth artists from Ryse Youth Center’s Media, Arts and Culture Department will create a collaborative altar honoring young people whose lives have been lost due to violence in the city of Richmond.
Now in its 17th year, the annual Day of the Dead exhibition at SOMArts Cultural Center offers one of the most internationally diverse Día de los Muertos celebrations in the United States. Merging traditional Mexican altars with contemporary art installations, the exhibition presents a superabundant array of perspectives remembering, honoring, and celebrating the dead. Inspired by cherished relationships, current events, and personal and collective histories, more than 25 altars by over 50 participating Día de los Muertos artists build a dense environment of creativity that creates space for meaningful reflection and community engagement.
Chosen by father and son curators René & Rio Yañez, this year’s theme, A Promise Not to Forget is a call to remember our ancestors and honor especially those whose lives have been unnecessarily lost due to violence. A Promise Not to Forget is dedicated to San Francisco poet, musician and activist Silvia Parra, known to many as Mamacoatl, and to Cynthia Wallis, departed partner of curator René Yañez. An artist in her own right, Wallis was well known as a photographer and Bay Area theater director. The third dedication to Martha Rodriguez honors the noted San Francisco visual artist who participated in SOMArts’ Day of the Dead exhibitions for several years.
A Promise Not to Forget will honor the victims of the tragedy at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando with several altars and interactive installations. Paying tribute to the queer, Latinx victims of violence at Pulse, A Promise Not to Forget will invite audience members to reflect on the possibility of a future without violence.
The exhibition unveiling, Friday, October 7, 6–9pm, $12–15 sliding scale admission, features music by Puerto Rican funk, rock and reggae band Manicato, comedy and spoken word by Baruch Porras-Hernandez, and other special guests. Advance tickets are strongly encouraged.
Exhibition highlights include returning artist Victor-Mario Zaballa, who will build a variation of a traditional Aztec structure called a Cuexcomates made of papel picado and fluorescent lights. Youth artists from Ryse Youth Center’s Media, Arts and Culture Department will create a collaborative altar honoring young people whose lives have been lost due to violence in the city of Richmond.
read more
Chosen by father and son curators René & Rio Yañez, this year’s theme, A Promise Not to Forget is a call to remember our ancestors and honor especially those whose lives have been unnecessarily lost due to violence. A Promise Not to Forget is dedicated to San Francisco poet, musician and activist Silvia Parra, known to many as Mamacoatl, and to Cynthia Wallis, departed partner of curator René Yañez. An artist in her own right, Wallis was well known as a photographer and Bay Area theater director. The third dedication to Martha Rodriguez honors the noted San Francisco visual artist who participated in SOMArts’ Day of the Dead exhibitions for several years.
A Promise Not to Forget will honor the victims of the tragedy at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando with several altars and interactive installations. Paying tribute to the queer, Latinx victims of violence at Pulse, A Promise Not to Forget will invite audience members to reflect on the possibility of a future without violence.
The exhibition unveiling, Friday, October 7, 6–9pm, $12–15 sliding scale admission, features music by Puerto Rican funk, rock and reggae band Manicato, comedy and spoken word by Baruch Porras-Hernandez, and other special guests. Advance tickets are strongly encouraged.
Exhibition highlights include returning artist Victor-Mario Zaballa, who will build a variation of a traditional Aztec structure called a Cuexcomates made of papel picado and fluorescent lights. Youth artists from Ryse Youth Center’s Media, Arts and Culture Department will create a collaborative altar honoring young people whose lives have been lost due to violence in the city of Richmond.
show less
Date/Times:
SOMArts Cultural Center
13 Upcoming Events
934 Brannan Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
The Best Events
Every Week in Your Inbox
From Our Sponsors
UPCOMING EVENTS
Great suggestion! We'll be in touch.
Event reviewed successfully.