Altares de Muertos
Many cultural spaces in Guadalajara will be erecting altars in honor of dead souls next week. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the best.
Museo de Periodismo (Journalism Museum): Altar dedicated to slain investigative journalist Manuel Buendia and photographer Enrique Bastelman. November 1-6, Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Alcalde 225, Zona Centro. Tel. 3613-9285.
Museo de Artes Populares (Folk Art Museum): November 2-6, Wednesday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. San Felipe 211, on the corner with Pino Suarez. Tel. 3614-3891.
El Refugio Cultural Center, Tlaquepaque: October 28-November 6, everyday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Donato Guerra 160, between Contreras Medellin and Prisciliano Sanchez. Tel. 33569-7036.
Patio de Los Angeles: October 31-November 6, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Cuitlahuac 305, Barrio de Analco. Tel. 3030-1412.
Belen Cemetery
The Belen Cemetery – an architectural gem and the oldest cemetery in the city – will open its gates this week for nighttime graveyard tours to coincide with the Day of the Dead. The tours will take place each evening from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. through November 2. The cemetery will be illuminated by candles and decorated with traditional picado paper and cempazuchitl marigolds. Three altars will be mounted in honor of local martyrs from the Mexican Reform War of 1857-61, including Ramon Corona and Agustin Rivera. On November 1, the State Choir will perform Mozart’s Requiem in the cemetery at 8 p.m.
The cemetery also runs tours of the graveyard from Tuesday to Saturday, at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Entrance costs 20 pesos or 50 pesos with a a camera.
Address: Belen 684, Zona Centro. Tel. 3613-7786
Festival of Death
The University of Guadalajara’s Art, Architecture and Design campus is organizing talks and workshops for students and the general public as part of its Festival of Death, which takes place this coming Monday and Tuesday, November 1 and 2.
Around 70 students will offer a culture and arts festival, with painting, sculpture, print-making, photography, dance and theater, while the festival will also incorporate elements of psychology, medicine, forensics, art, philosophy, sociology, anthropology and popular culture.
Activities on Monday from 3 p.m. will include a demonstration of the installation of coffins, a postmortem photography exhibition, a makeup workshop and altars in honor of deceased teachers and students.
On Tuesday there will be a plaster skulls workshop (open to public) at 4 p.m., while guest professionals from the forensic medical service and a funeral services specialist will discuss their experiences with death.
The festival takes place at the visual arts department in the Ex Clautsro de Santa María de Gracia campus, on Belen 120, between Independencia and Juan Manuel. Admission is free.
Carvers
The national stone masonry contest wraps up next week in the Plaza de la Liberacion. The craftsmen and women have been working hard all month for a chance at the top cash prizes and the acclamation on being the best in the businesses in Mexico.
Last chance
The last day of the Expo Ganadera State Livestock Fair is Sunday, October 30. The fairground is located at the Alamo Glorieta, where Avenida Lazaro Cardenas meets Gonzalez Gallo and the start of the Chapala highway.