Day of the Dead Sand Paintings, Oaxaca
| The Day of the Dead Celebration in Oaxaca is a three-day November holiday during which families clean the graves and prepare the tombs for the return of the spirits. During this time the traditional flowers decorate the tombs and home altars but in some villages, the popular decoration is the sand painting. |
Several styles of decoration mark the
ceremony in Oaxaca, one is the tapete
of flowers, (to the left), a painting much
like a rug done with flower buds, petals
and whole flowers. These will adorn the
tomb or grave site. The same style or
similar could be done with sand and
colored powder creating a sand
painting.
Some sand paintings will be flat and
called traditional. They will likely
incorporate Christian motifs, Others will
be in a three dimensional base relief
style. The tendency now is to create
larger and larger sand paintings of three
dimensions.
The sand paintings honor either a saint
or an important historic figure. Some of
the recent versions have tried to make a
political observation.
ceremony in Oaxaca, one is the tapete
of flowers, (to the left), a painting much
like a rug done with flower buds, petals
and whole flowers. These will adorn the
tomb or grave site. The same style or
similar could be done with sand and
colored powder creating a sand
painting.
Some sand paintings will be flat and
called traditional. They will likely
incorporate Christian motifs, Others will
be in a three dimensional base relief
style. The tendency now is to create
larger and larger sand paintings of three
dimensions.
The sand paintings honor either a saint
or an important historic figure. Some of
the recent versions have tried to make a
political observation.
The Day of the Dead in
Oaxaca:
While flowers still play the
most important part in the
ceremony and the markets
are heaped with marigold
and cockscomb, the flowers
with special meaning that the
families will use to decorate
their home altars and tombs,
the sand painting will be
popular in some villages as
the way to attract the spirits
and to honor the dead.
Oaxaca:
While flowers still play the
most important part in the
ceremony and the markets
are heaped with marigold
and cockscomb, the flowers
with special meaning that the
families will use to decorate
their home altars and tombs,
the sand painting will be
popular in some villages as
the way to attract the spirits
and to honor the dead.
During the Day of the Dead, In the new cemetery of XoXo Cotlon, artist Juan Cruz
Pascual decorates with a sand painting that includes Christian motifs
Pascual decorates with a sand painting that includes Christian motifs
Dave Hilbert's SoftSeatTravel
Juan Cruz Pascual in the new cemetery of XoXo, just a mile or so from Oaxaca City, prepares his
Traditional sand painting at the grave of his father while a diminutive audience looks on.
Traditional sand painting at the grave of his father while a diminutive audience looks on.
Juan's sand
paintings have
attracted
followers who
borrow his
stencils and
become
students.
paintings have
attracted
followers who
borrow his
stencils and
become
students.
Future sand painters look on
Juan, a graphic artist working as an illustrator on archaeological projects, is fluent in English and recently
traveled to the US at the invitation of Texas A&M University to demonstrate the traditional sand painting.
The stencils were passed to Juan from his uncle and remain in the family, He will make new ones as these
become no longer usable and he will pass the new ones along to his family.
traveled to the US at the invitation of Texas A&M University to demonstrate the traditional sand painting.
The stencils were passed to Juan from his uncle and remain in the family, He will make new ones as these
become no longer usable and he will pass the new ones along to his family.
Juan completes the sand painting with a border of flowers and candles. This painting depicts the Virgin
of Soledad, the Patron Saint of Oaxaca.
of Soledad, the Patron Saint of Oaxaca.
Sand painting has its risks. Shortly after Juan finished his
painting a nest of ants broke through on an unexpected visit.
painting a nest of ants broke through on an unexpected visit.
Juan's sand painting
(left) is traditional with a
Christian motif. Others
will have a Native
American theme like
this one (right) inspired
by the Mixtec codex.
The new trend is to
make large sand
paintings. The one
pictured below, done at
the new museum in
Oaxaca's former
Government Offices
building.
(left) is traditional with a
Christian motif. Others
will have a Native
American theme like
this one (right) inspired
by the Mixtec codex.
The new trend is to
make large sand
paintings. The one
pictured below, done at
the new museum in
Oaxaca's former
Government Offices
building.
The Day of the Dead in Oaxaca sees each village in the
surrounding mountains and valleys celebrate at different
times and with different intensity. Several use sand
paintings or a combination of sand and flower petals.
The evenings are unique whether the people decorate
with flowers or sand as families come to the graveyards
and light thousands of candles as they sit by the tombs
and wait for the spirits to return.
surrounding mountains and valleys celebrate at different
times and with different intensity. Several use sand
paintings or a combination of sand and flower petals.
The evenings are unique whether the people decorate
with flowers or sand as families come to the graveyards
and light thousands of candles as they sit by the tombs
and wait for the spirits to return.
contact him: info@softseattravel.com
| Day of the Dead Sand Painter, Juan Cruz Pascual creates a traditional sand painting at his fathers grave |
A visit to the cemeteries near Oaxaca on the first two nights of November can
be a magical time. Thousands of candles and marigold flowers decorate the
tombs. The smell of copal incense and marigold petals, the sight of thousands
of candles, and the lively music of a brass band or the baleful moans of a
religious dirge make the night unique.
The build up to the event can be just as intriguing as the city prepares and turns
several pedestrian-only streets over to artists and students who create sand
painting with an historic or religious theme.
be a magical time. Thousands of candles and marigold flowers decorate the
tombs. The smell of copal incense and marigold petals, the sight of thousands
of candles, and the lively music of a brass band or the baleful moans of a
religious dirge make the night unique.
The build up to the event can be just as intriguing as the city prepares and turns
several pedestrian-only streets over to artists and students who create sand
painting with an historic or religious theme.
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