The Huntington Museum of Art will offer a Tasting Tour of the C. Fred Edwards Conservatory that incorporates a Día de Los Muertos or the Day of the Dead theme on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023, from 6 to 8 p.m. as part of its 4th Tuesday Tour Series. Admission to this event is free.
During the tour, guests will be able to sample foods that are produced by plants that are culturally important to Mexico and represented in the C. Fred Edwards Conservatory.
The event will include a free children’s art activity in the Education Gallery and free coffee samples from Hill Tree Roastery.
“The tasting tour of the conservatory is a very popular event. It’s a fun way to learn that many of the plants in the conservatory are not only beautiful but also beneficial to humans,” said HMA Director of Education Cindy Dearborn.
“Día de Los Muertos or the Day of the Dead is a holiday celebrated on November 1 and 2,” said Raine Klover, HMA Director of Guest Services. “It is primarily observed in Mexico and in areas that have large concentrations of people of Mexican heritage. The holiday intermingles elements of the Christian holiday All Saints Day with indigenous concepts regarding death. Día de Los Muertos enjoys a celebratory atmosphere that centers on remembering and honoring family and friends who have died. Stories are shared, food is eaten together, and gifts are even exchanged.”
Klover explained some of the themes often observed in Día de Los Muertos celebrations. “While Día de Los Muertos traditions vary from region to region and often from town to town, there are a few traditions that are most common. These include the building of ofrendas, which are home altars that feature marigolds, photos of the departed, and offerings that include favorite food items of the deceased and personal items such as favored toys or instruments. Calaveras are representations of skulls or skeletons that are used to decorate ofrendas and given to friends. Skeletons and marigolds are motifs that are repeated throughout Día de Los Muertos celebrations.”
HMA offers free general admission on Tuesdays when hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Free Tuesdays at HMA are generously presented by the City of Huntington Mayor’s Council for the Arts.
For more information on events at the Huntington Museum of Art, visit hmoa.org or call (304) 529-2701. HMA is fully accessible.
West Virginia residents may obtain a summary of the registration and financial documents from the Secretary of State, State Capitol, Charleston, WV 25305. Registration does not imply endorsement.