The annual Mi Casa es Tu Casa exhibit opened Thursday at Pajaro Valley Arts on Sudden Street.
The show explores the connection between the living and those who have passed. Typically, altars (ofrendas) are built in homes and public spaces to honor and remember the dead, while the gallery each year in October serves as a staging area for such altars and displays.
The theme this year is “In the Arms of Our Ancestors.” Central to the exhibition this year is the jaguar, a symbol revered across Mesoamerican cultures for its ability to traverse between the worlds of the living and the dead.
The exhibit is comprised of work from area schools where students were invited to weigh in with their own artworks and memories, a host of local artists and gallery members.
Seventeen altars are included in the show, along with various installations, paintings, sculpture and more that span a huge range of mediums.
“In Mexican tradition, giant puppets, known as Mojigangas, bring vibrancy and life to the celebrations,” said Wendy Aikin, lead curator. “It is the spirit that inspired the creation of our ‘cat-like’ interpretation of jaguar. He stands as a guardian at the threshold of a spiritual realm, cradling an altar honoring our loved ones. The altar serves as a tribute to our ancestors, a place where the living can connect with the spirit world through the symbolic offerings placed upon it.”
(Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian)
One altar is from Aptos High and multiple teachers, and another from the Cheb Club from E.A. Hall, said Judy Stabile, Pajaro Valley Arts Board Treasurer.
“We wanted the show to represent a wide range of cultures that are present in our local schools,” Stabile said.
Additionally, the gallery store has been rearranged to feature a colorful array of goods that reflect the theme, including jewelry, cards, clothing, candles, art works and more.
“The show turned out really well,” Aikin said. “It’s a broad representation of our community, with individual families, schools, and community groups coming together to create this amazing show. It is really an important event. This year we’re going to have the opening reception in the parking lot with live performances, food trucks and more space to gather. It will be a lot of fun.”
The free opening reception for the show is Nov. 3 from 2-4 p.m. with performances by the White Hawk Dancers, Anthony Sanchez and the Youth Music Band and Estrella de Esperanza.
The gallery is at 37 Sudden St. and the show runs through Dec. 1.
