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Day of the Dead 2007 :

My inspiration to take part in Cherokee’s Dia de los Muertos celebrations came from a collaboration with Patrick Ritchey in 2005. Among other street installations, we made a giant flower boa for the Indian sculpture sculpted from paper flowers listed with the names of the dead from the war in Iraq and scattered his feet with over ten pounds of dumpstered rose petals.

Two years later, having returned from a healing sabbatical back to Cherokee, I was ready to honor and celebrate death and darkness’ role in the circle of life, and excited to invite neighbors to do the same. I worked with Jean Durel and MInerva Lopez to create interactive public art installations along Cherokee Street including a participatory altar and fire vigil at the empty lot on Texas and Cherokee, a “La Katrina” backdrop by Kelsey LaPoint, a mano sagrado workshop with CAMP kids, an artist altar at CAMP, a series of screenprinted flags by Lezlie Silverstien, and a commissioned stencil by Peat Wollaegar at each business altar site.   It was beautiful weather and so much fun making out in the open, inviting people to leave an object or photo at the altar.