MEDIA RELEASE October 1, 2013 Media Contact: Lisa Terry, Public Relations and Communications Manager, 253.272.4258 x3047, lterry@TacomaArtMuseum.org <mailto:lterry@TacomaArtMuseum.org> 9th Annual Día de los Muertos Festival at Tacoma Art Museum Join Thousands of Your Friends and Neighbors in Enjoying This Traditional Celebration of Life (Tacoma, WA) - Tacoma Art Museum is partnering with Centro Latino and Proyecto MoLÉ once again to celebrate Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) beginning Sunday, October 20 and culminating with a free festival Sunday, November 3. Now in its ninth year, the free festival has grown to be the museum's largest annual community event, welcoming more than 3,000 visitors. This year, expect to see traditional art, live music and performances, food, and several hands-on art-making activities as we honor the cycle of life. The festivities begin October 20 when artist Fulgencio Lazo and his team of professionals and volunteers fill the Marie A. Helmer Lobby with a colorful tapete (sand painting), while community members install ofrendas (altars) on the Leslie P. Sussman Atrium. This year we will also have the artworks of students from Stadium High School created in memory of family members, friends, and heroes on display in the Esther and Gene Grant and the Ben B. Cheney Foundation Art Classroom. It's the first year that the students' artwork will extend beyond printmaking and into several other artistic mediums. The colorful ofrendas and tapete will remain on view through Sunday, November 3, when the Día de los Muertos celebrations take over the entire museum as part of a free community festival. Friends and neighbors will join together to create and enjoy this unique holiday from 10 am to 4 pm. Along with free admission to the museum, visitors will be able to dance to live music by Mariachi Ayutla, decorate sugar skulls, enjoy a performance from Danza Quetzalcoatl de Olympia, make their own skeleton charms, have their faces painted, and join teen volunteers from Stadium High School and Proyecto MoLÉ in the teen tent for a variety of art-making activities and music. All ages are welcome. "For the last nine years, Día de los Muertos has grown astonishingly in popularity and size." said Stephanie A. Stebich, Director of Tacoma Art Museum. "This is a favorite annual event for all of Tacoma that connects us across cultures." Día de los Muertos is an ancient celebration of the eternal cycle of life. Today, the holiday combines centuries of indigenous practices with contemporary traditions and spiritual beliefs. Observed in Mexican and other Latin American communities on November 1 and 2 (All Saint's Day and All Soul's Day), Día de los Muertos is a powerful, symbolic way to honor relatives and friends who have died. The holiday conveys the belief that death is not the end, but rather the beginning of a new stage in life. Schedule of Día de los Muertos Events at Tacoma Art Museum * Día de los Muertos Exhibition Installation Sunday, October 20, 10 am-5 pm Artist Fulgencio Lazo and his team of professionals and volunteers will create two large tapetes (sand paintings) in the museum's lobby while community members install altars remembering loved ones and raising social awareness. Free with museum admission. · Día de los Muertos Free Community Festival Sunday, November 3, 10 am-4 pm For the ninth consecutive year, join your friends and neighbors to celebrate Día de los Muertos at Tacoma Art Museum with art-making, performances, exhibitions of community altars and two large tapetes as we honor the cycle of life. Museum admission free. For press images, interviews, or more information, contact Lisa Terry at 253.272.4258 x3047 or at LTerry@TacomaArtMuseum.org <mailto:LMcKeown@TacomaArtMuseum.org> . ### About Centro Latino Centro Latino's mission is to create an environment in which the rapidly growing Latino community has opportunities allowing them to participate in and contribute to the success of Pierce County. Learn more at www.CLatino.org <file:///\\TAM-FS2\SHARED\Communications\Public%20Relations\FY13%20Releases\Programs%20and%20Events\www.CLatino.org> . About Proyecto MoLÉ An initiative of Northwest Leadership Foundation, Proyecto MoLÉ provides youth in grades K-16 with opportunities that promote academic achievement, positive personal development, and pride in culture and community. The core components of MoLÉ are its after-school tutoring and support services. Initially started as a program to serve predominately Latino youth, MoLÉ's participants speak 11 different languages and represent 15 different countries. Learn more at www.northwestleadership.org <file:///\\TAM-FS2\SHARED\Communications\Public%20Relations\FY13%20Releases\Programs%20and%20Events\www.northwestleadership.org> . About Tacoma Art Museum Tacoma Art Museum connects people and builds community through art. The museum serves the diverse communities of the region through its collection, exhibitions, and learning programs, emphasizing art and artists from the Northwest. The museum's five galleries display an array of major national shows, the best of Northwest art, creatively themed exhibitions, and historical retrospectives. In addition, there is an Education Wing for children, adults, and seniors with an art resource center, classroom, and studio for art making. HOURS - Wednesdays-Sundays 10 am-5 pm, Third Thursday 10 am-8 pm ADMISSION - Adult $10, Student/Military/Senior (65+) $8, Family $25 (2 adults and up to 4 children under 18). Children 5 and under free. Third Thursdays free from 5-8 pm. Members always free. CONTACT - 253.272.4258, www.TacomaArtMuseum.org <file:///\\TAM-FS2\SHARED\Communications\Public%20Relations\FY13%20Releases\Programs%20and%20Events\www.TacomaArtMuseum.org> , info@TacomaArtMuseum.org <file:///\\TAM-FS2\SHARED\Communications\Public%20Relations\FY13%20Releases\Programs%20and%20Events\info@TacomaArtMuseum.org>