 She is watching the burning of copal incense, used to purify a ceremonial space. |
Xipe Totec* Danzantes Aztecas (an Aztec/Mexica dance troupe) Director Virginia Carmelo, Los Angeles, California *Aztec deity of spring and new life They were performing ritual dances for El Día de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead) cultural festival at Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, California. As I watched Xipe Totec, I was reminded of the dedicated Hawaiian dancers I had observed when I lived on the island of Oahu. (Interestingly enough, I once emceed a performance of ballet folklórico in Hawaii by an island-based Mexican-American organization.) When I look at these photos, I can still hear the trumpets blowing, rattles shaking, and the fervent beat of the drums. Photos copyright © November 1, 2009 Kat Avila / Time: late afternoon / Camera: Canon SD780 IS |
 pan de los muertos (bread of the dead) from an ofrenda (altar) inside the museum |
 (est. 1936) Mission Revival-style bldg. |
 RHYTHMO Mariachi Kids, dir. Gabriel B. Zavala, of Anaheim, California |
 Grupo Folklórico Los Soñadores, dir. Joan Krischenbaum, of Lake Forest, California |
 Grupo Folklórico Los Soñadores, dir. Joan Krischenbaum, of Lake Forest, California |
 Governor Pío Pico's* carriage at Bowers Museum *Last governor of Mexican Alta California before U.S. era. |
 a runaway baby |
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 Everybody is in place and waiting. |
 blowing of la concha (the conch) and other horn instruments |
 procession of members |
 procession of members |
 blowing trumpets |
 showtime |
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 blowing trumpets |
 blowing trumpets |
 They are using a teponaztli slit drum and two huéhuetl upright drums. |
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 vocalist/cantor stands by |
 drummer playing teponaztli slit drum |
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 right-side makeup |
 left-side skull makeup |
 The ayoyote leg rattles use seed pods from the Strychnos toxifera tree. |
 battle mode |
 The victor removes his opponent's headdress. |
 Cempasuchil (marigold) petals encircle the slain. |
 A flauta (flute) is heard. |
 La Muerte (Death) comes to take the warrior home. |
 packing it up |
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| Inside Bowers Museum | ||||
 limestone tomb lid of Maya Lord Pacal (615-683 A.D.) |
 clay dogs West Mexico (c. 200 B.C.-300 A.D.) |
 volcanic rock jaguar metate Costa Rica (c. 300-700 A.D.) |
 flicker bird headband Northern California (circa early 1900s) |
 Yokut shaman's headdress of raven feathers, eagle down Central California (circa early 1900s) |
| University of California, Irvine, MEChA Día de los Muertos Celebration The ofrenda (altar) presents a provocative mixture of religious imagery with influences from the cultures of the colonizer (European-adapted Christianity) and the colonized (pre-invasion indigenous folk customs). Photos copyright © November 2, 2009 Kat Avila / Time: early evening / Camera: Canon SD780 IS |
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 Artist Luis-Genaro Garcia was the keynote speaker. |
 Christian cross outlined with marigold flowers and lights (pic taken from top of stairs) |
 calavera (handcrafted skeleton) at the top of the skull-shaped ofrenda |
 The students brought family pictures and other offerings for the ofrenda. |
 ballet folklórico |
