Their exhibit commemorated Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, from Nov. 2 to Nov. 4.
An altar was created by a group of IUS graphic design students as a project. The altar was dedicated on Nov. 2 in remembrance of military service members’ lives lost in Iraq and Afghanistan. The dedication ceremony for the altar on Monday, Nov. 2, offered students food and music.
Francisco Martin, graphic design junior, helped create the altar.
He said Day of the Dead, which is a celebration of life, began 3,000 years ago.
It is a festivity that began in pre-Hispanic celebrations for the deceased, as well as the modern-day celebrations of All Saints Day and All Souls Day.
“It marks the ancient belief that the souls of the deceased relatives would join their loved ones in the terrestrial world one more time,” Martin said.
Items placed on the traditional altar represent specific elements in the Day of the Dead celebration.
Salt and water are placed on the traditional altar to represent ongoing life and purification of the soul.
A mirror placed on the four-step altar are said to help the dead recognize themselves when seeing their photographs on the altar.
“Candles help light the way for the dead to find their altars,” Martin said.
The yellow petals of marigolds are used to make a path for the spirits to find their way to the altar.
Traditional Hispanic sugar skulls are placed to honor the dead.
IUS graphic design students chose from traditional color schemes on the altar by using purple, which represents grief, and red symbolizing the blood of life.
Camouflage was draped over the altar made by the students and pictures of service members who had died in Iraq and Afghanistan were placed on top.
Pan de Muerto, or bread of the dead, was placed on the altar which is thought to nourish the soul. The strips of bread represent bones.
“We hoped that students would gain an experience of another cultural celebration,” Martin said.
The choice to dedicate the altar to service members coincided with the Nov. 14 Veterans Program concert, which will be held in the Stem Concert Hall of the Ogle Center.
Future plans for the School of Arts and Letters includes the annual Art Sale on Nov. 17 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
By JESSICA MEYER
Staff Writer
jessmeye@ius.edu
