Celebrate 2021 Dia de los Muertos at CSUMB

2021 Visual and Public Art Day of the Dead/ Dia de Los Muertos Observance
Living Altars: Community as Nourishment
About: The Visual and Public Art department is pleased to announce our annual Dia de los Muertos Celebration: Living Altars: Community as Nourishment. This year's event is an on-line virtual event organized by the Visual and Public Art Department with participation by HSI MAESTROS Project, which will include an on campus, in-person Aztec Dance performance at the Otter Student Union (OSU) main entrance. Please join us next year for our 25th Annual Dia de Los Muertos Celebration in our newly renovated exhibition space at the VPA Complex
Note: This year, the CSUMB MAESTROS Program has organized Day of the Events leading up to VPA's Virtual programming, which will culminate in a hybrid in-person and on-line Aztec Dance Ceremony. See list of auxiliary in-person Day of the Dead events here: (link disabled, past event)
October 30, 2021
Event Title: Living History: Food as Ancestral Knowledge
A workshop by La Soledad Bakery
- Date:Saturday, 10/30/21
- Time:10-11am
- Zoom Link: (link disabled, past event)
Workshop Description: Pastry Chef Sandra from Soledad Bakery (Salinas, CA.) takes us behind the counter and into the kitchen to show us how Pan De Muerto or Day of the Dead bread is created. Watch how Pastry Chef Sandra shows us techniques that she learned from her family, and shares with us how food can be a source of ancestral knowledge, connection and tradition – Chef Sandra comes from Oaxaca, a state and city rich with traditions, where Days of the Dead is celebrated as an essential form of spiritual connection and family history.
About La Soledad Bakery: La Soledad Bakery is a committed team of talented individuals who provide quality bakery, pastries, and pan de Muertos, or day of the dead bread to Monterey, Seaside, Gilroy, Morgan Hill, Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz, and Salinas. For 17 years, this family of pastry chefs have been continuing the cultural baking traditions of Oaxaca.
November 2, 2021
VPA 25th Annual Dead/ Dia de Los Muertos Celebration
The Visual and Public Art department is pleased to announce our annual Dia de los Muertos Celebration: Living Altars: Community as Nourishment. This year's event is an on-line virtual event with in-person participation by HSI MAESTROS Project, which will include an on campus, in-person Aztec Dance performance at the Otter Student Union (OSU) main entrance (Zoom Link below).
- Event Title:VPA 25th Annual Dead/ Dia de Los Muertos Celebration
- Date:November 2, 2021
- Time:5:30-6:30pm
- Zoom Link: (link disabled, past event)
- Location:This year's celebration is a virtual event.
VPA virtual program:
- 4-5pm: VPA: face mask decorating demo
- 5:30- 6:00pm: VPA: virtual slideshow of altars created by VPA students
- 5:30-6:30: In partnership with the MAESTROS project, Movimiento Cosmico Aztec Dance Group will perform a ceremony with educational components that address issues of cultural nourishment, survival, and honoring land & ancestors (streamed live from CSUMB)
Aztec Dance performance
- Date:November 2, 2021
- Time:4-7pm
- Location:Otter Student Union (OSU) main entrance & zoom.
- Program: 5:30-6:30: Movimiento Cosmico will perform a ceremony with educational components that address issues of cultural nourishment, survival, and honoring land & ancestors.
2020 Days of the Dead/Dias de los Muertos
Cultural Continuity & Living History
Join us as we celebrate our first-ever virtual Dias de los Muertos at CSUMB!
2020 Schedule:
Celebrate Dia de los Muertos at CSUMB

VPA Dias de Los Muertos: Remembering our Dead in a Time of National Mourning and Grief
Dias de los Muertos events at CSUMB will kick off with an artist talk by VPA Professor Emerita Amalia Mesa-Bains, curator, author, visual artist, and educator.
October 27, 2020
4:00pm — 5:30pm
Via Zoom-Zoom session host-managed and waiting room enabled. Session will be locked at 4:15 pm.
Free and Open to all Members & Friends of the CSUMB Community! Join us on Zoom!
VPA Dias de los Muertos: La Soledad Bakery, Cultural Continuity: From Oaxaca to Salinas
Pastry Chef Sandra of LaSoledad Bakery in Salinas will discuss their cultural commitment to the community & preparing for the Day of the Dead celebration. Special attention will be given to displaying their annual Nuestros Ninos Muertos altar.
November 1, 2020
10:00am — 11:00am
Join us via Zoom! Note: Zoom Session is host-managed and waiting room enabled.
Free and Open to all Members & Friends of the CSUMB Community!
VPA Dias de Los Muertos: Altar Making with CSUMB Students
Altar Making with CSUMB Students, Cultural Continuity: Dual/Duel expands on the idea of a diptych (two objects paired together) in art. Join us as students share how to construct the Day of the Dead altars.
November 1, 2020
11:00am — 12:00pm
Join us via zoom! Note: Zoom session is host-managed and waiting room enabled
Free and Open to all Members & Friends of the CSUMB Community!
VPA Dias de los Muertos: Cultural Continuity: Native Language and Culture
Join us as we welcome Tlamachtihketl Kui Martinez for a Cempowalxochitl (Day of the Dead flower) & Nahualt lesson
November 1, 2020
12:00pm — 1:00pm
Join us via Zoom! Note, Zoom session is host-managed and waiting room enabled.
Free and Open to all Members & Friends of the CSUMB Community!
VPA Dias de los Muertos: Cultural Continuity: Art as Protest with Maria's Arte y Diseño Printmaking Workshop
Cultural Continuity: Art as Protest-Join us as we welcome Maria's Rivera in collaboration with T.A.C. Taller Aristico Comunitario, in leading a Day of the Dead printmaking workshop.
November 1, 2020
2:00pm — 3:00pm
Join us via Zoom! Note: Zoom session is host-managed and waiting room enabled.
Free and Open to all Members & Friends of the CSUMB Community!
VPA Dias de los Muertos: Living History: Food as Ancestral Knowledge With La Soledad Bakery
Join us as we welcome back La Soledad Bakery with a Pan De Muerto Workshop.
November 2, 2020
10:00am — 11:00am
Join us via Zoom! Note: Zoom session is host managed and waiting room enabled.
Free and Open to all Members & Friends of the CSUMB Community!
VPA Dias de los Muertos: Living History: Hybridity
Join us as we welcome contemporary visual artist Moises Salazar together with VPA faculty Luis Sahagun for a Papel Picado Workshop
November 2, 2020
1:00pm — 2:00pm
Zoom Link: Note: Zoom session is host managed and waiting room enabled.
Free and Open to all Members & Friends of the CSUMB Community!
VPA Dias de los Muertos: Sugar Skull Workshop
Living History: Sugar and the Symbolic
November 2, 2020
2:00pm — 3:00pm
Note: Zoom session is host managed and waiting room enabled.
Free and Open to all Members & Friends of the CSUMB Community!

Face Painting

Sugar Skull Workshop

Sugar Skulls Drying

