Through Sunday, November 6
The altar on display, built in the Oaxacan tradition in celebration of Día de los Muertos, is by artist Lissa Jones. Ms. Jones is a native San Jose resident and holds a graduate degree in Visual Arts from San Jose State University.
Jones has collaborated with filmmaker Curtis Fukuda on numerous photography based projects since the late 1980s and travels regularly to Mexico (specifically, Oaxaca) for inspiration and to experience what she describes as the “generosity of spirit” of the Oaxacan people. Lissa has exhibited her work nationally and internationally, and has for the past six years built altars to celebrate Día de los Muertos. Her altars have been exhibited at local venues including the Oakland Museum of California and Mexican Heritage Plaza and this year, concurrently, she is exhibiting in San Jose at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library and the San Jose Museum of Art.
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Altars or ofrendas, in honor of Día de los Muertos, often hold objects reflecting a mixture of indigenous beliefs, Catholicism, pop culture, personal treasures, and the practical. For this altar, Lissa has incorporated a selection of special items to honor children who have passed on, including fruit, sweets, lotería, and toys. She has also placed a small wooden chair beside the altar on which children visiting our Museum are welcome to sit for an intimate view.