10th Annual Downey Día de los Muertos Art Festival

For Mikailuitl, or Día de los Muertos, I was invited to guide a watercolor workshop with Stay Gallery at the 10th Annual Downey Día de los Muertos Art Festival, presented by the Downey Theatre and the City of Downey. The event welcomed thousands of visitors and featured live music and dance, art exhibitions, community alters, and local vendors. Back again by popular demand, we facilitated a free watercolor workshop featuring new original designs in celebration of the holiday’s Aztec roots and origin. Participants utilized watercolors to decorate original masks and paintings of Mictecacihuatl and Mictlantecuhtli, known in Aztec mythology as the Lady of the Dead and Lord of the Underworld.

The origin of Día de los Muertos dates back over 3,000 years. Family members who have passed on and ancestors were honored through offerings of food, tools, and meaningful gifts to assure safe passage into the underworld and to allow their memories to live on. Throughout the day, we distributed over 400 free watercolor sets to children, families, and community members.

Written By Stay Arts. Photos by Gabriel Enamorado

The Downey Theatre
8435 Firestone Blvd.
Downey, CA 90241