The Illuminations: Día de los Muertos 2011 exhibit opened Oct. 7 at SOMArts Gallery. This marks the 12th consecutive year of the Day of the Dead celebration at the museum.
The event, a night of performance and music, showcases the work of over 80 Bay Area artists, and is meant to both commemorate an important day of cultural heritage as well as showcase the diversity of local artists.
The altars and installation pieces featured in the gallery ranged from deeply personal to overtly political in appeal. As the crowd filled the intricate maze created by the installations, René and Rio Yañez, father and son co-curators, introduced Illuminations.
“To me, it’s a very San Francisco show,” Rio said. “It’s very local but very international—we are all coming together and sharing our different cultural views.”
Along with face painting, guests were entertained with music, a performance by Herbert Siguenza called A Weekend with Pablo Picasso, and a musical procession of paper calaveras.
The exhibit will remain open until Nov. 5, from noon to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays through Fridays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays. It is located at 934 Brannan Street between 8th and 9th Streets, and it is free to the public.
