Colorful Altars Grace Mission Campus for “Day of the Dead” Remembrance
that give a brief description of the culture and traditions celebrated during “The Day of the Dead” on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015. (Photo by Bridgid Skiba/The Guardsman)
By Bridgid Skiba/Staff Photographer
An array of colorful altars commemorating “Day of the Dead” (Día de los Muertos) is on display at the Mission Campus through November.
The eight displays honor the dead and appear at various locations on the Valencia Street campus.
“It just happened like that,” said Jorge Bell, dean of the Mission Campus.
An outside altar is for students to place personal items honoring loved ones. The altars range from basic to complex, and people traditionally bring offerings of food, fruit, and water.
The transitional studies department created an altar with an image of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. City College instructor Sandra Ann Vaughn had her students draw portraits of themselves to honor Frida’s trademark painting style.
An Associated Student Council’s altar displays photographs of deceased City College students or
family members, and City College instructors. Salvador Ortiz-Solovie proudly stood next to a photo of his father.
“The altars are for those who have families far away,” Ortiz-Solovie said. “This is one way immigration affects us and we can’t go back to say goodbye to our families, so this is the way we honor them. This is one way to say they are still with us—their presence is still with us.”
that give a brief description of the culture and traditions celebrated during “The Day of the Dead” on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015. (Photo by Bridgid Skiba/The Guardsman)
Thursday, Oct. 29 2015. (Photo by Bridgid Skiba/The Guardsman)
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