Students in the Bécalos Program took part in Día de los Muertos celebrations at Skyline College on Wednesday, November 5. Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a holiday widely celebrated in Mexico and in various other countries around the world to honor and remember those who have passed away. Bécalos students fundraised on campus and used their earnings to create an altar for the Día de los Muertos gallery exhibit. The altar was a tribute to the memory and life of Frida Kahlo, the Mexican painter. The students worked diligently to create a platform that exhibited cultural significance and representation while reflecting their own personal artistic preferences.
Aside from altar showpieces, the gallery also showcased paintings, sculptures and various forms of artistic expression in honor of this holiday. Traditional refreshments included pan de muerto, or bread of the dead, and pan dulce, or sweet bread. Bécalos students provided entertainment for the event by playing instruments and singing cultural Mexican and popular contemporary English songs. A true exchange of cultures was witnessed by the many campus community members who viewed the art gallery, mingled, and enjoyed the seasonal festivities through food, music, art, and cultural dialogue.
For more information on the Bécalos program, please contact Pcyeta Stroud at stroudp@smccd.edu.
Article and photo by Alessandra Zanassi
