This past Sunday, the Oakland Museum of California celebrated its 18th annual Days of the Dead, Dias de los Muertos with the community. Coinciding with the exhibition, Forgotten Stories, Remarkable Lives: Dias de los Muertos 2012 this festival, featured local food vendors like Tina Tamale and Calaveras by Familia Ortiz  to music like Mariachi Femenil  and a performance by Los Cenzontles.

Through altars and installations, the exhibition pays tribute to Californians in the recent and more distant past, and unveils how their remarkable experiences compose the narrative of change in the ever-evolving story of California. Says guest curator Eduard Pineda, “I wanted to look at Californians who have changed the course of history and then look beyond the story they’re known for.” Using the Oakland Museum of California’s History Gallery for inspiration, participants were invited to excavate and discover lesser-known stories of Californians. The exhibition celebrates the lives of Californians and reaffirms the extraordinary tapestry that makes up the Golden State.

In addition to individual artists’ altars, the exhibition features community altars by Oakland Museum of California docents and students from Tennyson High School of Hayward and Melrose Leadership Academy of Oakland. A wide range of local artists, including Rob-O, Imelda Martinez, Brett Cook, Adrian Arias, Hector Dio Mendoza, Cece Carpio, and Jenifer Wofford are featured in the 18th annual Days of the Dead observance and exhibition.

 

Forgotten Stories, Remarkable Lives will be on view in the Museum’s Great Hall October 10 through December 9, 2012