Our group selected these two photos because we felt they best represented the healing nature of the ofrenda practice and experience of Dia de los Muertos. The first photo from our own group 1 ofrenda  titled “Mourning from a Distance” highlights a dedication to a brother that was lost during COVID-19 and never properly mourned in person due to restrictions at the time. The second photo features culture bearer Francisca Garcia as she is lovingly remembered by her family and community.

Category: Ceremonial/Healing

Since these photos visualize the healing process, we chose them to represent the category of ceremonial/healing from the four categories we’ve learned about from Amalia Mesa-Bain’s work. The process of creating an ofrenda and remembering a loved one through objects from their life is a healing practice through remembrance. 

Interview