I’ve been working with the Gathering Place Community Centre in creating a fun and meaningful Halloween Event that partners with the Mexican Consulate and outreach services of the Vancouver downtown area. We have been creating workshops and presentations about different traditions in honouring loved ones who’ve passed on. This event is a multi-cultural sharing that will have Mexican, First Nations, Guatemalan, and Celtic traditions shared. We would like this festival to grow to include as many cultures and heritages that are interested in participating.
Workshops facilitated by Mexican and Guatemalan Artists in creating personal and community shrines are happening over the next two weeks at Directions Youth Services, Coast Health, Inner City Youth, Positive Living and the Gathering Place. All communities, cultures and heritages are invited to create and bring memorials that reflect their own traditions and honour their ancestors and loved ones who’ve passed on.
We have a First Nations artist creating a community shrine at the Gathering place. The Mexican consulate is creating a memorial to the lives lost in the recent earthquake, and Positive Living is bringing an AIDS memorial. These as well as the community shrines created through the workshops. People are encouraged to bring their own personal or community shrines or a photo of a loved one whose passed on.
On Tuesday the 31st, all of these community built shrines will be installed together, with flowers and candles and an opportunity people to interact with the installation, by lighting a candle, or writing a note, or bringing a photo. There will also be a mariachi band, a candle lit labyrinth, free food, candy, and a procession for the dead, through the downtown core with the carnival band, rolling shrines and giant puppets.
Hope to see you there!
CANDY BONES 