Day of the Dead

The North Olympic Library System (NOLS) and Juan de Fuca Foundation for the Arts (JFFA) are collaborating to celebrate the Day of the Dead – el Día de Muertos or Día de los Muertos in Spanish – a traditional holiday observed throughout Mexico and parts of the United States, which honors and remembers friends and family members who have passed on. This holiday is a unifying national practice in Mexico based on Indigenous traditions combined with European influences.

Watch an all-ages video tutorial at nols.org/DDLM by Seattle-based artist Amaranta Ibarra-Sandys, who was born and raised in Mexico City. Ibarra-Sandys provides instruction on how to create your own diorama and shares el Día de los Muertos traditions.

Beginning Monday, Oct. 17, pick up a Take & Make: Day of the Dead tin box diorama kit at your local NOLS branch. Use the diorama to create your own home altar or return it to be displayed in a community ofrenda.

To participate in the Port Angeles community ofrenda, drop off your diorama in the JFFA dropbox at Chase Bank, 101 W. Front St., Port Angeles, by Sunday, October 23. Residents of Clallam Bay, Forks and Sequim can drop off their completed dioramas at their local library by Monday, October 24. Community ofrendas will be displayed Oct. 25–Nov. 7.

"We are beyond excited to be partnering again with NOLS for our annual Día de los Muertos Market Art Project. The past two years have been so successful and has allowed us the opportunity to expand our cultural offerings here on the North Olympic Peninsula. JFFA has been a part of the community for 30 years and it is partnerships like this that bring us together to create art and culture that matter, increase the equity and inclusion available here on the Peninsula," said JFFA Executive Director Kyle LeMaire.

For more information about this and other events and services happening at your library, visit www.nols.org, call 360-417-8500, or email [email protected].