Día de los Muertos Milwaukee Parade Project was founded in the Summer of 2010. Myself, my Mother and a mentor of mine decided to start this together. By the time October 1st, 2010 came around, it was myself, My Mother, Walker’s Point Center of the Arts, friends and family who made this vision come to life. Since then we look to community to host us in a space or as I did this year. I had a Educators workshop and this allowed me to connect directly with teachers and get the project into their schools and colleges.
http://www.diadelosmuertosmilwaukee.com/
Founder of Parade, Celeste Contreras
Fiscal Sponsor and Heart, Walker’s Point Center for the Arts
This project is
100% Communidad/Community
100% Familia
100% Ceremonia
This project could not happen without the support of
Walker Square Neighborhood Association and Walker’s Point Association
In 2016, I taught 13 sessions over 7 weeks of the history and traditions of making an Ofrenda/Offering in the form of a shrine. Over 50 people and over 20 families participated in the free workshops which were held at Walker’s Point Center for the Arts on the weekends.
WALKING OFRENDAS
Every year I try to create new ways of displaying artists and community members Ofrendas/Shrines. This idea was inspired by ceremonies in Thailand or Latin America, where one or several persons lift up large deities attached to wooden platforms. I call these, WALKING OFRENDAS. These are made to have 2- 4 people lift them.
R.I.P. Art Elkon, photographer & artist, passed 2015
C e l e s t e C o n t r e r a s A r t 