Museum Ofrenda Offers Cultural Experience During Day of the Dead

The Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art strives to promote dialogue about ideas important to the people of Utah. One important idea that NEHMA currently highlights is the Mexican celebration of Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead.

During the Day of the Dead, ofrendas, or offering tables, are carefully set up and decorated between the first two days of November to welcome souls of deceased family members. These tables display traditional foods, flowers, candles, sentimental objects, and symbols of health, life and prosperity.

This celebration of life and death connects family members and allows many to grow closer with their loved ones. NEHMA offers this experience to all by creating a large ofrenda in the lobby of the museum. On display are calaveras (decorated skulls), photos, food, candles, and marigold flowers to represent different kinds of ofrendas. There, people are welcome to dedicate a small portion of that ofrenda to someone they lost by writing their name on the ofrenda wall.

The Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art continues to observe Día de los Muertos for its fourth year, hoping that all who visit gain an appreciation of the touching tradition of ofrendas and the Day of the Dead.

About the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art: The Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art at Utah State University fosters engagement with modern and contemporary art to facilitate learning and promote dialogue about ideas important to the people of Utah and the mission of Utah State University.

Admission is free and open to all. Parking is available in the free museum parking stalls and at the Gateway Terrace.

For more information, visit artmuseum.usu.edu or contact Shaylee Briones: shaylee.briones@usu.edu, 435-797-0227.