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"It's an odd thing, but anyone who disappears
is said to be seen in San Francisco.
It must be a delightful city and possess
all the attractions of the next world."
Oscar Wilde
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The Mission's annual celebration of death in the cycle of life, death and rebirth returns to complete the cycle once again on November 2nd, with the ritual procession along 24th and 25th Streets and a climax ending
with the glorious outdoor exhibit of altars in Garfield Park. Before and after, Mission visitors will find an exciting range of exhibits and other opportunities to get in rhythm with nature's fall season.
NEW
PROCESSION START LOCATION FOR 2010:
For 2010, the procession will begin at 7pm
at 22nd & Bryant, At this time SFPD-Mission has called for a
rerouting of the procession to not pass the Mission Cultural Center
or Garfield Park . For the 5th year they can be expected to now
allow access to Balmy alley. The Festival of Altars in Garfield
Park, 26th & Harrison, at 8:30 PM is on after being saved from
overwhelming City of San Francisco fees by Supervisor David Campos . Participants are encouraged to bring candles &
mementos of loved ones to place on the altars. Organizers emphasize
this is a NO ALCOHOL event. |
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HISTORY  |
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Dia de Los Muertos in pre-Columbian America is at least as old as the vivid 3000 year old recorded art history of Mesoamerica. Its best know symbol, the skull head, represents rebirth as well as death. Life was but a dream or mask, and death was when one would meet the real world. Like its spring counterpart, Carnaval, attempts were made to repress it by the Catholic church authorities, but it was too deeply ingrained in the people. While Spaniards viewed death as the end of life, the natives believed the dead came back and visited. You are connected to your ancestors and they to you. Conscious understanding of the mystery of death cannot happen through word alone; in the Mexican tradition is an incredible palate of symbols and rituals. Underlying the growing popularity is the healthy wholeness found only when we go beyond absolute, either/or thinking to embrace the "dance of opposites," or life and death. Communal expression, is widespread in Native America. It aims to re-create the sacred in the present moment. Communities regularly seek to be restored to their original fertility in cyclic ceremonies of renewal, and thus promote the continuance of life on earth. Throughout the weeks surrounding November 2nd are innumerable altar exhibits and special displays which demonstrate and sell the pieces which mark Day of the Dead.
Calaveras, the animated skeletons which remind us that death is best approached as an inevitable greatest life journey are the most popular in both San Francisco and Mexico, either as small sculptures or as prints by the great Mexican artist Jose Posada. Yet the palate is large, with many that serve on personal ancestor altars like sugar skulls, marigolds, candlesticks, incense-burners and images of the Virgin of Guadalupe. For the last millennium, images that represent the Black Madonna, like the Lady of Guadalupe or self-portraits of Frida Khalo, have been among the most numinous of archetypes, often being connected to miracles. The Black Madonna as the empowered feminine principle is harbinger of a new paradigm of inclusiveness, and her rise in the collective consciousness can be interpreted as foretold in the mythical end of the Aztec fifth age. We are living in the uncertain time of an Armageddon, where humanity must tame the patriarchal lust for power and control or see it destroy the human race. According to Aztec thinking, life, so solid, so apparently real, was an illusion. Only by creating art, by imitating the Lord and Lady of the Close and the Near, could they aspire to immortality. Thus the idea that "art made things divine," and only the divine was true. Today we yearn for this different, more metaphysical consciousness that appreciates the non-dual approach of peace with the four directions. To American Indians like the Aztecs, to be at peace within the community is to submit to a communal expression of conscience which functions as intelligence of the heart. Day of the Dead is very much alive in our new millennium.
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DAY OF THE DEAD in the MISSION |
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RITUAL PROCESSION & CEREMONY OF THE FIVE DIRECTIONS |
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The San Francisco Day of the Dead Ritual Procession is a project of El Colectivo del Rescate Cultural (Rescue Culture Collective), with the support of the California Arts Council, in collaboration with Cell Space, The Mission Culltural Center for Latino Arts, Galería de la Raza, and the support of community and cultural workers. The procession director since 1989 has been Juan Pablo Gutierrez. For information: Contact: Juan Pablo Gutierrez, the San Francisco Dia de los Muertos ritual Procession Director at 415-405-2050 or at juanpablodod at aol
dot com The Ceremony of the Five Directions is presided over by Francisco X. Alarcon & Starhawk
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1st Invocation:
Direction: East
Element: Fire
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2nd Invocation:
Direction: South
Element: Water |
3rd Invocation:
Direction: West
Element: Air |
4th Invocation:
Direction: North
Element: Earth |
5th Invocation:
Direction: Center
Element: Spirit |
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FEATURED SORCERS OF THE INVOCATIONS |
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PARTICIPANTS & RESOURCES
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Precita Eyes Mural Arts and Visitors
Center
Casa Bonampak
Latin American fair trade store specializes in Mexican art and promoting cultural traditions. The store at
1051 Valencia Street, San Francisco - (415) 642-4079 features sugar skull and altar demonstrations in the days leading up to Day of the Dead.
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Rescue Culture Collective
*Procession
Juan Pablo Guiterrez
415.405.2050
ENCANTADA GALLERY
*Art Gallery, Pan de Muerto workshops, Artist talks, and imported
Day of the Dead Altar and gift items
Mia Gonzalez, 908 Valencia, SF, CA 94110 tel:415.642.3939
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Mexican Musuem
Fort Mason Center, Building D, San Francisco, CA 94123
415.202.9700 ph
Mission Cultural Center
Rooms & Altars for the Dead during month of November, as
well as numerous workshops during October. |
Galeria de la Raza
*Art Gallery and Day of the Dead supplies and gift items
Carolina Ponce de Leon, 2857 24th St. SF, CA 94110
415.826.8009 ph
Oakland Museum of
California
1000 Oak Street, Oakland, CA 94607
510.238.2200 ph |
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GETTTING TO THE MISSION
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Parking in the
Mission can be difficult on this evening because some of the streets
will be blocked off for the Procession. We suggest that you take
public transportation or bike/walk here if possible.
BART:
There's a BART station at 24th and Mission
OR
You could also take the BART to 16th Street and walk down Misison or
Valencia to 24th St.
http://www.bart.gov/
The procesion
starts at 24th & Bryant at 7:00pm.
Bryant is about 1/2 way between Mission Street and Potrero Avenue.
BUS LINES:
9 San Bruno
27 Bryant
12 Folsom
14 Mission
49 Van Ness/Mission
48 24th St
http://www.sfmuni.com/
PARKING:
If you must drive, there is minimal street parking in the
neighborhood but the SF General Hospital Parking garage usually
always has space
at the 2500 24th Street garage.
PACIFIC PARK MANAGEMENT, INC
and might at the 21st & 16th St option.
From the Peninsula, parking at a BART garage is hassle-free from Daly City
to the Millbrae stations |
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About 2000 years ago the exiled Roman writer Ovid
wrote
Metamorphoses on the shores of the Black Sea. A collection of
stories about gods in transformation. His stories about Orpheus who
could charm the gods of death with his music has inspired many
generations of artists. [more at
www.carnaval.com/orpheus ]
 click
your refresh button for new wisdom quote by Ovid |
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First
thing every morning before you arise say out loud -- I believe -- three
times |
Last Update: 22OCT2010
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