Day of the Dead – RDZ Photography

Smithers Park is an urban art oasis in southeast Houston. Named in honor of a couple folk art philanthropists, the park resides between a residential and commercial area, next to the legendary Houston folk art area known as the Orange Show.

The park has art from over 300 people, mostly self taught. The day we were there a few were working on their current projects.

The band shell was impressive, with an interior of mostly cut up road signs.

The mosaics are a collection of random materials.

All are very original in their design.

Bordering the entire length of one side of the park is a 400 foot long ‘Memory Wall’.

The surrounding neighborhood is predominately Latino, and as a tribute there is a ‘Day of the Day’ couple sitting at a table.

At first you think this is a small grass oasis, until you look closely and see the guitar neck in mosaic beyond it, and the grass is the body of the guitar.

Additional images of art on the Memory Wall.

A mosaic dog trying to get food off of the table, that itself is covered in mosaics.

Kilroy is here.

The Tiger mosaic is very impressive.

We end with a view of the back of the band shell, where you see it is a giant fish. Smithers Park is a great stop if you find yourself in Houston.

In Mexican culture the Day of the Dead is celebrated the first two days of November. This celebration honors the memory of those who have passed on.

Presented by the Cleveland Public Theater and Artistas Latinos Unios, Cleveland has had a Dia de Muertos for 14 years.

Most participants paint their faces.

While it might seem morbid, it is in fact a joyous occasion that is intended to dispel fear of death and embracing the cycle of life.

In Cleveland many non Latino people participated.

While most had face paintings, traditionally hand made clay skulls are also used.

The Cleveland Public Theater is housed in a former church. Inside they had a number of exhibits set up.

This young lady had one honoring her family.

As did this young lady. Note in the back numerous photos and offerings to her deceased family members. Throughout the church/theater and outside in the ‘pop up’ cemetery were a number of such altars (known in Spanish as ofrendas)

One of the event coordinators was ready.

It was a really cool event, with lots of great looks.

Stylish and macabre at the same time.

Finally it was time for the procession to begin…..

One of the bands lead the march.

Anyone who had signed up and was in ‘costume’ could participate.

Some clearly had spent more time putting together their look.

One of my favorites.

Many entire families participated.

This young lady had the face painting but the rest of her family wore the masks.

Happy skeletons!

The origins date back thousands of years and coincide with the annual harvest. It combined Aztec and Christian practices.

Today is has become so popular in the United States even places like Party City sell merchandise for the celebration, although these ladies clearly did better than going down the local Party City.

Not sure why, but it seems every Cleveland parade has a number of people on stilts. But what’s not to like in a 10′ skeleton lady coming down Detroit Avenue!