Oakland Museum Of California Honors El Día De Los Muertos With Community Ofrenda In Remembrance Of Loved Ones Lost To Covid-19
(OAKLAND, CA) October 14, 2021 — Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) marks the 27th anniversary of its beloved El Día de los Muertos celebration with a special tribute, including an interactive community ofrenda (altar) built on campus at the Museum in remembrance of those lost to COVID-19, as well as Día de los Muertos videos, activities, and virtual performances for families to enjoy from home. The ofrenda will be on view from October 13 through November 28, 2021.
As the nation approaches the two-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic, OMCA remains committed to celebrating culture and community by adapting its time-honored traditions to digital platforms, while also providing opportunities for visitors to convene safely at the Museum. For over 25 years, OMCA has honored this holiday with an annual community festival created with the Museum’s El Día de los Muertos Volunteer Committee. Their partnership has been instrumental in adapting this celebration during the pandemic over the past two years.
Located on the first level of the Museum near the Gallery of Natural Sciences, the ofrenda will offer visitors the opportunity to honor the memory of family, friends, and community members who have passed by writing down the name or memory of a loved one on a paper butterfly which can then be placed on the altar.
In addition to the onsite altar, free family-friendly virtual resources will also be available throughout October and November via the OMCA website, including video interviews with Latinx community members and OMCA staff.
Students and families are also invited to celebrate California’s cultural roots by exploring the diverse traditions, stories, and Indigenous heritage of El Día de los Muertos through a 30-minute virtual performance with Cascada de Flores, accompanying hands-on papel picado art activity, and a teacher’s guide.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
El Día de Los Muertos Community Ofrenda
Onsite at OMCA
Free; No ticket required
Wednesday, October 13 – November 28
El Día de Los Muertos Virtual Content
Online activities available at museumca.org
Wednesday, October 13 – November 28
El Dia de los Muertos Virtual Performance
Virtual; Grades K–5 and families
Registration is free
Friday, October 29
10 am
OMCA extends gratitude to the commitment and expertise of the year-round El Día de los Muertos Volunteer Committee members.
School programs and tours made possible in part by generous support from the Oakland Museum Women’s Board and The Clorox Company. Additional support is provided by Matson Navigation Company, Pixar, Dodge & Cox, Morrison & Foerster Foundation, Port of Oakland, and Union Bank.
ABOUT THE OAKLAND MUSEUM OF CALIFORNIA
The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) tells the many stories that comprise California, creating the space and context for greater connection, trust, and understanding between people. Through its inclusive exhibitions, public programs, educational initiatives, and cultural events, OMCA brings Californians together and inspires greater understanding about what our state’s art, history, and natural surroundings teach us about ourselves and each other. With more than 1.9 million objects, OMCA brings together its multi-disciplinary collections of art, history, and natural science with the first-person accounts and often untold narratives of California, all within its 110,000 square feet of gallery space and seven-acre campus. The Museum is a leading cultural institution of the Bay Area and a resource for the research and understanding of California’s dynamic cultural and environmental heritage for visitors from the region, the state, and around the world.
VISITOR INFORMATION
The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) is at 1000 Oak Street, at 10th Street, in Oakland. Museum admission is $16 general; $11 seniors and students with valid ID, $7 youth ages 13 to 17, and free for Members and children 12 and under. There is a $5 charge in addition to general admission pricing for special exhibitions. OMCA offers onsite underground parking and is conveniently located one block from the Lake Merritt BART station, on the corner of 10th Street and Oak Street. The accessibility ramp is located at the 1000 Oak Street main entrance to the Museum. museumca.org
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