Glowing lanterns in Kirkwood Hall hang from the skylight trailing ribbons at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Floating altars adorned with candles, mementos and decorated paper memorialize Chavela Vargas, a legendary Mexican folk singer, and Carlos Fuentes, the Mexican novelist and essayist.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Mexican Artist Betsabeé Romero discusses the next step in decoration with Israel Garcia, part of a team from the Mattie Rhodes Center.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Betsabeé Romero and artists from the Mattie Rhodes Center leave offerings of sugared bread on an altar celebrating Chavela Vargas, a popular singer.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Barbara Clark, of the design department at the Nelson, adheres tissue paper marigolds to the bottom of a column.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Jake Ludemann, of the design department at the Nelson, fluffs a pile of tissue paper marigolds.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Betsabeé Romero adjusts a display of books included in the altar that celebrates Carlos Fuentes, the Mexican novelist and essayist.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Stylized books, sugared bread, and elaborate candles decorate an altar memorializing Carlos Fuentes.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Israel Garcia, (from left) and Jessica Manco, from the Mattie Rhodes Center look for a place to add loaves of bread.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Hands dusted with sugar, Betsabeé Romero gives a studied look to the altar.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Under close direction from Romero, Israel Garcia, from the Mattie Rhodes Center, adjusts a laminated decoration on the floor.
Credit Julie Denesha / KCUR
Glowing lanterns float between the marbled columns of Kirkwood Hall.
November 1st marks the traditional Mexican holiday called Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead – a time to celebrate the lives of those who’ve passed away. At the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, artists gathered recently to create an altar for the museum’s second annual Day of the Dead celebration.
