Día de los Muertos Interactive Altar Workshop

People remember their loved ones who have passed in different ways; maybe it’s through keeping a photograph of them on their desk, or playing their favorite song, or placing flowers on their grave.

For those who celebrate Día de los Muertos, constructing ofrendas (altars) helps celebrate the legacies of family, friends, and ancestors. The personalities of deceased individuals blend with longstanding traditions, and items such as cempasúchil (marigolds), velas (candles), calaveras (skulls), favorite foods, and personal effects of the dead are included in ofrendas. Ofrenda construction brings people together to remember the joy, humor, and impact their loved ones brought to the world.

Want to learn more about the history and practice of Día de los Muertos altars? Join the Idaho State Museum and instructors Monique Michel and Fonda Portales for an interactive Altar Workshop on Wednesday, October 27th from 7:00 to 8:30 PM. Participants are encouraged to bring a small item that represents a loved one to include on the workshop altar.
Admission is free and open to the public.

Face coverings are required for all public and educational programs in the Classroom and Idaho Room regardless of vaccination status.

More about the instructors:

Monique Michel  is the Director of Ballet Folklorico Mexico Lindo and currently works as a Spanish teacher at Foothills School of Arts and Sciences.

As the University Art Curator and Collections Manager at Boise State University, Fonda Portales manages the permanent art collection, curates the Student Union Building galleries, and directs campus art commissions. She previously taught Art History as Adjunct Faculty in the BSU Art Department, as well as served as Director of Development and Public Education at the ACLU of Idaho, and Resident Artist at the archaeological site of Urkesh, in Mozan, Syria, where she established an on-site museum. Her academic focus is on the transcultural iconography of Mesoamerican and Spanish influence.

Thank you to our Día de los Muertos program sponsor, Mofi!