IVCC prepares Day of the Dead exhibition – Shaw Local

Tributes to deceased loved ones will be held next week at Illinois Valley Community College’s main campus and in the lobbies of the Ottawa Center as the college and its communities celebrate the Day of the Dead.

The celebration of Día de los Muertos is widely celebrated in Mexico on November 1 and 2 and is part of a 3,000-year-old tradition of paying respect and remembering deceased friends and family members. The focus of the festive tribute are decorative and colorful altars and monuments decorated with flowers, photos, keepsakes and candles.

Beginning Wednesday, October 2nd, the public will be able to pay in-person tributes to the IVCC exhibition, which runs through November 2nd. You should bring photos, keepsakes, or offerings of imperishable foods and sealed drinks (to provide nourishment and enrichment for the deceased). ). Families can also leave notes or written reminders.

“We are excited for everyone, regardless of their cultural background, to participate in this event and we hope it will be a great celebration every year,” said Shannon Slaight, an art teacher and one of the organizers.

Slaight, who is not Hispanic, said her participation helps heal some emotional wounds.

“I have suffered great losses. I lost my little sister and this is a great way for me to remember her and keep her spirit alive,” she said. “By helping others participate in this event, I believe it can help more people experience healing and happiness.”

Sara Escatel, who advises the Hispanic leadership team, said she hopes people value the Day of the Dead as a traditional and respectful way to honor loved ones and bring a community together, rather than as Halloween decorations. She enjoys how the display brightens the atrium area and makes the entrance inviting to people of all backgrounds.

Once the event is over, donated items will be available for pickup at the Main Campus and Ottawa Center front desks beginning November 4th.

The event is sponsored by the Hispanic Leadership Team, the Illinois Valley Visual Arts Club and the Project Success Leadership Team. For more information, contact Escatel at [email protected] or 815-224-0355 or Slaight at [email protected] or 815-224-0351.