What aspects of the activations we hosted at the event honored the holiday traditions?

The ofrendas I believe were the main visible part of the altar. By the end of the day people had shared photos, letters and trinkets—which were all kept, nothing was thrown away. The writing on the altar very well mimicked calaveritas, which are very short poems dedicated to our loved ones. We had a fabric sculpture of La Catrina at the back of the Altar as well, whose face was made famous by the sugar skulls. There also was a sugar skull decorating station, where participants could paint their own Catrina and take it home with them—by far the most successful activity during the event. There were performances by folkloric dancers which added a very strong layer to the presence of Mexican culture.

How was your experience as an artist bringing your vision to the Flatiron Plaza and creating the altar?

It was fantastic! Working with Flatiron NoMad Partnership was such an easy process. Not only were they open and accommodating, but some of us shared the same background. It was great to take feedback from people who were very familiar with the celebration, and people who were just as open and excited to experience it. The big success of the installation really showed how we all worked together as a team.

Did you enjoy working directly with the community?

I got to talk to people who had a lot of questions about the celebration, its meaning, and how long it has been celebrated for. Some other people were not only willing to share the name and photos of their loved ones on the installation itself but also shared their personal stories with me about being stranded from their families or losing people they have loved. It was a beautiful experience that not only answered my questions, but it also created a strong, bittersweet connection among all of us.

Were there any stand out moments on the day of the event?

Definitely the individual conversations I had with the participants. There were very intimate moments based on wanting nothing from each other but to share their own stories. I didn't know I could get that from a setting so public, but the huge altar really created a warm bubble. Above all, people asked a lot of questions because they wanted to understand the tradition. It was an opportunity for them to learn by playing, and for me to teach, share and correct misinformation.

Any plans to carry the momentum of this experience into your next creative project?

Yes, absolutely! This was the third consecutive year I invited people to participate in this specific tradition. One of the plans now is to invite other artists from different backgrounds to create their own installation using a similar concept with the purpose of also correcting misinformation or teaching a valuable aspect of their culture to people who are curious. I want to learn from others through art, while keeping it available for everyone to enjoy.

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