For our annual Día de Muertos celebration, we invite a distinguished artist to design a community altar stationed for one day in the Flatiron North Plaza.

On November 2, attendees are invited to leave small offerings at this year's traditional altar designed by award-winning NYC artist Andrea Arroyo. Known for recognizable and peaceful public art, Andrea's work has been featured across boroughs, from the garden, to the museum, to the subway platform.

This year we are honored to welcome Andrea and her work to the Flatiron North Plaza to celebrate and honor loved ones passed.

A message from the artist about Día de Muertos:

Andrea Arroyo: Día de Muertos is a revered and uplifting celebration that is not related to Halloween and does not include any elements that are morbid, scary, or performative. Mexican Day of the Dead originates from the belief in the connection of the living with the deceased and the everlasting link between this world and the next.

Every year, on Día de Muertos we celebrate and honor our ancestors and loved ones by creating altars that welcome their spirits back to the land of the living for Noche de Muertos. Elements on the altar serve to guide and welcome the souls on their journey including candles (guiding lights), flowers and food (to celebrate the arrival of the souls), and water (to quench their thirst). Additionally, the arches and levels on each altar represent the passage between life and death.

What to bring to the altar:

Attendees are invited to bring offerings to the altar to commemorate a loved one or ancestors who have passed on from the land of the living. If you choose to bring a photograph, be sure to bring a copy—not an original. The altar will be disassembled at the end of the night so anything that is original and personal should be copied before placing on the altar. Small offerings like flowers, cards, fruit and candy are encouraged.

How to make your offering:

SVACE staff will place your offering on the first and second tiers of the altar. You are also invited to write short messages to loved ones and ancestors. Ribbons and markers will be provided to display your message.

Take a picture in the life-size wings painted on the altar:

Andrea Arroyo: I made the wings to symbolize winged figures that represent otherworldly creatures who act as messengers, guardians, and protectors, who fly between heaven and earth. They also evoke freedom, hope, love, and life. The life-size wings photo-op symbolizes our own ability to connect with our loved ones who have passed before us, wings are meant to remind us of our true nature, which is to love and protect each other.

Join Andrea Arroyo, SVA Continuing Education and the Flatiron NoMad Partnership for Día de Muertos 2023 in the Flatiron North Plaza on Thursday, November 2, from 3:00 - 7:00pm. RSVP here to save the date!

Learn more about Día de Muertos from Mano a Mano: Mexican Culture Without Borders (MexCulture), a NYC based 501(c)3 dedicated to celebrating Mexican culture: https://www.manoamano.nyc/about-the-day-of-the-dead

Features

Learn how to contribute to this year's community altar on November 1 in the Flatiron District.