Category Archives: Cultural Sources

Dia De Los Muertos — Face Painting Gallery

The Day of the Dead — Faces by Christopher Agostino  10/30/2014 – updated 2015  #transformationsny

DiaDeLosMuertos_Mex_SkullFlowers_agostinoartsMy introduction to this Mexican fusion of death and beauty came via the mummies of Guanajuato when I was there as a student in the 80s. In 2001 I had the opportunity to return to Guanajuato as part of the Festival International Cervantino, painting faces in the street as one of a number of international performance artists. A few days after the festival ended, just before I had to leave, the center of the town was filled with stalls of the artisans creating items for the coming Dia De los Muertos. I bought this mask, and felt really great when the woman who sold it recognized me as a fellow artist for the facepainting I’d done in those plazas the week before.

Posada_LaCatrinaI approach the Day of the Dead as a celebration of the presence of death within life, and the continuation of life within death through the love we retain for those who have passed.  I want to retain stark images of death in the faces I paint, and for inspiration I look less to the current sugar skull style and more to traditional imagery such as Posada’s La Catrina and Mexican skeleton figurines.

Most of these photographs are from Dia De Los Metros events at the Hudson River Museum in 2014 and 2015.  Learn about all we do at: agostinoarts.com

learn about all we do at: agostinoarts.com

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Halloween Face Painting Gallery 2014

by Christopher Agostino #transformationsny

Here are some of the photos from the Halloween events I’ve already done this season, plus some from last year that weren’t yet posted. With Halloween still to come this Friday, our event schedule will continue through the coming weekend, crossing over with some Day of the Dead events. See schedule.

learn about all we do at: agostinoarts.com

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Dia De Los Muertos — Calpulli Mexican Dance Company

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Our artist Miguel Cossio will be doing makeup for for  Calpulli Mexican Dance Company — Dia de los Muertos Performance on Saturday, November 1 at the City College Center for the Arts’ Aaron Davis Hall, NYC –  2:00 pm and 7:00 pm – ticket information
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Here’s more information from the Calpulli company promotional materials:
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Music and dance transcend
Música y danza trascienden
Dancers and musicians in Calpulli Mexican Dance Company’s “Dia de los muertos” capture humor, passion, longing, and hope. They create celebrations of life in which Los enamorados, Skeleto, and La Catrina partake. Dancers are often the pawns of these characters, being easily manipulated for a purpose. A tapestry of live music is the background of the stories traveling from the serenades of the Mariachi, to the heart-pounding rhythms of the Aztec, to the brass bands of northern Mexico.
The performances will feature the debut of the following:
  • the suite “Hermoso Oaxaca” (Beautiful Oaxaca) choreographed by Alberto Lopez & Noemy Hernandez capturing a glimpse of the world-famous Guelaguetza
  • the piece “El jarabillo” choreographed by Roberto Lara explores the stylized dances from Michoacan
  • a reprise of “El regreso/ petalos” (The Return/ Petals)a contemporary piece depicting the welcoming of a loved one
 
Box office/ Taquilla: 212-650-6900
 
Bailarines y músicos en “Día de los Muertos” de Calpulli Danza Mexicana captan el humor, la pasión, el anhelo, y la esperanza. Crean celebraciones de la vida en la que Los enamorados, Skeleto, y La Catrina participan. Los bailarines suelen ser los peones de estos personajes, siendo fáciles de manipular para un propósito. Un tapiz de la música en vivo es el trasfondo de las historias que viajan desde las serenatas de mariachi, a los ritmos palpitantes de los aztecas, y las bandas de viento del norte de México. Las actuaciones contarán con el debut de:

  • un cuadro “Hermoso Oaxaca” con coreografía de Alberto Lopez y Noemy Hernandez captando un vistazo de la mundialmente famosa Guelaguetza
  • la pieza “El jarabillo” con coreografía de Roberto Lara explora las danzas estilizadas de Michoacán
  • una nueva version de “El Regreso / petalos” una pieza contemporanea que representa la acogida de un ser querido.
Next week meet/ La proxima semana conozca a
La Catrina