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Cemeteries are, of course, always good places to remember lost loved ones. But this season, Brooklyn's Green-Wood Cemetery is taking that to new heights as it unveils Reposo y Recuerdo (Rest and Remember), an expansive Día de Muertos ofrenda by acclaimed artist Laura Anderson Barbata.
All are welcome to bring photos, flowers or keepsakes to the community altar, creating "a collective gesture of remembrance and care." The installation, which features handwoven hammocks, colorful papel picado and cascades of paper marigolds, will be on view in Green-Wood's historic chapel from October 11 through November 16.
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If you're not familiar with Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead), it's a vibrant holiday celebrated in Mexico and parts of Latin America that honors the lives and legacies of those who have passed. Celebrations include music, dancing, gatherings, and ofrendas—home altars filled with offerings for the dead.
In addition to bringing their own items of remembrance to Green-Wood's ofrenda, visitors are also welcome to write personal memories on a red ribbon or decorate a blank calavera (skull).
After placing your remembrances and honoring those from other New Yorkers, take a moment to meditate in a handwoven hammock. Each one was made in collaboration with Mexican artisans using pre-Columbian technique. Gaze above at strands of papel picado (cut paper), paper marigold flowers and whimsical images of skeletons. In keeping with the intention of the holiday, death is honored not as an end, but as a connection to our past.
"This ofrenda is a living work of art, shaped by the participation of every visitor. Each ribbon tied and every skull colored becomes part of a collective gesture of remembrance and care," artist Laura Anderson Barbata said in a statement. Barbata is a Mexico City-born transdisciplinary artist working between New York and Mexico who has spent over three decades creating socially engaged projects across the globe.
In addition to being on view for several weeks this fall, Reposo y Recuerdo will serve as the centerpiece of Green-Wood's annual Day of the Dead Family Celebration on Saturday, November 1 from 4–7pm. The free all-ages festival honors the cultural traditions of Día de Muertos through crafts, music, performances, activities, and food.