Ofrenda - Art for the Dead

Ofrenda - Art for the Dead is an art exhibition of local artists' shrines and altars, masked ball, and parade and other art based on the Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) tradition.

Ofrenda remembers the dead and celebrates life (the two emphases of the holiday) with artist-made Dia de los Muertos altars and ofrendas (offerings) that venerate the beloved dead, and draw them to visit their loved ones, feast on their favorite food and drink, and listen to their favorite music.

 

Ofrenda History

2009

2009 marked our third annual Ofrenda Exhibition in partnership with the Torpedo Factory Art Center. The event started on Saturday, October 31 and ran though November 3. We added a parade which marched through Old Town to the Torpedo Factory. Artist Marcela Dorantes held a slideshow presentation on the history of Dia de los Muertos to the audience. The entire event was streamed live over the internet and the audiences reached well over 1000 of the day of the opening.

2009 Exhibiting Artists:
Michael Auger, Kathlyn Avila-Reyes, Jennifer Beinhacker, Jennifer Bishop, Ismael Carrillo, Kate Clark, Andrea Collins, Rosemary Feit Covey, Anthony Delfin, Jackie Ehle, Cavan Fleming, Ric Garcia, Jeannette Herrera, Kevin Irvin, Jessica Jastrzebski, Paul Jutton,Rebecca Marion Kallem, Lori Katz, Shauna Lee Lange, Emily Green Liddle, Carolina Mayorga, Peggy Meckling, Heather Miller, Mara Odette, Claudia & Sergio Olivos, Chris Peloso, Kevin Chopper Peshkepia, Caren Quinn, Lisa Rosenstein, Skeeter Scheid, Heather Schmaedeke, Hillary Sloate, Kenya Rene Smith, Constance Springer Zabowski, Neil Leon Stavely, Erika Stone, Henrik Sundqvist, Roy Utley, and Alexandra Zealand

2009 Performing Artists:
Moira Lee, Belladonna, American Sinner, Wes Tucker & the Skillets, Demivolt, Parliament Hill, Mariachi Estrellas, Hootenany Orchestra

Public Altar by Andrea Collins, Sugar Skull activity by Heather Schmaedeke

2008

In 2008, Art Outlet expanded the artist line-up by showcasing 35 artists and seven performers in a two-day art exhibition and event at Almaz Ethiopian Restaurant on U Street in Washington, DC. Besides the popular sugar skull workshop, we displayed two public altars where the public placed ofrendas throughout the event.

2008 Exhibiting Artists:
Pruitt Allen, Michael Auger, Jennifer Beinhacker, Jennifer Bishop, Alison Christ, Andrea Collins, Megan Draheim, Victor Ferrante, Cavan Fleming, Vickie Fruehauf, Rania Hassan, Sean Hennessey, Jeannette Herrera, Matt Hollis, Paul Jutton, Angela Kleis, Rob Lindsay, Carrie Lipscomb, Bono Mitchell, Nancy McIntyre, Johanna Mueller, Thomas Paradis, Chris Peloso, Kevin Perone, Caren Quinn, Paivi Salonen, Heather Schmaedeke, Kerri Sheehan, Kimberly Stark, Marina Starkova, Erika Stone, Henrik Sundqvist, Sally Tsou, Pindar Van Arman, Jack Whitsitt, Alexandra Zealand

2008 Performing Artists:
Aligning Minds, American Sinner, David London, DJ Uncle Eric, Flo Anito, The Highballers, Yoko K

2007

In 2007, Art Outlet premiered Ofrenda in a space adjacent to Mexicali Blues in Arlington, VA. We showed over 25 artists and performers, utilized bilingual printed materials, mounted two public altars, and held a sugar skull workshop for children and adults.

2007 Exhibiting Artists:
Zulma Aguiar, Michael Auger, Joshua Barlow, Jennifer Beinhacker, Alison Christ, Andrea Collins, Rosemary Feit Covey, Jared Davis, Roni Freeman, Jenny Freestone, Vickie Fruehauf, Susan Gardiner, Angela Kleis, Gabriel Kulka, Emily Liddle, Rob Lindsay, Bono Mitchell, Thomas Paradis, Marina Reiter, Paivi Salonen, Marina Starkova, Henrik Sundqvist, Stan Weinstein, Jack Whitsitt

2007 Performing Artists:
Flo Anito, Inspyra, Mud Pie, Yoko K