Bakersfield Dia de Los Muertos displays altars and unity - By N.L. Belardes

Dia de Los Muertos as a celebration in Bakersfield could not have happened without Cruz Ramos. She called me at 6am to bring whatever I wanted down to Golden State Plaza. So I brought “Bongo” the 6-foot-tall Paper Mache skeleton and some puppets. This was Bongo's 3rd appearance at a Day of the Dead event. (By the way, Les Paw of Fatt Katt and the Vonzippers named the skeleton).

Many people in the community participated by bringing altars, sculptures, paintings, pan de muerto; and by bringing their own blend of folkloric dances, which included kids dressed as skeletons, kids dressed as old folks, kids dressed as skeleton mariachis, and adult dancers re-enacting a marriage, and performing other dances.

Art and altars were sprinkled throughout the dance hall. One that struck me was Gita Lloyd's altar to her mother, Lily. It really struck me as we had a conversation earlier in the day about our parents that was both loving and enriching. "I'll say hi to Lily tonight," I said. I did, and I remembered her again when Gita later handed out candies.

Bongo himself sat near an ofrende which two women shared regarding their departed loved ones. Their altar was filled with flowers and photos. It was an honor to be a part of their tribute to husbands, mothers, and in-laws.

One of my favorite parts of the evening was the time donated by not just everyone involved, but also of artist Al Mendez. He took the time to come down and paint faces of adults and kids. His scary airbrush face paintings could be seen at the recent Chamber of Chills which attained national recognition for scary houses. Al is a local product and works during the day at the local Ice House as a custom framer. Matt Munoz and I decided we have to take Al out to dinner for all his hard work.

Here's my photo essay of the evening:



Gita Lloyd's altar to her mother Lily who recently passed away


Young skeleton children perform traditional dances...




Offerings to the departed souls


Skeleton themes make for a humorous look into our own temporary lives


A.S. Ashley's food offering is a rather sugary sweet breakfast treat


I hear A.S. is soon departing Bakersfield. Here's a tribute to his pimp car I once rode in as he parked near us in the Golden State parking lot.


Al Mendez starts the evening by transforming me into a skeleton


Al didn't add too much paint. I pretty much look like that


The eyes of Al Mendez as he transforms people into living art


The Ska King was next followed by all of Mento Buru and many kids


Skeletor banditos in the Golden State house...


We should go sit by an old tree and wither away singing sad ballads


Mexican folk ballet was also performed. Manuel Fonseca and Dario Fonseca are co-directors with So Luna, a group that recently moved from LA to Bakersfield


A symbolic saintly wedding?


Matt Munoz and his family...


Sal Plascencia and friend... Sal and I talked history as always


Esther, Woof Woof and Twinkie were in the house...


Waiting to perform...


Even skeletons get nervous


Children and cultural traditions are our present and future


Celebrating past loved ones in childish death costumes and musica


I heard there was a sugar skull "incident". It was a pancho problema.


Oh look who is wearing a pancho! Ska King Latino celebration!


Yeah!


Dude on the Ice even got down wit it.


Mento Buru in the house to celebrate the love of life!


Now you're wondering what this photo is? Oh Matt Munoz is going to have a lot of photos on Bakotopia for you of a skeleton invasion of the Smoke Hole AKA The Silver Fox where the Dalloways performed. Here you can see Cortnie on keyboards and Matt Wall on bass. The Dalloways performed songs from their upcoming album, The Distant Fairs.


James Ratliff of Norfolk stepped in on guitar for the evening. It was great to see him return from the dead to perform for us skeletons.


One of the greatest writers I know: Gary Enns of the Dalloways. His writing is lyrics are as magical as the evening. Stay tuned for pics of all the skeletons in the bar! Click for the Dalloways write-up on their skeleton encounters!

Click for Day of the Dead photos on Bakotopia.com



*Big thanks to Dirty Spanglish for taking many of the photos for the evening.

This entry was posted by N.L. Belardes, on Friday, November 03, 2006. You can leave your response.