DIA celebrates Mexican altar tradition, Nov. 3

DETROIT (AP) -- The Detroit Institute of Arts is celebrating the Mexican tradition of creating altars to honor deceased loved ones. The art museum is showing off 10 such installations by local artists and community members through Nov. 3. The display coincides with the Day of the Dead, an annual celebration originating in Mexico. Known as "ofrendas," the altars traditionally are decorated with ornate sugar skulls, flowers and favorite foods, mementos and pictures of the deceased. Contemporary ofrendas have been created as a way to also pay homage to places, moments in time, ideas and events that people feel are worth commemorating. Themes for the DIA ofrendas range from pet memorials to honoring Mexican-American veterans. ---------------- Online: http://www.dia.org. Published: Thu, Oct 31, 2013