Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces gets ready for 10th annual Celebraciones de la Gente starting Oct. 25

AmigosNAZ staff report

FLAGSTAFF — Members of Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces will be busy late this week setting up their family altars / ofrendas, stringing papel picado and getting everything ready for the 10th annual Celebraciones de la Gente, which will begin with the member’s-only reception the evening of Friday, Oct. 25 at the Museum of Northern Arizona.

Adding to the usual pressure is the ongoing renovation at the museum, including installation of a new roof and a newly landscaped Jaime Major Golightly Courtyard. Museum officials expect work to be completed in time for members of Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces to begin setting up their altars on Thursday evening, with decoration of the historic courtyard beginning on Friday afternoon.

Nuestras Raices is a local grassroots organization dedicated to promoting Mexican/Mexican American/Hispanic cultures in our area. Its name means “Our Roots” and its members are Hispanic pioneer families of Flagstaff from the 1800s.

The member-only reception will featuring the opening reception, lighting of the candles at the altars, musical entertainment, food  by Tacos Los Altos Westside and refreshments. Contact the museum at info@mna.mus.az.us or click here to learn how to be a member.

The public event will open at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, with events continuing through 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27, with the closing ceremonies, which includes the traditional blessing of the altars.

New this year will be an exhibit of New Mexican Hispanic Art from the Barth Hotel in St. Johns. In an Oct. 20 story in the Arizona Daily Sun — Paying respect to past, present: MNA celebrates 10 years of hosting Hispanic culture — Anne Doyle, Heritage Program manager at the museum, said the art was donated to the museum in 1974 by the descendants of Arizona pioneer Solomon Barth. The 10 pieces will be on display throughout the museum during Celebraciones.

Celebraciones features some returning groups and performers — Mariachi Sol Azteca from Tucson; Ballet Folklorico de Colores — Flagstaff; Martin Espino; Carmen and Zarco Guerrero, along with the showing of the documentary “From the Fields” by NAU alumni Carolyn Brown; and a performance by members of the Borders Songs CD project, which has raised nearly $40,000 for the Tucson humanitarian group — No Más Muertes.

The 10th Celebraciones de la Gente is sponsored by the Arizona Commission on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, Arizona ArtShare, the Arizona Humanities Council, the City of Flagstaff/BBB Revenues, Flagstaff Cultural Partners and the Coconino County Board of Supervisors.

The schedule include:

Saturday, October 26

9:30 a.m.	Sugar Skull Demonstration and Workshop
10:45 a.m.	Performance with the Border Songs Project
11:30 a.m.	“Ofrendas and Dia de Los Muertos” by Nuestras Raices
12:15 p.m.	“Dia de Los Muertos Storytelling and Music” with Carmen and Zarco Guerrero
12:45 p.m.	From the Fields film and discussion with director Carolyn Brown
1:30 p.m.	Ballet Folklorico de Colores
2:00 p.m.	“A Pinata for Pepita” Puppet Show
2:15 p.m.	Graffiti Presentation by Southwest Eclectic Artists Association
2:30 p.m.	“Music and Migrations” by Martin Espino
3:30 p.m.	Mariachi music by Mariachi Sol Azteca

Sunday, October 27

9:30 a.m.	Sugar Skull Demonstration and Workshop
10:45 a.m.	Performance with the Border Songs Project
11:15 a.m.	“Ofrendas and Dia de Los Muertos” by Nuestras Raices
12:00 p.m.	Familiar Mexican Root Music by Los Compadres
12:15 p.m.	“Music and Migrations” by Martin Espino
1:30 p.m.	Ballet Folklorico de Colores
2:00 p.m.	“A Pinata for Pepita” Puppet Show
2:15 p.m.	From the Fields film and discussion with director Carolyn Brown
3:00 p.m.	Graffiti Presentation by Southwest Eclectic Artists Association
3:30 p.m.	Mariachi music by Mariachi Sol Azteca
4:30 p.m.	Closing Ceremony

All day events during both days include:

• Creative Corner for Kids

• Graffiti Art Mural by Southwest Eclectic Artist Association

• Ofrenda Display by Nuestras Raices

• Community Altar

• Historic Mexican Tinwork Exhibit

• Mexican Food by Archuleta Catering

• Artists and Demonstrators

  Gina Santi – photography	Anthony Esparza – paintings
  Ralph Sena – silver jewelry	Alma Aispura – ceramics
  Emma Gardner – paintings	Aileen Clark – folk art
  Lucia Cartes – paintings	Sandy Martinez – folk art
  Martin Expino – folk art	Irene Dominguez – watercolors, pottery
  Carmen and Zarco Guerrero – jewelry