Day of the Dead at Rohrbach Library

2010 celebration offers speakers, sugar skulls, and Bread of the Dead

While many of us are busy with Halloween, people in much of the rest of the Western Hemisphere pay tribute to departed loved ones in the colorful and profoundly life-affirming observance of Día de Muertos—Day of the Dead.

Rohrbach Library's Voices & Choices initiative, along with KU's Departments of Modern Language Studies and Communication Design, once again presents art, books, images and artifacts illustrating aspects of this fascinating custom.  Enjoy displays and events on the library's Second Floor.  In the Main Floor lobby, see life-size papier-mâché skeletons created by artist Yolanda Reyes. 

• October 28 (Thu), 11am: Dr. Dawn Slack, Professor of Spanish and Interim Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, speaks about Day of the Dead and serves up delicious pan de muerto, a pastry closely identified with the celebration.
• November 11 (Thu), 11am: Prof. Kevin McCloskey, Communication Design, will discuss La Catrina, the "cover girl" of the Day of the Dead. He will trace the influence of Catrina's creator, engraver José Guadalupe Posada, on the popular art of Mexico.

For much more about Día de Muertos, including books available at Rohrbach Library and up-to-the minute newspaper reports, see our Day of the Dead LibGuide.  Visit an online photo gallery to see past exhibits, or learn more about the holiday (and where to get Bread of the Dead locally) with our printable fact sheet.

All are welcome to view the exhibits through mid-November during Rohrbach Library's operating hours.