Day of the Dead Altar
Palm Springs Art Museum
The design and construction of this altar is meant to
honor the tribal women, who were basket weavers and members of the Agua Caliente
Band of Cahuilla Indians. The focal point of the altar consists of the painting,
Guadalupe Arenas, Snake Weaver, by
Pamela Hunt Lee, representing Arenas
who lived and worked in the Coachella
Valley during the late 1800’s
into the mid 1900’s. Included on the
altar are photos of other basket weavers, including Delores Patencio, who created utilitarian vessels and eventually
baskets sought after by collectors during the early 20th century and
what was known as the Curio Trade. Arenas and her counter parts lived in
harsh desert conditions, creating beautiful vessels, a craft handed down from mother
to daughter. In the painting, Guadalupe Arenas is shown surrounded by design elements used in her
weaving. The composition of strangling
snakes, her serious look and the palette are symbols of a life led in harsh
conditions while creating spectacular baskets.
The museum’s current exhibition, Grass Roots: Native American Basketry
of the West, displays several of the baskets created by Guadalupe Arenas, Delores Patencio and their contemporaries.
All vessels on and around the altar are baskets, some
filled with plants symbolizing juncus, sumac and deer grass laboriously
collected, prepared and used to weave baskets. Rocks collected from the desert and small
paintings of cactus symbolize the arid environment. Photographs of Guadalupe Arenas, Delores Patencio
and others honor these basket weavers.
This altar will remain installed through Day of the Dead Celebration at the Palm Springs Art Museum on Sunday, October 30, 10-5 which is free and open to the public.
