By Milo Woods

The Self Help Graphics & Art Youth Committee prepared an altar titled Cruzando (Crossing), as part of the Ancestral Lights Día de los Muertos Exhibition at the SHG Gallery– a 46 year tradition for the organization.

This year’s exhibition theme inspires an appreciation for cultural roots through heritage remembrance. In accordance with the theme, the Youth Committee altar was created in solidarity with migrant children who lost their lives attempting to cross the Mexico-U.S. border. Migrant justice is a personal and important issue for many members of the Youth Committee, as many in the cohort come from immigrant backgrounds. 

The design of the altar blends traditional cultural symbols of Día de los Muertos and migration, like monarch butterflies and marigolds, with material objects representative of migrants, like shoes and stuffed animals. Through the altar, the Youth Committee hopes to draw attention to immigration issues and migration stories, but more importantly, honor the lives of immigrant children. To further honor the lives of those who perished, illustrations of actual children and youth who passed away in the process of migration, were drawn by Youth Committee member Karla Jacome.  

The Youth Committee is very proud to present their ofrenda, which is on display now from October 10 through November 27, 2019.

Milo Woods is a Self Help Graphics & Art Youth Committee Member and a Junior at Polytechnic School.  Edited by Natalie Godinez and Jennifer Cuevas.