{"id":35928,"date":"2025-11-03T14:15:07","date_gmt":"2025-11-03T14:15:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/35928\/"},"modified":"2025-11-03T14:15:07","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T14:15:07","slug":"traditions-at-the-helm-of-novembers-art-scene-in-sacramento-sacramento-news-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/35928\/","title":{"rendered":"Traditions at the helm of November\u2019s art scene in Sacramento \u2022 Sacramento News & Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Marie-Elena Schembri<\/p>\n

This November, Sacramento\u2019s visual arts and cultural landscape brightens the darkening days with cherished ancestral traditions, exciting new exhibitions and community events. Dive into what the city has to offer art lovers and those looking for creative ways to celebrate the changing seasons.<\/p>\n

D\u00eda de los Muertos celebrations<\/p>\n

The centuries-old tradition of D\u00eda de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is at the helm of November\u2019s cultural calendar, with multiple opportunities to honor, celebrate and reconnect with those who have departed.<\/p>\n

The Latino Center of Art and Culture is hosting its 16th Annual El Pante\u00f3n de Sacramento celebration from Friday Oct. 31 to Sunday, Nov. 2. This culturally rich event is a vibrant tribute steeped with Latin American traditions featuring live dance and music, and an artfully created \u201cpante\u00f3n,\u201d or cemetery, adorned with dozens of traditional ofrendas (altars) honoring the dead. Community volunteers create the altars and cemetery tombs that are layered with traditional sugar skulls, food and drink, memorials and keepsakes to call departed loved ones back for a short, but colorful, visit.<\/p>\n

\u201cBathed in the light of the moon during evening hours and filled with drifting fragrances of copal and cempasuchil, the bright marigolds considered the flowers of the dead, El Pante\u00f3n is not only a place of remembrance, but a joyous celebration of our loved ones,\u201d reads the event website<\/a>, where information on admission and parking can be found.<\/p>\n

Head across the Sacramento River to VFW Post 8762 on Sunday, Nov. 2 for West Sacramento\u2019s 5th Annual Day of the Dead. This free community event will include a community ofrenda, cultural crafts, Aztec dancers, a makers market and a lowrider car show presented by the Sacramento Lowrider Commission. Or learn more about the history of the Day of the Dead in Sacramento and beyond by visiting a local museum.<\/p>\n

The Sacramento History Museum\u2019s current exhibition, \u201cRCAF in Mictl\u00e1n: 50th Anniversary of Dia de los Muertos<\/a>,\u201d is up through April 5, and highlights the enduring impact of the Royal Chicano Air Force (RCAF), who initiated the city\u2019s first D\u00eda de los Muertos observance in 1975. This multimedia exhibit documents and explores the Mesoamerican origins and evolution of the tradition right here in Sacramento, through the work of artists and activists within the RCAF over the last 50 years.<\/p>\n

Curator, historian, educator and RCAF member Terezita Romo said the exhibit offers viewers \u201can overview of a unique regional observance that continues to maintain its relevance and to inspire future generations.\u201d For hands-on fun, an all-ages mini ofrenda workshop at the museum on Saturday, Nov. 1 gives attendees a chance to create their own shoebox-sized altar to honor their loved ones in an intimate, creative way. Registration and ticket information can be found at SacHistoryMuseum.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Families can stop by the Sacramento Children\u2019s Museum on Saturday, Nov. 1 from 5-7 p.m. for an all-ages D\u00eda de los Muertos celebration, including calaveras de az\u00facar (sugar skull) workshops, a community ofrenda, pan de muerto (bread of the dead) and agua fresca tasting. Face painting, hands-on activities and live music by Son Bugambilia will round out the evening. Register in advance<\/a>..<\/p>\n

The California Museum is also hosting its annual D\u00eda de los Muertos exhibition, \u201cRecuerdos Ilustrados: D\u00eda de los Muertos 2025,\u201d through Sunday, Nov. 16. This year\u2019s exhibition features the work of contemporary California printmaking artists \u00c1lvaro D. M\u00e1rquez, Stephanie Mercado and Daniel Villa, whose altars will be centered around the topic of immigration. A community altar will allow museum visitors to make their own contributions in memory of their loved ones.<\/p>\n

Local art offerings\"\"Artist Adero Willard\u2019s coil-built ceramic sculptures act \u201cas a vessel for the complexity of Black, queer, and gender-fluid experience.\u201d (Photo courtesy of Axis Gallery)<\/p>\n

For fans of sculpture, two exhibits this month may catch your eye. At Axis Gallery through Nov. 30, a new ceramic sculpture show is turning heads. \u201cEcdysis\u201d is a solo exhibition by artist Adero Willard, whose red clay coil-built ceramic sculptures act \u201cas a vessel for the complexity of Black, queer, and gender-fluid experience,\u201d according to a press release. Using her medium as both metaphor and material, the artist reflects on deeply personal themes through the use of texture, pattern, color and shape.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThrough a process that involves multiple firings, using of slips, underglaze, glaze, Egyptian paste and luster, I develop textures and hues that reveal intricate patterns deeper and deeper into the surface,\u201d reads a statement by the artist. An artist\u2019s reception will take place on Saturday, Nov. 8 from 5-8 p.m. at Axis Gallery.<\/p>\n

Louise McGowan Bezark\u2019s \u201cThresholds\u201d at ARTHOUSE on R Gallery also showcases sculpted vessels, and the artist\u2019s hand-painted, gilded and altered gourds invite quiet contemplation about life\u2019s transitions. Opening on Thursday, Nov. 6, the exhibit showcases McGowan Bezark\u2019s unique talent to transform the ordinary into something that inspires deep contemplation. \u201cI believe we are all vessels \u2014 shaped by what we carry, and what we release,\u201d McGowan Bezark said. An opening reception will take place from 5-8 p.m. during Second Saturday on Nov. 8, with an artist talk at 6 p.m.\u00a0<\/p>\n

For those looking to bring home local art or start preparing for gift-giving season, check out Verge Center for the Arts\u2019 fundraising auction<\/a>. Showcasing local art, the auction is an annual tradition that benefits the local scene by bringing art into the homes of collectors while supporting the nonprofit art center\u2019s programming, exhibits and studio spaces. Kicking off with a free preview reception on Thursday, Nov. 6 from 5-8 p.m., attendees can get a first look at all the biddable artworks while enjoying snacks and beverages. The main event takes place on Saturday, Nov. 15, from 5-8 p.m., with both silent and live auctions, catered food, craft beverages and a live DJ. For more information visit vergecontemporary.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Whether exploring the art-infused traditional practices of a cultural celebration, enjoying art that explores transformation or supporting local artists by bidding on your favorite pieces, there are ample opportunities to connect with the arts in Sacramento this November.<\/p>\n

This story is part of the Solving Sacramento <\/a>journalism collaborative. This story was funded by the City of Sacramento\u2019s Arts and Creative Economy Journalism Grant to Solving Sacramento<\/a>. Following our journalism code of ethics, the city had no editorial influence over this story. Our partners include California Groundbreakers, Capital Public Radio, Hmong Daily News, Outword, Russian America Media, Sacramento Business Journal, Sacramento News & Review<\/a> and Sacramento Observer. Sign up for our \u201cSac Art Pulse\u201d newsletter here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"By Marie-Elena Schembri This November, Sacramento\u2019s visual arts and cultural landscape brightens the darkening days with cherished ancestral…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":35929,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[25386,25387,121,123,122,25388],"class_list":{"0":"post-35928","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sacramento","8":"tag-axis-gallery","9":"tag-dia-de-los-muertos-celebrations-in-sacramento","10":"tag-sacramento","11":"tag-sacramento-headlines","12":"tag-sacramento-news","13":"tag-the-latino-center-of-art-and-culture"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35928","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35928"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35928\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/35929"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35928"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35928"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35928"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}