Popular Metal
Art rush: Lawndale's Day of the Dead retablos go faster than ever, giving lifeto Houston creativity
Previous submission by Sue Liska
Photo by Katy Anderson
Retablo by Jean King
Finished work by Jan Avery
Dia de los Muerto Gala
With 100-plus temperature days seemingly going on forever, autumn celebrations and festivals feel far away — but the Lawndale Art Center is already preparing for its 24th annual Día de los Muertos/Day of the Dead exhibition. And the retablo tins at the heart of the celebration are going, going ... gone!
On Tuesday, Lawndale sent out an email calling for community artists and novices with a creative itch to drop by and pick up the 8x10 pieces of sheet metal, which are to be used as canvases to create "contemporary interpretations of the Mexican retablo or ex-voto traditions." With such broad instructions, the resulting works are as stunning as they are diverse.
"They're going quicker and quicker every year," says Dennis Nance, Lawndale's programming director.
Lawndale sets a limit on how many tins are distributed each year — about 300 — and only a few remained by the time we spoke with Dennis Nance, Lawndale's exhibitions and programming director, Wednesday morning. And by noon, all of the tins were gone.
"They're going quicker and quicker every year," says Nance, who credits email announcements, social media outlets, and the growing popularity of the event, which has been a Houston institution for more than 20 years.
The artists will deliver completed retablos to Lawndale in time for the exhibition, on view Oct. 17 to Nov. 5, and the Gala and Silent Auction/Preview Party on Oct. 21. The exhibition offers an opportunity for emerging artists to display their work, and it receives a great deal of support from established Houston artists as well. The auction acts as a "big fundraising component" for the center, says Nance, as each artist has the option of donating 50 or 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale of each retablo to Lawndale.
No tins remain (those artists who have a piece of the coveted tin can download a registration form here), but you can still take part in the surrounding celebrations — between the exhibition, ofrendas, workshops, fiesta, and gala, there's enough art fun for everyone. Find more information under the events tab on Lawndale's website.
