25th Annual Dia de los Muertos Exhibition
10/15/2011 - 11/12/2011
Bath House Cultural Center

In 1986, the tradition of the Day of the Dead was introduced for the first time to the Bath House when Teatro Dallas produced the play Johnny Tenorio. The play was inspired by Jose Zorilla's Don Juan Tenorio, which is the longest-running play in Spain and Mexico and is traditionally staged annually during the Day of the Dead.

In addition to the play, Teatro Dallas also coordinated a gallery exhibition of traditional Mexican Day of the Dead altars with the purpose of creating a deeper awareness of the social and artistic significance of the celebration. Twenty-five years later, the Bath House show continues to commemorate the traditional holiday.

A notorious difference between the early exhibitions, which were mostly composed of altarpieces by Latino artists, and the shows from recent years, is the inclusion of more contemporary styles and media created by artists from different backgrounds and cultures who have made the aesthetics of the tradition part of their creative sensibility.

Artists include: Lori Bandi, Rita Barnard, Sal Barron, Maria Dolores Benitez, Angie Bolling, Ariel Bowman, Eunice Bridges, Kristine Byars, Jan Byron, Paul Carranza, Gabrielle Castañeda-Pruitt, Patricia Curry, Cynthia M. Daniel, Sheryl David, Dan Dudley, Lori Dudley, Angelia Ford, Linda Ford, Jacque Forsher, Rachel Forti, Pastor Garcia, April Greenlee, Vera Guillen, Rebecca Guy, Jenny Keller, Trent Koym, KeLaine Kvale, Lee A. Lage, Joanna LaGrone-Headrick, Barbara Lee, Eli Lorenz, Leticia Magaña, Melodee Martin Ramirez, Lori McCracken, Cyndi McDonnell, Denise Merlick, Karen Merten, William Messimer, Sharon Neel-Bagley, Melia Newman, Jan Partin, Kelly Pevehouse, Taylor Pierre Bryant, Marie Pugh, Brenda Robson, Wayne Rodney, Alfredo Rodriguez, Johanna Roffino-Hulsey, Lowell Sargeant, Shakti Sarkin, Paula Selzer, Linda Stokes, Ashley Thames Brown, Diane Torres, Mary Ann Vaca-Lambert, Jose Vargas, Martha Watson, Melissa Wertz, and Kathy Windrow...and many more.

Opening reception on October 16 from 5-7 p.m.

Ashley Thames Brown graduated from TCU with a B.A. in Art History. After years working in museums and then in high-end jewelry, Ashley began her own creative endeavors including jewelry making and mixed-media works. She has been in several group shows in Dallas and donates work to raise money and awareness for many causes including Women for Women International and Art for Darfur. Ashley is also a writer and her blog, Soul Flung Open, addresses open-minded Christianity.