Day of the Dead celebrated

Friday, Oct. 28, 2005 | 7:10 a.m.

Calling all souls.

The Winchester Community Center will celebrate El Dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead) with a two-day Mexican heritage festival that includes art, music, dance, folk-art demonstrations, crafts, workshops, an outdoor display of ofrendas (elaborate memorials) and poetry readings.

"Life in Death: The Day of the Dead in Las Vegas" on Tuesday and Wednesday will include a mixed-artist exhibit that opens today at the center's gallery. The artwork features paintings and sculpture with Day of the Dead imagery.

"We have a lot of pieces," Irma Wynants, Winchester's cultural specialist, said. "Everything is related to the Day of the Dead or the Mexican culture. This year we have different artists (and works). There are skulls, cemetery scenes, families in skeletons. There are sculptures."

Wynants, originally from Zacatecas, Mexico, organizes the annual event as a way for families and newcomers to carry on the tradition that has Aztec roots fused with Roman Catholic beliefs.

El Dia de los Muertos is celebrated in Mexico with processions and special altars that are built in homes or at cemeteries to commemorate the dead. Most ofrendas include photographs of the dead, marigolds, skulls, candles and food and drink for the spirits that return to visit their families.

"It's gaining a lot of momentum," Wynants said of Winchester's ofrendas.

This year there are 13 ofrendas, including one built by a new group from the Mexican state of Puebla. Some are as large as 16 feet. One woman is planning to build a New Orleans-style ofrenda. Another is putting together one that commemorates deceased rock 'n' roll figures.

A family that moved to Las Vegas from Oaxaca, Mexico, will build an ofrenda using items representing their culture.

A guest speaker, Beatriz Garces, from the Mexican state of Chiapas will discuss how residents there celebrate.

Tuesday and Wednesday's schedules include free outdoor performances from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.; indoor theater performances at 7 p.m., tickets are $4; and workshops from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

For more information, call 455-7029. or 455-7340.

ARTV

Actor, comedian and art collector Cheech Marin will host the first Fine Art Awards at 9 p.m. Saturday at the MGM Grand's conference center. Local, national and mostly unknown artists who work in various media will compete.

The "red-carpet" event begins at 5:30 p.m. Fifty-two artists will be working outside the ballroom. The two-day event begins with a reception at 7 p.m today and includes an exposition of 150 works. Tickets are $150. Call 242-8811.

Las Vegas in dance

Nevada Ballet Theatre will present "Neon Evolution," an original three-ballet production based on the history of Las Vegas at 8 p.m. today and 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday at UNLV's Judy Bayley Theatre. Tickets are $35, $45 and $55.

Kristen Peterson can be reached at 259-2317 or kristen@lasvegassun.com.