We are thrilled to share the pictures of our Day of the Dead Altar Competition at the farm! It was a magical night honoring one of the most spectacular Mexican traditions.
All 13 magnificent altars were created to represent local businesses and charities.
A BIG thank you to all participating local business and charities in this, our favorite event of the year.
Thank you to our 5 amazing judges: Rodrigo Esponda (Director of the Los Cabos Tourism Board), Napoleón Gómez Urrutia, Cotis Casso, Lic. Marco Antonio del Toro Carazo and Rosa Isela Ramírez.
Last but not least, THANK YOU to everyone who attended and supported this event. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!
And congratulations to the winners:
1st Place: Cali Kombucha and Escuela Primaria Ricardo Gómez Magón
2nd Place: James Perse and Coro Sin Voces Escucha Mis Manos
3rd Place: La Microbrewery and Los Cabos Children’s Foundation
We are so thankful for your efforts and for making this incredible event happen!
Can't wait for the 6th annual event!
ENJOY THE PICTURES BENEATH
1) CALI KOMBUCHA & ESCUELA PRIMARIA RICARGO GOMEZ MAGON
The "Amorsito Corazón" Altar was dedicated to:
Pedro Infante Cruz, who was a Mexican ‘ranchera’ singer and actor, and one of the icons of the Golden Era of Mexican Cinema. From 1939, Cruz appeared in more than 60 films, and recorded approximately 310 songs.
Our altar was traditional, and the largest of all with 5 levels. Made of traditional elements and dedicated to a Mexican icon. What made this altar even more special is that each child from the school participated by adding paper flowers and skulls. Some parents added sugar skulls, bread, candles, and helped to build the altar. This altar was made with so much love and was ultimately a very beautiful collaboration by children, teachers, and parents.
2) JAMES PERSE & CORO SIN VOCES ESCUCHA MIS MANOS
Our altar was dedicated to two great benefactors of the Choir Without Voices: Norma Sánchez and Ricardo Castro from "The Count of the Night". Both passed away in 2019 and we wanted to honor them for their love and unconditional support for the Choir.
Norma was the main vocalist of the group "Son Semilla" and appeared with the Choir every year during this wonderful event. She always lived for the preservation of Mexican folkloric culture.
Ricardo was a great writer originally from Los Cabos who was always inspired by the natural beauty of Baja when composing his poems and songs. He published two books before leaving this life in September 2019.
The Altar was inspired by the sunset colors of Baja and traditional Mexican textures, following authentic Day of the Dead traditions. At the top of the altar is the silhouette of the Mission of San José. Cempazúchil strips come out of the door and weave around to guide the spirits on their way back to earth.
We used colored sawdust on a duffel canvas to trace the path and put the favorite foods and some personal belongings of Sylvia and James each next to their portraits. Salt, incense, copal, water, etc. were included in the offering. The altar was adorned with light, flowers and confetti.
3) LA MICROBREWERY & LOS CABOS CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION
This altar was dedicated to the artist (painter) Francisco Toledo. He was a social activist, a Oaxaca artist, environmentalist, promoter and lover of culture and philanthropy. Born on July 17, 1940, Francisco passed away on September 5, 2019. He won the Prince of Asturias Award for the Arts, Prince Claus Award of Dutch Origin, Right Livelihood Award of English Origin (Alternative Nobel Prize) and National Science and Arts Award from Mexico. He declared: "I spend (my money) on institutions that are open to young people who don't have the possibility of traveling to see exhibitions or have access to books.”
Following the tradition, this altar was made with an arch as an exit to the world of the living, along with a candlelit path of flowers so that the dead can follow the route of entry back to this world. Cenpasúchil flowers, food, water, salt, copal, and a white illuminated cross were added to the altar. The colors of the rainbow present on the altar echo the sentiment of global inclusion that the Francisco promoted. Strips of hearts made by the volunteers of the Cabos Children´s Foundation hung from the upper structure.
4) EL WINE SHOP & PROYECTO ANGELES
Celebrating our friends of the “Wine World”. This altar honors Ken Lee: A wonderful mentor and friend, Ken was a passionate and savvy wine businessman at J. Lohr Winery. Hans Backhoff: A true ambassador of Mexican wines and founder of Monte Xanic. Patrick Leon: A world class wine maker (Mouton Rotschid, Opus One, and others) and co-creator of Whispering Angel rosé.
NATURAL PINA - CASA HOGAR UNA LUZ EN MI VIDA
Altar was made for Sor Juana Ines De la Cruz, I always try to make altar for strong Mexican women .
Her poem "Hombres Necios" is one of my favorite ones ever, she is the one in the 200 peso bill.
This year I did not make an altar per se but unstructured taking all and every single one of the elements an altar should have. I had levels made from floor to “heaven “ made with baby’s breath this flower represents purity in altars as she was a nun. But we also have the cempasuchil (marigolds) falling from earth to the infra world to guide the path of the death, we have made chains of sticks painted with lime that we use to cover the death bodies plus they also look a little like bones.
We had the light path made of candles to guide the souls, the salt to purify the body, water in case they are thirsty after the journey, crosses meaning the four cardinal points .
We made an installation of papel picado that is part of the four elements of the earth (wind) and rice so they have something to eat but it also represents the earth . Pan de Muerto, fruit, cookies .
A mirror as this is the only way you can see your loved ones that you are inviting to come
We had the Copal to purify the area and the arch made of flowers as well.
Las calaveritas that symbolize the death and remind us it’s always around. And of course the xoloescuincle to guide them back .
This is my favorite Mexican tradition so I love building with my family and has a very special meaning we play music and we had a party while building it talking about what our loved ones that are not with us used to like.
This tradition is part of our mestizaje so it’s something that represents Mexican culture and I and my team are very happy that Flora Farms invited us this year. The cause is good but beyond this is a cultural heritage that kids should learn and be proud of.
PEZ GORDO ART GALLERY & BAJA SAFE
This altar honored Karl Lagerfeld and was created by Pez Gordo Gallery in The Shoppes at Palmilla, artwork painted by Fernando Nafarrate.
The cat is named Choupette and Karl loved dearly. She went everywhere with him and he even created a fashion line that incorporating her.
Karl Lagerfeld was famous for drinking diet coke, so it was important to incorporate that into the altar. The photos on display are a journey throughout his life from when he first began working as a designer until his final fashion show in 2018.
The cartoon depictions of Lagerfeld and Choupette were created by him and used in his Lagerfeld fashion line. The barbie runway was to honor the iconic fashion shows that he is famed for, especially the ones he created for Chanel.
The Chanel and Fendi boxes with logos were used because he is credited with bringing both of those Houses back to huge popularity and world-wide recognition that continues to this day. He was the head fashion designer for both houses.
We wanted to make it "happy" because that was his personality.. he never took anything too seriously and truly enjoyed life to the fullest.
7) THE AGENCY LOS CABOS & RED AUTISMO
Altar in honor of Big Surfer and Good Friend Mike Doyle and Lemonia Aretos, founder of Red Autismo.
8) EVENTS BY BLISS, DESTINO MAGAZINE & CASA HOGAR
Our Destino Los Cabos / Bliss Events altar honored José Guadalupe Posada, a Mexican engraver, illustrator, and cartoonist who became well known for his satirical and political calavera (skull) illustrations. After Posada’s death, his calaveras became closely associated with the Mexican holiday Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. We honor him as an important contributor to Mexican art and culture.
Our altar benefited Casa Hogar de Cabo San Lucas A.C. The kids living at Casa Hogar were an integral part of the altar, decorating all the hanging wood skulls and ceramic calaveras that were displayed throughout the altar.
9) DEL CABO EVENTS & SARAHUARO
This altar honored Cesária Évora (August 27, 1941 - December 17, 2011) who was a Cape Verdean singer known by the nickname "The Queen of the Morna". She was also known as "the diva of bare feet," due to her custom of being barefoot on stage, in solidarity with the homeless and poor women and children of her country.
She was inspirational to us as a woman who never forgot her roots and always had the people who were with her from Day 1 present. It reminds us that no matter how high we climb we must always take care of where we came from.
Cesaria was an important person to honor because she maintained her humility in spite of all her musical achievements.
10) BAJA SOUL YOGA & LOS NIÑOS DEL CAPITAN
This altar was dedicated to Paramahansa Yogananda, an Indian monk, yogi and guru who introduced millions to the teachings of meditation and Kriya Yoga.
We also honor Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, an Indian Ayurvedic healer, scholar and yoga teacher. And finally, we honor yogi Ramana Maharshi, who found his spiritual path at the tender age of 16, resulting in his life work being published several times over.
The arch consists of 7 colors representing the Chakras, with the OM sign at the top of the altar, representing creation and consciousness.
We used different legumes to create a beautiful skeleton with arms in prayer.
The Catrina was created using papel mache and acrylic paint.
The flowers were made by the children and teachers at Niños Del Capitan.
There are two Mandalas at the beginning of the altar: a symbolic representation of the universe with an inner and outer world.
We added the Autobiography of yogi Yogananda, a book that has helped many in their spiritual path which was also given by Steve Jobs to all his family and friends at his memorial.
A second book displayed was Yoga Sutras by Patanjali.
11) ECLECTIC ARRAY & EL RANCHITO
Our altar was honoring Mike Doyle and benefitting the dogs of El Ranchito.
On the altar we had all the traditional elements of an altar: Pan de muerto, salt, Mike Doyle’s paintings, food, water, and candles.
Creatively the space was lined with surf boards and a skeleton representing Mike Doyle and a dog that represented the first dog that El Ranchito took in for adoption that passed away this year.
We worked with Ivan Guaderrama to create a circuit board to have an interactive element to light up the surf boards and the sign that says “see you on the next wave”.
To activate the interactive part of it, one simply petted the dog with the palm of your hand and at the same time hold the hand of the skeleton to complete the circuit, or have one person pet the dog and one person hold the hand of the skeleton and then kiss or hold hands so they complete the circuit.
The interactive component works off of your metabolism and responds differently to different people.
It is an incredible art to work alongside other artists, Ivan, that collaborated with, support and represent at Eclectic Array.
12) EDUARDO SANCHEZ JEWELRY AND YOUNG PEOPLE FOR A CHANGE
We wanted to honor the legacy and message of powerful women and their importance for a better world. We used a Catrina to represent the women in the world who passed away but left their legacy in history. We added some Carmen Mondragon coins, a Tomoe Gozen painting and Hypatia rice dish
In our altar, ae honor Boadicea (Boudica), Celtic Queen of Britain (England) who commanded various Breton tribes in a rebellion against the invading forces of Rome.
We honor Carmen Mondragón - Known as Nahui Ollin, the one who, according to Mexican mythology, created the world. She was an outstanding Mexican painter, feminist, poet, and a native of Tacubaya, Mexico City, where she was born in 1893.
We honor Hipatya - Philosopher, teacher and mathematician born in Alexandria (Egypt) in 370 AD.
And finally, we honor Tomoe Gozen, a legendary samurai woman, who faced down every social and cultural rule that tried to prevent her from standing on the battlefield, amongst men.
13) PINCHE MARKETING CHINGON, EL GANZO HOTEL & CENTRO COMUNITARIO EL GANZO
Honoring the Amazonia
