Santa Barbara Museum of Art hosts 33rd annual Day of the Dead exhibit

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.- The Santa Barbara Museum of Art hosted its 33rd annual Dia de Los Muertos celebration.

This is a Mexican tradition which honors the dead.

Many visitors like Hector Avila say Day of the Dead is more than just mourning the loss of their loved ones. It’s about celebrating their legacy.

“There is a lot of sadness because it is someone that you love that you knew that passed away. But it's also very beautiful because we don't often get the opportunities to to reflect on people who passed away. We tried to shy away from the conversation, and this gives us the opportunity to remember them and to talk about them,” said Avila

Patsy Hicks is no stranger to grief.

She explains that remembering all the things she adores about her loved ones who have passed and reflecting on past memories makes her feel as though she is bringing those people back to life.

“it's almost like conjuring that person to come back. And we feel that sense that this world and the next world are together, that there's that sense that we're not we're not without them,” said Santa Barbara Museum of Art Director of Education Patsy Hicks.

A major way that many Mexican families connect with their lost loved ones is by assembling altars in their honor.

The art museum featured a wide variety of altars that students and community members created and offered visitors the opportunity to create Day of the Dead inspired artwork.

Some visitors like Karina Amaro and her daughter arrived to the festivities in sugar skull makeup.

“We’re just making art for Dia de los Muertos and continuing culture,” said Amaro.

Through the interactive art stations, many kids were able to understand that death is part of the circle of life.