La Calavera Catrina
Come visit the Garden's upcoming exhibit, June 25th - November 9th
Coming to the Garden this Summer!
Experience the rich history and iconography of La Catrina through colorful and joyful large-scale skeleton sculptures throughout Columbus Botanical Garden. Discover nine eight-foot-tall sculptures created by Los Angeles-based artist Ricardo Soltero sited throughout the living galleries of the gardens. Organized by Denver Botanic Gardens, the exhibition is on view from June through November and is included with general admission.
EVENTS
Members Only - First Harvest!
June 25th, 6:30pm-8:30pm
This Member's Only event is an opportunity to celebrate the summer bounty from CBG's vegetable garden, learn how the garden helps fight local food insecurity, visit with master gardeners, and get a taste of the Garden's produce. First Harvest guests will also get an exclusive preview of La Calavera Catrina before it opens to the public.
Please register by June 22nd at the link below.
Catrinas After Dark
September 3rd, September 10th, September 17th
Catrina After Dark is an immersive evening experience set among the illuminated La Calavera Catrina sculptures. As the sun sets, the garden transforms with candlelight, lanterns, soft music, and glowing pathways that highlight the beauty and symbolism of the exhibit.
FREE for Members!
About La Calavera Catrina
La Catrina appears as part of the celebrations of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) held throughout Mexico, where death is not treated with mournful commemoration but as a colorful celebration of life. It is believed the souls of the deceased return from October 31 through November 2 to enjoy the pleasures of life. Families create altars with photographs of the departed along with offerings including candles, incense, marigolds, and bread baked in the shape of skulls. La Calavera Catrina exhibition is one of the ways Columbus Botanical Garden observes this important cultural tradition.
Depicted as an elegant female skeleton, La Catrina was originally born out of Mexican social satire. In 1913, Mexican artist and illustrator José Guadalupe Posada created the very first version of La Catrina. She was intended as a parody, mocking the high-society European obsessions of Mexican
president Porfirio Díaz, whose corruption led to the Mexican Revolution of 1911. La Catrina remains a light-hearted and well-loved part of Mexican culture. Visitors to this exhibition will explore popular La Catrina iconography including Frida Kahlo, Mexican actress Maria Felix, Mictēcacihuātl, the Aztec queen of the underworld, and more. Signage accompanying the sculptures explains the history and context of La Catrina iconography in both Spanish and English.
About the Artist
Born in Nayarit, Mexico, Ricardo Soltero is the set designer for the largest Día de los
Muertos celebration in the United States, which takes place annually at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles. Both a sculptor and a costume designer, Soltero’s projects include works and design for Semblanza Latinoamericana dance and music festival, Metropolitan Fashion Week, UNICEF’s annual gala and the Autry Museum in Los Angeles, CA.
Header photo credit:
Ricardo Soltero, La vendedora de frutas, fiberglass and paint, 2017. Artwork by Ricardo Soltero.
Photo © Scott Dressel-Martin.
La Calavera Catrina is organized by Denver Botanic Gardens.
Slider photo credit:
Photo 1: Ricardo Soltero, La vendedora de frutas, fiberglass and paint, 2017.
Photo 2: Ricardo Soltero, Lady Mictlán, fiberglass and paint, 2017.
Photo 3: Ricardo Soltero, La Catrina vestida de mariposas, fiberglass and paint, 2017.
Artworks by Ricardo Soltero. Photos © Scott Dressel- Martin. La Calavera Catrina is organized by Denver Botanic Gardens.