La Ceiba: The Sacred Tree of Life Art Exhibition

In La Ceiba: The Sacred Tree of Life Art Exhibition, paintings and photographs in the exhibit reflect a diversity of artists in the North Texas region. Their approach examines one or all aspects of death, life, and rebirth. While not prevalent in today’s over stimulated popular culture, the mythology of the Maya is transformed into a sublime visual language. Paintings, photographs and relief works include innovative techniques to introspective narratives.

Centering the exhibition, The Banquet is a site-specific work transforming the Art Deco main hall of the Crown Hill Mausoleum into a dramatic space celebrating life by artist Art Garcia.

Influenced by both, Maya mythology the Ceiba tree (a link to the worlds underground, earthly existence, and heavens) and Día de los Muertos from a blend of Christian and Mayan (with alters and ofrendas to loved ones), The Banquet offers a glimpse into spiritual worlds, through offerings at the dinner table.

Expanding on the traditional offering at the altar, the installation sets a banquet. It becomes a heavenly gathering, honoring 21 distinct lives, people who are buried in Crown Hill Memorial Park and Mausoleum, a cemetery in Dallas, Texas and the site of the installation.

The Dinner Party by Judy Chicago honored the lives and accomplishments of women at a time when women were often omitted from history and conversation-remembered, if at all, only as secondary characters. The Banquet celebrates the lives of people who may have lived quiet lives, who may be all but forgotten today, who the viewer may not know but will recognize as distinct lives from the displays at each place setting.

Grand Opening Celebración:
Saturday, October 19
The Banquet by Art Garcia
La Ceiba: The Sacred Tree of Life Arts Exhibition
Installation and Art on view 5–8pm
Performance by Carolina Imperial at 6pm
Free admission

The Banquet and La Ceiba: The Sacred Tree of Life Art Exhibition will also be on view on the following days:
Sunday, October 20, 1–4pm
Saturday, October 26, 1–4pm
Sunday, October 27, 1–4pm
Saturday, November 2, installation and art on view 10am–8pm during the Día de los Muertos celebration
Sunday, November 3, 1–4pm

Find more family fun events every day of the week at dfwchild.com/calendar.