Day of the Dead exhibit at Chicago museum

The annual Day of the Dead exhibit at the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago once again shines the spotlight on the fleetingness of life -- and the lasting legacy ordinary people can leave behind.

The lives of about two dozen men and women, including a young father who died of cancer, a community activist who rallied for women's empowerment and a cheerful grandmother who imparted wisdom, are displayed on altars, or "ofrendas," through photographs and personal objects such as shoes, clothing, books, CDs, toys and more.

Set up by friends and relatives, many include the traditional elements of Mexican ofrendas -- candles and yellow marigolds, or "cempasuchils," whose light and smell are supposed to attract the souls of the dead.

One of the ofrendas is dedicated to Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, a 17th-century Mexican woman who chose to become a nun rather than being beholden to a man. She is considered by many to be the first feminist of Mexico.

Another is dedicated to Clay Morrison, an artist and sculptor who organized Chicago's first Day of the Dead exhibit at an art gallery in 1981. He died earlier this year.

Among the most poignant is an ofrenda titled "The 32 Fallen Stars," dedicated to Chicago Public Schools students killed by street violence during the 2006-07 school year.

The museum's exhibit is "the next best thing" to observing this centuries-old Mexican tradition in someone's house, said exhibit curator Oscar Sanchez.

"There is no real food and you can't smell the flowers, or the copal (incense), or the candles," he said. "But this is as close as you can get to that."

Sanchez said he wanted to mix traditional and contemporary ofrendas based on aesthetic and educational criteria.

"They are all judged on artistic merits, but our goal is to educate the public about the Day of the Dead and its significance in Mexico," he said.

The exhibit runs until Dec. 16 and includes photographs and paintings by American and Mexican artists.

The festivity is celebrated in Mexico on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2 and blends indigenous beliefs with Catholic customs.

Day of the Dead (Dia de Los Muertos) exhibit

When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday; continues through Dec. 16

Where: National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th St., Chicago

Cost: Free

Info: (312) 738-1503 or nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org