Halloween is my son's favorite time of year. He's only 4, but he delights in the spooky and fun spirit of all things ghoulish – the dancing skeletons, the idea of ghosts walking the earth for one gleeful night. He's none too pleased when the jack-o-lantern rots, the candy is gone and the Thanksgiving decorations come out. Thanks to Tacoma Art Museum's exhibit, "Folk Treasures of Mexico," we can visit the museum and get a taste of Halloween-like magic and ritual from artists who believed deeply in the afterlife, that La Muerte no es el Fin, death is not the end.
The collection of "Folk Treasures of Mexico" is 99 percent that of Nelson Rockefeller, who, over a 40-year love affair with Mexico, collected 3,000 pieces of Mexican folk art between the years of 1933 and 1978. Nearly all, 2,800 pieces, went to the San Antonio Museum of Art. Those who visit the Tacoma Art Museum will view approximately 80 of these pieces, some of which have never been displayed outside of San Antonio. There's a stunning saddle made in 1922 of hand-tooled leather, sterling silver and polished bone, which was purchased by Rockefeller on his honeymoon in 1933. One look at this piece sends the imagination on a gallop across a dusty Mexican plaza, matching hand-tooled scabbard in hand. The intricacy is amazing. Even more intricate is a portrait made of miniscule pieces of straw and dead grasses in subtle variations of color, pressed together in a mosaic – you have to look up close to get to the true story of how the piece was created.
I found that to be an underlying theme of the exhibit: Look closely to experience the spirit and dedication behind the pieces. Each piece has its own intention; in fact the exhibit is broken up into three colors of display: blue for utilitarian pieces (like the saddle), red for religious and ritual (my favorite – the Milagros, the shrines, etc.) and green for recreational or decorative, like the beautiful painted bowls made as souvenirs. These certainly don't look like the plastic palm tree key chains you bring back from Miami.
Speaking of souvenirs, be sure to get your family photo taken before a traditional backdrop. The exhibit includes a backdrop of the Basilica of Guadalupe. Visitors to the actual site of the Basilica would stand in front of such a backdrop as a remembrance of their visit to a sacred place.
You and your little one will gaze in wonder at the incredible variation in scale alone at this exhibit. A custom glass case, etched with Rockefeller's initials, N.A.R., protects a collection of baked clay miniatures, amazing in their detail. In contrast, around the corner, gaze up at the larger-than-life devil "Judas" figures on the wall, surrounded by smaller, hanging devils lit by lights that cast eerie shadows as imagined by the artist David Linares during a fever. These images are challenging and may sound too scary for children, but as they are created in the spirit of "mocking death," showing that death is just part of the cycle of life, there is an innocence and comedy about the pieces that makes them fun, not frightening.
Related programming features a number of family friendly events like "Tin Corazon," a family workshop on Nov. 19, during which you and your little artists can get hands-on while learning about the centuries-old tradition of decorative tin. If you'd rather sit back and travel in your mind to Mexico, visit the museum on Jan. 7 to hear Trio Lucero del Norte, who play in the lively zapateado style, incorporating violins, guitars, singing, etc. Throughout the exhibit, you can visit the museum's website and download a template for a papel picado, which is paper cut into fun designs. Decorate it, bring it when you visit, and your papel picado will become part of the exhibit! You can even make a design of your own!
"Folk Treasures of Mexico" appeals to the hearts, souls and imaginations of all ages and is particularly appropriate as the museum is in its seventh year of hosting the city's free community festival, Dia de los Muertos, which has grown exponentially in size over the years. The festival gives visitors a chance to enjoy Latin art and culture through art, dance, face-painting and more – all that in addition to free admission to the museum throughout the day.
My son and I make our trips to the Tacoma Art Museum an extra adventure by parking in the Tacoma Dome Station parking garage at 610 Puyallup Ave. East (free) and catching, just outside, the Tacoma Link Light Rail (also free), which runs about every ten minutes on weekdays, and has a stop not far from the front of the museum. The Chihuly Bridge of Glass is nearby, too, making for one fun and cultural day full of eye candy and brain food for both of us.
And eye candy is so much better for my little guy than all that Halloween candy.
IF YOU GO
Where: Tacoma Art Museum, 1701 Pacific Ave., Tacoma.
When: “Folk Treasures of Mexico” runs from Oct. 29 through Feb. 19, 2012. Hours: closed Monday and Tuesday; open Wednesday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Third Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. with free admission from 5 to 8 p.m.
Cost: Adults $10; military, seniors (65 and older) and children and youth (5 to 18 years) $8; children five and under are free. The third Thursday of every month is free from 5 to 8 p.m.
Contact: 253-272-4258; www.TacomaArtMuseum.org.
