'La Ruta de Nuestros Ancestros' / 'The Path of Our Ancestors' Exhibition
Sunday: 10 AM - 4 PM
Wednesday: 10 AM - 4 PM
Thursday: 10 AM - 4 PM
Friday: 10 AM - 4 PM
Saturday: 10 AM - 4 PM
About the Event
Interactive maze of artist-created ofrendas in the main gallery of the museum. Curated by South Bay San Diego artists Maricruz Alvarado and Nanzi Muro.
Reception: Sat. Oct. 17, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. features live music, performance, food and artist walk-throughs of the exhibit.
Evening events during the exhibition, include "Creatures of the Night" Market: Sat. Oct. 24, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and a closing reception on November 2.
About the exhibition:
The ‘Day of the Dead’ exhibition, titled “La Ruta de Nuestros Ancestros,” features a community artist collective showcasing mixed-media artworks inspired by the traditions and knowledge each artist holds about Día de los Muertos.
This exhibit encourages visitors to explore the importance of this Mexican tradition and promotes the celebration of life while honoring loved ones who have passed by keeping them alive in our hearts—family members and community members. The exhibition features a maze representing life’s journey and the roots left by our “ancestros’ for us to carry forward through generations. The core message is to remember those who have departed. Each artist’s artwork includes a brief explanation of their interpretation of Día de los Muertos.
In this community exhibition, we also acknowledge our Indigenous roots in Día de los Muertos and the ongoing ancestral wisdom that we aim to pass down within the Mexican community today. For many of us, the exhibition is not only about commemorating those who have passed but also about keeping their memory alive through ceremonies, offerings, food, plants, art, storytelling, and community gathering. For these reasons, we invite all San Diego residents to join us for this exhibition.
Furthermore, the artworks portray not only the sorrow of death but also the beauty of life, conveying messages of hope and peace and highlighting the significance of the centuries-old Mexican tradition of Día de los Muertos.
Path of Our Ancestors
The path our loved ones have laid out guides us back to them, and we celebrate and honor it each year with offerings and memories.
It is a path prepared to welcome them with flowers, lights, parties, music, food, conversations, and memories of happy moments.
The path is a gathering to feel their presence through each photo, each garment, each place, each hug, and each smile.
The path reminds us of life, love, and hope.
Our ancestors’ path is the thread that connects us to the hearts and memories of those who have gone before us, yet live in us forever.
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Bajo el título “La Ruta de Nuestros Ancestros”, esta exposición del Día de los Muertos reúne a diversos artistas comunitarios que presentan obras de técnica mixta, creadas a partir de sus propias vivencias, saberes y tradiciones en torno a esta festividad.
El propósito fundamental de la muestra es invitar al público a adentrarse en el significado profundo de esta tradición milenaria mexicana, celebrando la vida y rindiendo homenaje a nuestros seres queridos, familiares e integrantes de la comunidad que han fallecido. Como parte de la experiencia, la exhibición cuenta con un laberinto simbólico que refleja el recorrido vital y la herencia ancestral que trasciende de generación en generación. En su núcleo, la exposición transmite un mensaje central: honrar la memoria de quienes se han ido y mantenerlos presentes en el corazón, acompañando cada pieza con un breve texto explicativo.
Asimismo, el proyecto rescata la sabiduría de nuestras raíces indígenas y busca revitalizar este patrimonio cultural en el seno de la comunidad mexicana actual. Más allá de un homenaje a los difuntos, la iniciativa constituye una vivencia comunitaria que resguarda la memoria colectiva por medio de ofrendas, ritos, expresiones artísticas, muestras gastronómicas, botánica tradicional, narraciones e itinerarios compartidos. Por esta razón, se extiende una cordial invitación a toda la población de San Diego a sumarse y formar parte activa de esta muestra.
Por último, las obras logran equilibrar el dolor que acompaña al duelo con el florecimiento de la vida, ofreciendo reflexiones llenas de esperanza y paz que enaltecen el legado histórico del Día de los Muertos.
El camino de nuestros ancestros
El camino que trazaron nuestros seres queridos nos guía hacia ellos, y que celebramos y honramos con ofrendas y recuerdos cada año.
Es el camino que se prepara para recibirlos con flores, luces, fiestas, música, comida, pláticas y recuerdos de momentos felices.
El camino es un encuentro para sentir su presencia, viendo cada foto, cada prenda, cada lugar, cada abrazo y cada sonrisa.
El camino nos recuerda la vida, el amor y la esperanza.
El camino de nuestros ancestros es el hilo que nos une al corazón y a la memoria de quienes se nos adelantaron, pero que por siempre viven en nosotros.
Artist Group Info
Bonita Museum & Cultural Center
Bonita Museum & Cultural Center
The Bonita Museum & Cultural Center features exhibits of local history and fine arts. The Bonita Museum, established over 20 years ago as a one-day display of historic photographs, strives to preserve, for public education and enjoyment, the culture, history, art, crafts and aesthetic facets of the region, specifically El Rancho de la Naçion in South San Diego County. In the Audi Lawson Gallery, the various stories of Bonita’s 100-year history are told with artifacts and photographs. Displays include Native American culture, the lemon orchard period, the events of the flood of 1916, and the transformation of family life by technology. Presentations in The Corky McMillin Companies Gallery change six times each year, and include the Museum’s Annual Juried Fine Art Exhibit, Community Art Shows and traveling exhibits of art and history. The Museum also hosts various special events each year, including an annual Dia de Los Muertos celebration. The Bonita Museum & Cultural Center is located at 4355 Bonita Road in Bonita, adjacent to the Bonita Sunnyside Branch Library, and the hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For further information, contact Museum Director Julie Gay at (619) 267-5141.
