Abby Hoover
Managing Editor

Sala de Arte hosted a Dia de los Muertos celebration at the Ninth and Van Brunt soccer fields, complete with vendors and artists, tamales, mariachi, folkloric dancing, a soccer game and parade on Saturday, October 30.

Sala de Arte opened earlier this year at Ninth and Van Brunt, a one-of-a-kind place for neighborhood artists of all varieties to display their art. Owner Phyllis Hernandez, a resident of Northeast, serves on the Guadalupe school board, is a Senior library technical assistant at the North-East branch of the Kansas City public library, and was recently appointed to Kansas City’s NTDF board.

The Guadalupe Centers Middle School Mariachi Band performed for an audience at the outdoor amphitheatre in the park.

“This is a vision that we’ve had, to always have a mariachi band, but there’s always been challenges and obstacles in the way,” Guadalupe Principal Claudia Meyer said. “Our new music teacher, Mr. [Chase] Shumsky, is amazing, the best music teacher in the whole Kansas City area. I pitched the idea and he just took off with it.”

The students are already showing their dedication to the new program, Meyer said, adding that she’s excited to see how they progress by the end of the year, and beyond.

“They’ve only been in the for six weeks, but it’s just an amazing feeling to see this come to fruition because it’s such a huge part of our culture and to see the generations come and appreciate it,” Meyer said. “A mom said today, ‘My grandma would love to see this,’ and I know how much emotion is behind that.”

Being out in the community, sharing their culture, is an amazing experience for them, Meyer said.

“For us, it’s not about neighborhoods, it’s about community and it’s about making sure that we are all taking care of one another and making sure that we are promoting and supporting diversity and celebrating our differences,” Meyer said. “And then just making sure that culture is something that stays alive and – especially in celebrating Dia de los Muertos – and sharing a piece of our culture with everyone.”

Art Garden KC’s Margarita Friedman and others built an ofrenda, or altar, inside the gallery to honor loved ones who have died. The colorful display, complete with candles, flowers, and hand painted portraits was a tribute to those who paved the way for the artists.