On a cloudy day last Friday where the sun periodically peeked out from the sky, artists were busy at La Villita preparing altars for Muertos Fest's contest. Completed altars were tightly wrapped in plastic and held together with strategically placed strips of tape.
It was a race to beat the rain, which would shut the festival down on Saturday. However, by Sunday afternoon the clouds parted the temperatures dropped and it finally felt like fall was in the air as San Antonio's first Dia de los Muertos celebration captured the city in La Villita.
This year's winners include Diana Arguellas, who took first place in the cash competition for her altar honoring her late great-grandmother Candelaria Zuñiga. Griselda Flores took the second place spot with a seven-leveled altar honoring actor and comedian Roberto Gómez Bolaños, a.k.a. Chespirito, who died in November 2014. In the student category, the Anne Frank Inspire Academy took top honor for an altar remembering grandparents. Lastly, Stevens High School Art Club won the popular vote in the public online competition by featuring "The Queen of Tejano Music," Selena.
However, there was no shortage of beautiful altars this year and it's wonderful that the event wasn't completely rained out so people could enjoy the hard work and thought all the participants put into their altars.
What follows is a selection of photographs of altars taken Friday afternoon before the weekend rain rolled through the Alamo City.
Honoring Selena
By: Stevens High School Art Club
Featuring a wooden dance floor with white roses formed from sheet music, framing a sequined Selena, the Stevens High School Art Club created an interactive altar serenaded by "The Queen of Tejano Music." The piece encourages onlookers to bust a move while celebrating Selena's life, memory and the joy she brought into the lives of millions.
