30th Annual Day of the Dead Exhibit Opens in Pilsen & National Museum of Mexican Art Celebrating 'day of the Dead' with Annual Exhibition

CHICAGO (WLS) -- 

The 30th Annual Day of the Dead exhibit at the National Museum of Mexican Art in Pilsen opened Friday night.

The exhibit, "Journey of the Soul," showcases the roots and rituals involved in the spiritual tradition.

"Thirty years ago people didn't really know what Day of the Dead was. They thought was it Halloween, was it something scary, was it something ghoulish? Obviously, people now know that it's a beautiful celebration of life," said chief curator Cesaro Mareno.

The museum said more than 50 Mexican artists from both sides of the border make up this largest annual exhibition of Dead of the Dead in the U.S.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- 

The National Museum of Mexican Art in Pilsen is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with their 30th Annual Day of the Dead Exhibition.

Beautiful altars, ofrendas and installations are all on display.

The exhibit is titled "Journey of the Soul" and features 50 artists from Mexico and the United States. Chief Curator at the Museum of Mexican Art Cesareo Moreno says this year's exhibit is contemporary while keeping in touch with ancient traditions.

"Besides focusing on topical issues, current tragedies, deaths of recent celebrities and heroes in our communities, besides that a lot of the artwork is new. We've also brought out some of our older pieces, some of our collection that we've had for many, many years," he said.

One of the new ofrendas in the exhibit pays tribute to the victims of the Pulse Nightclub shooting. The artist says there is one specific message she wanted to be sure was not lost.

"Also to make sure that the Latino factor is not erased from this tragedy. That's why specifically the ofreda is organized this way. The flags that are present are actually from the Pulse site and it was important to be that the Mexican and Puerto Rican flags be prominent," said artist Wanda Raimundi-Ortiz.

"The respect for life, the respect for family, the respect for those who came before us. Remembering them and visiting them in our own ways whether that be at home or the cemetery and sharing their life stories with others I think is fundamental to this day," said Moreno.

If you want to see it for yourself the museum is free and the exhibit runs until December 11.

For more information, visit www.nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org.