Hartford – This Sunday, the Wadsworth Athenaeum will become the centerpiece of the city’s free Día de Muertos celebration. Artist and speech‑language pathologist Helena Martinez, who founded the event four years ago on Pratt Street, has expanded the gathering into a multi‑part installation titled “Todavía Aquí” (“Still Here”). The exhibit, which runs through Nov. 8 in the museum’s post‑war and contemporary galleries, includes a towering 11‑foot arch draped in paper marigolds, electric tea lights, beeswax skulls and a tiny skeletal dog that greets visitors.
Family‑Focused Ofrenda Honors Loved Ones
At the heart of the display is an ofrenda – a memorial altar – that Martinez has built with members of the greater Hartford community. The altar holds photographs of her older sister Charlie Gonzalez, who died as a high‑school senior, her aunt Mary Ann Rosa, and her niece Celestia Summer Gonzalez, who passed away at two months old in 2016. A heart‑shaped frame encases Celestia’s portrait, flanked by lacquered wooden animals and a red toy car, symbolizing the family’s enduring love.
“For me, Día de Muertos is not just a chance to honor our loved ones who have passed, it’s also a chance to celebrate the joys in life,” Martinez said Thursday, standing beside the glowing altar. Her words echo the holiday’s blend of remembrance and gratitude, a theme that resonates deeply with Hartford’s diverse families.
Live Music, Food and Community Connection
The celebration will feature live mariachi from Mariachi Tercera Generación, free Mexican hot chocolate served by Evelyn Ruiz’s Hartford‑based coffee truck Hasta Luego Friend, and fresh pan de muerto from Guadalupana Bakery in Brooklyn for the first 100 attendees. Long‑time collaborators from the Brooklyn shop Mexico In My Pocket will provide hand‑painted skeletons and clay skulls, adding authentic Mexican craftsmanship to the event.
Mayor Zoe Baker’s “Mayor’s Day Out” program has partnered with the Wadsworth and Martinez’s cultural organization Helena’s Casita to bring the celebration to a broader audience, emphasizing the city’s commitment to cultural heritage and family values.
Historical Roots and Modern Meaning
Día de Muertos traces its origins to pre‑colonial Aztec rituals – Miccailhuitontli and Hueymiccailhuitl – which honored children and adults who had died. The use of bright orange cempasúchil (marigolds) began during those early ceremonies; today, families still believe the flowers guide spirits back to the world of the living.
Over centuries, the holiday blended Indigenous customs with Catholic traditions introduced by Spanish colonizers, evolving into the vibrant celebration observed today. Families typically set out photographs, favorite foods and drinks of the departed, along with pan de muerto, fruit, and copal incense.
Community Impact and Future Growth
Martinez’s grassroots effort began in 2022 on Hartford’s Pratt Street, drawing dozens of neighbors during a pandemic‑era lull in the arts. By 2024, the event attracted hundreds, prompting a move to the Wadsworth in 2025. AJ Martinez, community‑engagement coordinator at the museum, recalls the early days: “She was like, ‘We’re here and we’re going to celebrate.’ It was beautiful and powerful.”
As the celebration returns to the museum, organizers hope it will continue to provide a space for families to grieve, remember and rejoice together, reinforcing the city’s rich cultural tapestry and the timeless importance of honoring both life and loss.
Original reporting: The Connecticut Mirror — read the source article.
