Everything to See & Do at 40 West Arts Día de los Muertos Celebration!
40 West Arts is proud to be bringing back its second year celebrating the traditional Mexican holiday of Día de los Muertos. As home to Pirate: Contemporary Art Gallery, who has hosted the event for 30+ years, we’re thrilled to bring this special tradition to our arts district.
See everything happening below, view a map, and mark your calendars!
1. See Fire Spinners Light Up The Night Sky
Fire Spinners light up the night sky at the 2018 Art Crawl. | Photo by 40 West Arts District
Elemental Enchanters will be spinning fire in the district along our iconic Story Totems on the 40 West ArtLine. They will also be joined by LED dancers who will dance the winter night away!
2. Enjoy A Tradition Dance by Azteca Dance Grupo Huitzilopochtli
Azteca Dance Grupo Huitzilopochtli kicks off evening festivities at the 2018 Art Crawl | Photo by 40 West Arts District
“Azteca Arts Colorado is a collaboration of artists with roots in the indigenous cultures of North America, particularly Mexico. Our collective goal is to promote the awareness and advancement of our people's beautiful heritage. We promote the preservation of our culture through educational, economical, spiritual and nutritional growth, utilizing the arts to achieve these goals. Through the use of dance, music, storytelling, and ceremony we endeavor to create beauty. We invite you to come and participate. We are a non-profit organization networking with other art groups and councils locally, nationally and internationally for over 40 years.” - Azteca Dance.
Performance starts just after 6:00pm behind Pirate: Contemporary Art.
3. You’re the Canvas! Get your face painted in the District!
Face Painting at the 2018 New Orleans Street Party | Photo by 40 West Arts
Stop by Lakewood Arts for face painting! Enjoy a winter night out and celebrate the up and coming change of the seasons with decorative snowflakes, penguins, or whatever inspires your creativity - right on the canvas that is your face. For the young and the young at heart.
4. Break Out The Halloween Costume One More Time and Trick-Or-Treat (Again!)
A candle light procession starting from Pirate: Contemporary Arts. | Photo by 40 West Arts
Finish up Halloween Celebrations and dress up in that costume once again for trick-or-treating at Liquid Metal Coatings Candy Station, TH!S Design and 40 West Studios!
5. Eat Your Heart Out At Our Food Trucks!
An Altar from Food Vendors at the 2018 Art Crawl | Photo by 40 West Arts.
Richie’s on the Run will be serving up warm bites outside the 40 West Gallery and Mexican Street Grill will be stationed outside of WestFax Brewing. Enjoy a meal and stay warm as your pass between all of our art spaces! Light bites and drinks will also be available at most of our gallery locations.
6. Get Your Tarot Cards Read
Example of Tarot Card Reading | Photo by Alina Vilchenko from Pexels
In 40 West Arts tradition, Lakewood Arts will have live Tarot Card readings available throughout the evening. Tarot Card readings date back as far as the 14th century and have been re-created and re-learned in many forms. 40 West Arts District is home to several tarot card readers. Learn more on the history of this tradition here.
7. Make & Take Your Own Art At Live Demo Sessions
Painted Skull from at altar at the 2018 Art Crawl. | Photo by 40 West Arts
Visit Liquid Metal Coatings for a live demonstrations on etching techniques, metal patinas, and the texture process, and stop by the 40 West Studios to explore 16 active artist creative spaces to learn more about their work and process!
8. Craft & Laugh at DIY Project Stations
Join TH!S Design for screen printing, stickers, and a sublimation station, and visit Lakewood Arts for mask making in the style of a traditional Catrina figure - an important figure in Mexican culture. It is believed that the Aztecs worshipped a goddess of death that protected their departed loved ones, helping them into the next stages. Learn more about la Catrina and her importance here. 40 West Gallery & NEXT Gallery will also have sugar skull painting and more!
9. View Gallery Exhibitions & Opening Receptions
Stop by Pirate: Contemporary Art to see community made Día de los Muertos altars in all of their beauty, crack open a piñata, and partake in a candle light processional celebrating the first day of Día de los Muertos - Día de Muertos Chiquitos--The Day of the Little Dead, also All Saints Day.
Or, check out Pasternack’s Art Hub to visit NEXT, Core New Art Space, Kanon Collective, and EDGE Gallery as they celebrate and share work from their Nightmare on Colfax Halloween Party!
(Seriously… there’s so much we actually couldn’t put it all here… thank goodness you can find the complete list right here, too.)
Stop by for a drink (on us!), some light bites, and one of 40 West Art’s biggest celebrations of creativity happening this year. We can’t wait to see you!
Parking is available on streets throughout the district or at Lamar Station Plaza. Visitors may park in the spaces marked as ‘private’ at the 1560 Teller st. building complex.
Please, do not park at or block spaces at the CrossFit Lakewood Gym at 7175 W. 16th Ave.
Kick off your evening at 40 West Art’s Gallery at 1560 Teller St. to pick up a map and work your way around! All locations open 6pm-9pm or later. We’ll see you there!
