Dia De Los Muertos (Day of The Dead) is a traditional Mexican holiday which celebrates and honors the dead through colorful expression in art, costumes, music, food, dance & drink... an important annual event culminating in "una fiesta en el cematario" (a party in the cemetery).

Among the cultures of Mexico - where the tradition originated - this observance has ancient Aztec and Mesoamerican roots and is a national holiday. The Day of the Dead is also celebrated to a lesser extent in other Latin American countries; for example, it is a public holiday in Brazil -where many celebrate by visiting cemeteries and churches. This holiday is also observed in the Philippines. Observance of this ancient tradition has spread to Mexican-American communities in the United States as well. Similarly themed celebrations also appear in some Asian and African cultures.

Though the subject matter may be considered morbid from the perspective of mainstream Anglo-American culture, Latin celebrants typically approach the Day of the Dead joyfully. Though this festival occurs at the same time as Halloween, All Saints' Day, and All Souls Day the traditional mood is much brighter in tone with an emphasis on celebrating and honoring the lives of the deceased together with celebrating the continuation of life in a different form or realm. The core belief is not that death is an absolute end and personal extinction but that death instead marks the beginning of a new stage of spiritual growth.

Curator Rick Castro will present this first-ever art exhibit featuring erotic interpretations of Dia De Los Muertos. Castro is reaching out beyond the Latino community, inviting artists of all backgrounds, nationalities and faiths to share their interpretations of this predominately Latin tradition.

It is Castro´s hope that by presenting Dia De Los Muertos, one of the few Latin traditions not completely veiled in religious dogma, and opening this tradition up to all nationalities, faiths and sexual persuasions the exhibit will begin to bridge gaps of alienation and fear regarding these mysterious core aspects of life - sexuality and death - which some religions have stigmatized, exploited, or viewed very differently for thousands of years.

Life, sexuality, death, and spirituality are all entwined in an erotic mutual embrace of celebration at? Antebellum Gallery's "Dia De Los Muertos~Erotica" exhibition. Please do join us!