Hispanic Heritage Month is a time of celebration and unity for many students at East. As the month kicks off, many organizations and establishments both locally and nationwide are doing all they can to recognize the Hispanic influence on the world we live in today. The National Museum of Mexican Art, located in the heart of Chicago, has made it their mission to inform on and appreciate Mexican art and culture.

Opened in 1987, the museum has been striving to promote an inclusive environment for 35 years. The museum kicked off this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month with a special Day of the Dead exhibit. Inside, you can expect to see photographs, artwork, traditional Day of the Dead altars, and more. Day of the Dead, a Mexican holiday celebrated on November 1 and 2, acknowledges and memorializes the inevitable fate all humans will eventually meet.

Common means of observing the holiday include making altars for deceased loved ones, which may include things such as their favorite foods and drinks, photos, and other memorabilia, singing and dancing, throwing parades and parties, and making offerings to the deceased. The exhibit focuses on bringing artists from both sides of the United States/Mexico border together to commemorate those who have passed on.

The special exhibit will be open to visitors until December 11. Entry is free. For more information, visit https://nationalmuseumofmexicanart.