October 13 2025 – November 16

Wednesday-Sunday Hrs: 12:00pm – 9:00pm

Niña Blanca

Every year artist Alejandro IV Barragan creates displays and installations inspired by the traditional Mexican celebration of the Day of the dead. His art project OregonMuertos.org is in its third year, However Alejandro started to collaborate with The Portland Center Stage in 2020 building these installations at the lobby during the Hispanic Heritage Month until Dia de Muertos.   This year “Niña Blanca” is a non-traditional altar with all the elements of a traditional one. Skeletons made traditionally of paper mache are much more than just fun sculptures, toys or candy.  They are very popular representations of a culture that goes back pre hispanic times. These concepts about death took shape during syncretism in the colonial years when Mexico as we know it today was born. The “white Child” is an endearment term that describes a modern representation of death in Mexico. This name in particular was born in the middle of the past century. In 1940 the first documented information of la Santa Muerte became known in central Mexico. This is just one representation of death in modern Mexican culture. A reflection of the complexity and cultural diversity that Mexico has to offer.   This installation is just a reminder of the different faces of the last door we call life. There is only one end to our mortality. A reminder of the “now is the time to celebrate the beauty of life here”, and thank and honor those who help us to create the memories of who we are today.

Artist Palma Corral, has been a supporter and collaborator of the project since 2023. This year she created a representation of “La Santa Muerte for this exhibit.
Special thanks to our artists volunteers for all their hard work during the preparation of this year’s project. Shawntel Ivey, Jon Henderson,
and Nadine Gray.