Community Memorial Altar Returns to Paradise Found
Local artist and woodworker, Rebecca Zendejas will be creating another Community Memorial Altar at Paradise Found this year, inspired by the celebrations of Samhain and Dias de los Muertos.
"Now you dwell inside the rhythm of breath, as close to us as we are to ourselves.
Though we cannot see you with outward eyes, we know our soul’s gaze is upon your face, smiling back at us from within everything...
~John O'Donohue, To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Invocations and Blessings
We are so grateful to Rebecca for once again creating a beautiful Samhaim/Dia de los Muertos altar at Paradise Found.
Join us in the last week of October and commemorate your loved ones who are in spirit form.
Local artist Rebecca Zendejas has had a lifelong fascination with places of worship and the ways deceased loved ones are remembered and celebrated. As an art student at UCSB, Rebecca expressed her profound curiosity of global celebrations of life & death with photography, sculpture and art installation. After becoming familiar with the practices and beliefs of several cultures, her focus returned to her own heritage: a blend of Western European and Mexican traditions.
Having experienced the death of eight loved ones by the age of 30, the celebration of Días de los Muertos became an essential step towards processing and healing years of accumulated grief and sorrow. As more loved ones passed away, she realized that she wanted to celebrate those that she loved and missed more than once a year.
Although she could have easily framed photos of those individuals to display them on a wall, being able to surround an image of a loved one with flowers and mementos on their birthdays and death anniversaries, allowed the sorrow of loss to gently transform into the joy of appreciation. The altar became the focal point in her home office to celebrate many throughout the year.
About four years ago, Rebecca began to make and offer these one of a kind personal altars for purchase. Made from up-cycled materials with mindful, loving attention to detail, she calls each altar a zendohous--a place to remember loved ones in a unique and personal way. Zendo translates as ‘a place of practice’. The name zendohous is a nod to the practice of meditation and the tradition of spirit houses in various cultures.
You can also join Rebecca for a special altar-making workshop organized by the Crafter's Library
WHERE: At the Crafters Library, 9 East Figueroa Street
WHEN: Friday 10/29 from 6-8pm.
Cost of class + materials is 65.00 | Pre-registration required, click here to reserve your seat.
