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Sunday Speaker Series: Altar Exhibit Reception
November 10, 2019 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
The community-built altar exhibit at the Museum of South Texas History will be featured during “Día de los Muertos: Altar Exhibit Reception.” Families and organizations constructed altars to honor and celebrate the deceased with ofrendas, photographs and memories.
The centerpiece of the gallery is the Mystery Altar, which features vintage photographs of unidentified people from the Margaret H. McAllen Memorial Archives photograph collection. The altar honors the nameless and carries with it a preservation message about the importance of documenting family photographs.
An additional centerpiece altar is located in the museum’s Grand Lobby, under the stairway. Constructed by Elizabeth Puentes and her Edinburg CISD Longoria Middle School art students, the altar honors the legendary Rogelio Botello Rios, radio and television personality who passed away in 2017. Botello Rios served in radio and TV broadcasting for 48 years, including as host of the popular music variety show, “Aquí Rogelio.” Jorge Botello, Rogelio’s son, will say a few words and present the message behind building the altar and his father’s legacy.
To complete the experience of Día de los Muertos traditions, Dr. Edna Ochoa’s UTRGV students will present original Spanish-language “calaveras literarias,” which are traditional Mexican compositions in verse. Ochoa is an associate professor in the Department of Literatures and Cultural Studies at the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley.
Sunday Speaker Series is included in the fee for regular museum admission. FRIENDS of MOSTHistory are admitted free as a benefit of FRIENDship and must present their FRIENDship card at the Admissions Desk.
This program is made possible with generous support from the Carmen C. Guerra Endowment. Mrs. Guerra was deeply committed to supporting educational opportunities in the Rio Grande Valley. This named endowment was created at the museum by her family to honor her memory and to continue her commitment to providing opportunities for education to the community.