Sausalito Center for the Arts’ Vibrant Día de los Muertos Celebration

Sausalito Center for the ArtsMilagros & Memories: Celebration of Día de los Muertos on Oct. 26 was an unforgettable evening melding tradition and festivity in a colorful setting of art, dance, music, food and drink. The spirited event also served as a fundraiser for the burgeoning arts center, which officially opened in 2022 with a mission to “enrich the cultural experience of Marin and unite our community through diverse artistic expression for the benefit of all.” 

A lively, artistic crowd 

A man wearing a red fedora holds a deck of cards for a few gusts standing around a table.
Two men stand outside behind a table with candles, drink glasses and drink mixers.
A group of six people adorned for Dia de los Muertos stand around a cocktail table with plates of food and drinks.
A woman wearing a black dress and black choker necklace stands with a man wearing a T-shirt, overcoat and hat.
A man poses with his hands behind his back and wears a skeleton-like costume.
A woman wearing white angel wings and a white halo stands with a mean wearing a black graphic T-shirt and a fedora.
A woman wearing a black long sleeve dress and an a marigold headpiece leans against a wall with art on it.
Middle - Master magician Jay Alexander - Louis Briones
3 - Louis Briones and Scott Jampol
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2 - Shiva Pakel and Calixto Robles
Sausalito Mayor Ian Sobieski
L - Nicholas Sammartino R-Vanya Akraboff - Louis Briones (1)
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Led by master magician Jay Alexander who served as master of ceremonies, 200 guests enjoyed energetic cultural performances by the Aztec Dance Group, Mariachi Nueva Esperanza and a guitar trio, as well as delicious bites from Jack Sherwood. 

Guests also perused the Milagros & Memories art exhibit featuring works by Bay Area Mexican American and Latino artists, including Juan Fuentes, Calixto Robles and Sol Navarrete. The exhibit reflects a dynamic culture which blends Mexican, Latin and Indigenous influences with a fresh, modern perspective. 

Fostering appreciation for contemporary Latino art

A cultural dance group performs outside on concrete that has a painted compass.
A woman dressed for Dia de los Muertos and with her face painted holds a bouquet of marigolds next to a painting of a skeleton wearing a sombrero in a field of marigolds.
A woman with Dia de los Muertos facepaint and hair piece paints a man's face with the same design as her own.
A mariachi band poses with their instruments in hand with a building and some trees in the background.
Three men playing guitar and handheld keyboard perform on a small stage.
Milagros24 17 - Louis Briones
1 - Sol Navarrete (1)
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“Our Día de los Muertos celebration was a tapestry of culture and joy,” said Louis Briones, Board of Trustees, Sausalito Center For The Arts’ board of trustees member. “As the night came alive with traditional music and dancers, we honored our ancestors while embracing the vibrancy of the present. Surrounded by stunning art, savoring delectable cuisine and raising our glasses in unity, we created memories that will linger long after the last marigold petal has fallen.” 

Funds raised from ticket sales, sponsorships, a live auction and fund-a-need will help the nonprofit make updates to its interior and exterior spaces. For more info on Sausalito Center for the Arts, please visit sausalitocenterforthearts.org

Photos: Stuart Bass


Donna Glass

A freelance writer in Marin who writes about family, kids and parenting, Glass is the mother to one son, one dog and a hamster named Miss Geri. When she’s not writing, trekking up steep hills in Marin or driving her kid to sports practice, she and her family spend time in their tiny cabin in Lake Tahoe. She avidly supports the California Academy of Sciences, a world class science museum and research institution, and the Institute on Aging which provides much needed services to Bay Area seniors and disabled adults. Glass is obsessed with baking the perfect loaf of banana bread, something she makes so often she no longer needs to look at a recipe card.

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