Day of the Dead Outdoor Exhibit at Center for the Arts

Marco Island Center for the Arts invites the public to view the new outdoor installation of the grass walls celebrating “Día de los Muertos - Day of the Dead.” The artwork that decorates the walls was created by the students at the Marco Island Charter Middle School (MICMS) under the direction of Art Teacher Gigi Garraty. This yearly ritual has become a cultural tradition since MICMS had its first Day of the Dead exhibition in 2019 at the Art Center. 

Art students from MICMS have spent time exploring the history, customs, and distinctive artistic tradition of Díade los Muertos. It combines the ancient Aztec custom of celebrating ancestors with All Souls’ Day, a holiday that Spanish conquistadores brought to Mexico starting in the early 1500s. The holiday is also a time when family and friends remember their deceased loved ones.  

“These young artists learned how to create their own version of a sugar skull or calaveras de azúcar,” said Hyla Crane, Executive Director for the Marco Island Center for the Arts. “These skulls are typically given as gifts or placed on altars as offerings to those who have passed away. They are not meant to be morbid or scary. Instead, the students’ grinning designs may remind us to embrace life and cherish our connections to family.” 

“The art students at Marco Island Charter Middle School are so pleased to have their projects on display for their community at the Marco Island Center for the Arts,” said Garraty.“Making these traditional plaster-cast sugar skull masks from scratch was so much fun! Our school is grateful for the strong partnership we have with the Marco Island Center for the Arts, and we look forward to future collaborations. My students have had a lot of fun learning about Dia de los Muertos and the traditional art made during this time of the year. They have all made me incredibly proud with their efforts to create beautiful artworks that are representative of these traditions!” 

The exhibit at the Marco Island Center for the Arts is part of the Collier County ¡Arte Viva! program which began in September 2022, with local organizations participating in the celebration of the Hispanic culture by enjoying music, art exhibitions, dance performances and films. The Hispanic population in Collier County is a very significant demographic group and at the latest census, approximately 30% of the population identifies as Hispanic or Latino. 

The Art Center Day of the Dead Grass Wall exhibit will be on display from October 13 – November 14, 2025, in the Art Center’s courtyard. The outdoor exhibit is a great location to experience a traditional Day of the Dead wall display, and the indoor exhibit also has an entire section dedicated to celebrating Hispanic and Latin Culture with AI-enhanced photographs of Frida Kahlo, Mayan Ruins, and a Havana Street scene.