Día de Muertos (Texas Country Reporter)

Meet a couple who makes colorful and vibrant art, taken from ancient family traditions in Mexico.

Patricia Castillo
Bulverde, TX
Phone: 210-748-5028
https://squareup.com/store/PatriciaCastillo

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Video Script:: 

[Music] it's cultural between the Toltecs Olmecs and Aztecs there was a combination of cultures that brought together what today we call an ofrenda for the other martyrs to celebrate our loved ones as a cold autumn wind blows through the Texas Hill Country a trail of marigold blooms fights to stay in careful arrangement this path of petals winds its way down the sidewalk up the steps and into the home of pati Castillo where the warmth of candles and the smell of incense and hot chocolate greet you these cherished objects make up an altar for a cherished person we build the altar for my father Alfonso Castillo who passed away 10 years ago in the altar we put items that are his favorite things that he enjoyed when he was alive we paid chocolate sweet bread cold conscience and we decorate it with artwork that is part of his legacy throughout parts of the US and Mexico families fill ofrendas with art and photos and food to celebrate the Mexican holiday dia de Muertos or Day of the Dead legend says that the scent of marigolds leaves ancestral spirits back to our world where they spend time near their loved ones and for Patty and her husband Paul love is what this tradition is all about when Patty and I are first dating and we barely speak each other's language and she says well I need to tell you something don't be afraid but we paint dead people and I thought well this is gonna be an interesting summer because I didn't know just what she meant I was trying to tell her we paint clay sculptures that their skeleton skeleton day if the dead is much more than a holiday in Patty's family it's a way of life for more than five generations the Castillo's have been known as fine folk artists whose work has spread from webelo Mexico to museums all over the world now Patty and Paul continue that tradition in Bulverde Texas where their clay creations help other people celebrate the culture they love so much is it important to you to continue to explain your culture to other people through your art it is important because some some people they don't understand our culture and when they see the skulls they get afraid but once did they get to know the meaning take it enjoy the meaning of the pieces behind the sculpture did you realize you were in art school no I didn't know what was happening I just thought I was there dating my girlfriend having a good time and next thing you know her father walks in and says come here we're gonna show you how to make a big piece and so he lays it out on the table and he shows me how to make all the pieces for it and then start to build it right there and that was the beginning of where we are now [Music] the ceramic art they make together tell stories passed down for centuries from the dance of the deer to skulls with butterflies to a traditional Tree of Life their pieces are rooted deep in Mexican folklore a tree of life that represents the culture in Mexico with different folk art dances so my parents they start getting ideas adding new designs new pieces new colors with every clay form and brushstroke Patty and Paul honor those who've come before us they're bright colorful creations are as vivid as your favorite memory of a loved one and as patty Castillo thinks about the generations that inspired her she hopes to share the joy she feels every time their memory comes wandering home I want to transmit in each piece for someone to take it home and when they see it have that joy when they see the piece I love doing this because I like painting I like the colors I like taking a small piece of clay making something with it it's also because my father he passed away 10 years ago and it isn't a way to honor him seeing and working with her hands it's a tradition that we want to continue it to him [Music] you