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MEXICAN SKULLS & SKELETON ART: CATRIONA STATUES, CALAVERAS. MAZATLAN ART WALK, NIDART LEATHER MASKS.


calaveras de azúcar, MEXICAN SKULLS & SKELETON ART: CATRIONA STATUES, CALAVERAS. MAZATLAN ART WALK, NIDART LEATHER MASKS. DAY OF THE DEAD makeup, face paint, Día de Muertos art, goth mexico, DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, MEXICAN graveyard altars. BREAD OF THE DEAD, MAZATLAN MEXICO, SKELETON lady, catriona, la catrina, Mexico ritual honor dead, graveyards, altars, ofrendas, sugar skulls, cempasúchil, sugar skull art, La Calavera de la Catrina, skeleton woman art statues

Every sunny destination has a dark side. Case in point: I was in Mazatlan, Mexico for Day of the Dead.

The press trip included an Art Walk in the Historic District. Oh, the spooky art I encountered!

calaveras de azúcar, MEXICAN SKULLS & SKELETON ART: CATRIONA STATUES, CALAVERAS. MAZATLAN ART WALK, NIDART LEATHER MASKS. DAY OF THE DEAD makeup, face paint, Día de Muertos art, goth mexico, DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, MEXICAN graveyard altars. BREAD OF THE DEAD, MAZATLAN MEXICO, SKELETON lady, catriona, la catrina, Mexico ritual honor dead, graveyards, altars, ofrendas, sugar skulls, cempasúchil, sugar skull art, La Calavera de la Catrina, skeleton woman art statues

My favorite local gallery was Nidart, known for handmade leather masks. The curving forms and facial expressions are one-of-a-kind.

calaveras de azúcar, MEXICAN SKULLS & SKELETON ART: CATRIONA STATUES, CALAVERAS. MAZATLAN ART WALK, NIDART LEATHER MASKS. DAY OF THE DEAD makeup, face paint, Día de Muertos art, goth mexico, DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, MEXICAN graveyard altars. BREAD OF THE DEAD, MAZATLAN MEXICO, SKELETON lady, catriona, la catrina, Mexico ritual honor dead, graveyards, altars, ofrendas, sugar skulls, cempasúchil, sugar skull art, La Calavera de la Catrina, skeleton woman art statues

Secret garden in the back, framed by animal and devil masks.

calaveras de azúcar, MEXICAN SKULLS & SKELETON ART: CATRIONA STATUES, CALAVERAS. MAZATLAN ART WALK, NIDART LEATHER MASKS. DAY OF THE DEAD makeup, face paint, Día de Muertos art, goth mexico, DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, MEXICAN graveyard altars. BREAD OF THE DEAD, MAZATLAN MEXICO, SKELETON lady, catriona, la catrina, Mexico ritual honor dead, graveyards, altars, ofrendas, sugar skulls, cempasúchil, sugar skull art, La Calavera de la Catrina, skeleton woman art statues

What a treat to see the artisans at work. One of the journalists bought this Pirate, for only US $90.

calaveras de azúcar, MEXICAN SKULLS & SKELETON ART: CATRIONA STATUES, CALAVERAS. MAZATLAN ART WALK, NIDART LEATHER MASKS. DAY OF THE DEAD makeup, face paint, Día de Muertos art, goth mexico, DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, MEXICAN graveyard altars. BREAD OF THE DEAD, MAZATLAN MEXICO, SKELETON lady, catriona, la catrina, Mexico ritual honor dead, graveyards, altars, ofrendas, sugar skulls, cempasúchil, sugar skull art, La Calavera de la Catrina, skeleton woman art statues

Sunglasses: gifted from Erica Anenberg
Sundress: gifted from Sourpuss Clothing (note the skull and crossbones print! I also wore it in Venice, Italy)
Big sunhat: from a Hong Kong street stall

calaveras de azúcar, MEXICAN SKULLS & SKELETON ART: CATRIONA STATUES, CALAVERAS. MAZATLAN ART WALK, NIDART LEATHER MASKS. DAY OF THE DEAD makeup, face paint, Día de Muertos art, goth mexico, DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, MEXICAN graveyard altars. BREAD OF THE DEAD, MAZATLAN MEXICO, SKELETON lady, catriona, la catrina, Mexico ritual honor dead, graveyards, altars, ofrendas, sugar skulls, cempasúchil, sugar skull art, La Calavera de la Catrina, skeleton woman art statues

I pressed magenta glitter on top of my lipstick, for a candy-sparkle shimmer. I extended my liquid eyeliner outward, so that it peeks through the hole in the sunglasses.

calaveras de azúcar, MEXICAN SKULLS & SKELETON ART: CATRIONA STATUES, CALAVERAS. MAZATLAN ART WALK, NIDART LEATHER MASKS. DAY OF THE DEAD makeup, face paint, Día de Muertos art, goth mexico, DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, MEXICAN graveyard altars. BREAD OF THE DEAD, MAZATLAN MEXICO, SKELETON lady, catriona, la catrina, Mexico ritual honor dead, graveyards, altars, ofrendas, sugar skulls, cempasúchil, sugar skull art, La Calavera de la Catrina, skeleton woman art statues

Death is everywhere… in local galleries, on the wall of Angela Peralta theater. And she’s never looked better.

calaveras de azúcar, MEXICAN SKULLS & SKELETON ART: CATRIONA STATUES, CALAVERAS. MAZATLAN ART WALK, NIDART LEATHER MASKS. DAY OF THE DEAD makeup, face paint, Día de Muertos art, goth mexico, DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, MEXICAN graveyard altars. BREAD OF THE DEAD, MAZATLAN MEXICO, SKELETON lady, catriona, la catrina, Mexico ritual honor dead, graveyards, altars, ofrendas, sugar skulls, cempasúchil, sugar skull art, La Calavera de la Catrina, skeleton woman art statues

Despite the dark themes, the art feels uplifting. The colors and active poses reflect the Mexican folk view that life and death are balancing forces.

calaveras de azúcar, MEXICAN SKULLS & SKELETON ART: CATRIONA STATUES, CALAVERAS. MAZATLAN ART WALK, NIDART LEATHER MASKS. DAY OF THE DEAD makeup, face paint, Día de Muertos art, goth mexico, DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, MEXICAN graveyard altars. BREAD OF THE DEAD, MAZATLAN MEXICO, SKELETON lady, catriona, la catrina, Mexico ritual honor dead, graveyards, altars, ofrendas, sugar skulls, cempasúchil, sugar skull art, La Calavera de la Catrina, skeleton woman art statues

This idea’s expressed in the Catrionas, or elegant skeleton ladies. You’ll see more in my travel videos and Dia de los Muertos coverage, coming soon.

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At the end of the art tour, we took a much-needed stop for handmade sorbet. Guava and tangerine. Yum.

calaveras de azúcar, MEXICAN SKULLS & SKELETON ART: CATRIONA STATUES, CALAVERAS. MAZATLAN ART WALK, NIDART LEATHER MASKS. DAY OF THE DEAD makeup, face paint, Día de Muertos art, goth mexico, DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, MEXICAN graveyard altars. BREAD OF THE DEAD, MAZATLAN MEXICO, SKELETON lady, catriona, la catrina, Mexico ritual honor dead, graveyards, altars, ofrendas, sugar skulls, cempasúchil, sugar skull art, La Calavera de la Catrina, skeleton woman art statues

Have you ever been to Mexico? Do you collect art, or memorabilia of any kind? If so, what?

PS: I’m glad you enjoyed my holiday gift guide. Can you guess what my fat cat’s getting for Christmas? Maybe another cat stroller if he’s nice, or a crib if he’s naughty…

Song of the Day: Morbid Fancy – The Incident

❤ Felt inspired? Then give the post a Like (below). ❤

27 Comments

  1. Gackty Chan
    Posted December 2, 2011 at 10:07 pm | Permalink

    that’s icecream are so delicious xD

  2. Yolo
    Posted December 2, 2011 at 10:12 pm | Permalink

    You can never go wrong with Day of The Dead-keep the pics coming! Thanks!

  3. Gregg
    Posted December 2, 2011 at 10:13 pm | Permalink

    La Catrina ♥,

  4. Glitch
    Posted December 3, 2011 at 1:25 am | Permalink

    Something so traditional and folk being so evil.Awesome. XD
    And it’s cool how the name “La Carmina” probably fits down there in Mexico. :]

  5. Dan
    Posted December 3, 2011 at 2:25 am | Permalink

    i like the art’s vibrant colors and how it portrays frightening things in a way that is not neccessarily frightening. it is my understanding that the Mexicans view reunion with the dead during the festivities as a positive experience, whereas Halloween emphasizes fear of death. however, i think there is perhaps some psychological value to confronting that fear, as doing so lets us realize we need not let what frightens us dominate our lives.

  6. Natalie
    Posted December 3, 2011 at 2:26 am | Permalink

    The orange architecture photo is my favorite.

  7. Sein
    Posted December 3, 2011 at 3:24 am | Permalink

    Wan!

  8. Francesca
    Posted December 3, 2011 at 6:08 am | Permalink

    The masks are breathtaking, so realistic and fantastic at the same time. I’d love to have one!
    Great dress, very appropriate to the theme of the festivities and the colourful art ^.~

  9. Melanie
    Posted December 3, 2011 at 8:59 pm | Permalink

    Ever since your segment on Andrew Zimmern’s show, I’ve loved these posts. It’s given me more reasons to reach my goal of being a journalist.

  10. Amber
    Posted December 3, 2011 at 8:59 pm | Permalink

    love to go to a Day of the Dead celebration someday

  11. Eric
    Posted December 3, 2011 at 8:59 pm | Permalink

    You’re beautiful!

  12. Kuro
    Posted December 3, 2011 at 9:42 pm | Permalink

     Jolie chapeau!

  13. Krystal
    Posted December 4, 2011 at 6:08 am | Permalink

    beautiful as always my dear, keep up the good work.

  14. Monica
    Posted December 4, 2011 at 6:22 am | Permalink

    anyway to get me some skulls for a present? lol You always look great! i love reading your blogs!

  15. Ringo Regen
    Posted December 4, 2011 at 6:24 am | Permalink

    wow! I’m from Mexico and definetly the DAY OF THE DEATH is a celebration I always look forward to!! :]

  16. Lexy
    Posted December 4, 2011 at 6:28 am | Permalink

    I think you look adorable! ^_^

  17. Sayaka Watanabe
    Posted December 4, 2011 at 7:46 am | Permalink

    so cool!

    • lacarmina
      Posted December 5, 2011 at 10:57 pm | Permalink

      Thanks dear!!! I still have some Decabar photos and Torture Garden pics to post… :)

  18. Transistor
    Posted December 4, 2011 at 8:57 pm | Permalink

    gorgeous!

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