The Hayward Area Historical Society brought the Day of the Dead, also referred to as Dia de los Muertos, exhibit back to life after a four-year hiatus on Oct. 8.

The exhibit explores the culture of the Latino holiday by showcasing artwork and altars created by local artists and residents.

The exhibit returns to Hayward featuring 30 East Bay artists at the new community center of the HAHS center.  The last time the exhibit opened was at the Meek Mansion in Cherryland in 2010.

“People had been asking about [the exhibit] since it’s been gone. It’s great that it has stuck in peoples minds all these years,” said Amanda Bateman, HAHS manager. “I’m excited to share this in the community gallery because it’s a representation of our community, and it’s a great place to have the voices of our community shine through”.

Day of the Dead focuses on the belief that the spirits of the dead visit the living over the span of three days.

From Oct. 31 through Nov. 2 families create alters with food, candles, flowers, drinks, and any personal mementos to welcome the spirits who crossover.

The holiday is celebrated all over the world where each region joins in different traditions. Featured artist, Demetrio Barrita, creates a colorful sand tapestry that is common in his hometown Oaxaca Valley, Mexico.

“It is a rare piece for Hayward, worth the visit, and it is paired with a video of the making of the art,” said gallery curator, Philip Gallegos.

Over 63 pieces of art fill the gallery. Artists and residents create altars, paintings, and sculptures in tribute to lost loved ones; each of them inspired by the tradition honoring the dead.

At the entrance of the gallery, altars made by students in the Hayward Unified School District are on display. The altars consist of photos, graves, and personal keepsakes that represent the life of the departed individual.

There is a variety of artwork in the gallery, ranging from paints to sculpture and mixed media pieces.  Many pieces share the use of colorful blends to create contemporary designs.

The iconic symbol of an ornate skull is a common theme amongst the artists. The decorative skulls are made to represent a departed soul, then named and designs are drawn onto the foreheads as an artistic honor to the visitors.

Gallegos recommends a personal favorite,  “[a] piece by Debra Collins not only because it is beautiful but because Debra was my high school art teacher. She is the reason I went to college.”

For a more modern piece, check out the mixed media skateboard pieces by Phillip Long titled ‘Kick, Push, Cross,’ or for something a little closer to the Pioneer family, take a look at ‘Dead Dream of Dying,’ by Mirabel Wigon, a CSUEB graduate.

The exhibit will be open from now until Nov. 9 on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with extended hours to 7 p.m. on Thursdays.

General admission is $8 for the public and $5 for students. If students bring at least one canned item to donate to charity, admission is half-off, making it $2.50 to spend an afternoon checking out some amazing local art.