The virtual Ofrendas for the Future conference was very powerful. Learning about Ofelia Esparza’s altar-making process and seeing altars that she and her family have created, along with the story behind them, was eye-opening. The intricate details such as the aluminum leaves, paper flowers, and hand-crafted clay foods come together to make incredible tributes. Including interactive aspects in community altars, where people could write messages to add to the altar, was also a compelling way to connect the community. When looking at some of Ofelia Esparza’s altars prior to building my own altar, I thought about the movie Coco and its messages around honoring your ancestors through celebrations during Día de los Muertos. It is only fitting that Ofelia and Rosanna Esparza were cultural advisors for Coco. The altar that they constructed for the movie was spectacular and tied in the idea that the ofrenda is a bridge to the people that you love.
One other conversation that is incredibly relevant was about religious spaces during COVID-19. While I am not religious myself, I understand the need for people to be in religious spaces to feel more connected to their faith. However, Omi brought up an interesting point that you do not need to be in a church to pray or meditate. Rather, the space you are in just needs to resonate as a spiritual place. Since most churches are closed, which is necessary to protect public health, people can still create spaces to feel connected to their faith.
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