Sonoma Community Center eyes stories, photos for Dia de Los Muertos altar

The Sonoma Community Center is seeking the public’s help in collecting stories and photos to be displayed as part of its annual Dia de Los Muertos celebration this coming October.

Submissions must be received by Friday, Oct. 10 to be included as part of this year’s altar.

The center has, for the past four years, marked this traditional holiday by installing a 12-foot tall altar in its Maloney Family Memorial Garden. Created by local sculptor Jim Callahan, the altar is adorned with amber lights, gold butterflies, as well as the portraits and stories of over 50 Sonoma Valley heroes – people who made a lasting impact on the community in some way.

“Each year we add a few more portraits and some of them are immediately recognizable, but others are not,” said Toni Castrone, the community center’s executive director. “The interesting part about this project is that each year we learn more about the people and personalities that have made this community what it is today.”

Anyone wishing to submit a Sonoma Valley hero for inclusion on the Dia de Los Muertos Memorial Altar is encouraged to do so by sending a photograph that can be scanned, dates of birth/death, and a few sentences about the person’s life and their contribution to Sonoma Valley.

“We scan the photos and print them on translucent film, which lets amber light shine through,” said Special Projects Manager Margaret Hatcher. “The visual effect is quite beautiful, and the life stories are just fascinating.”

The Dia de Los Muertos Altar will be installed the week of Oct. 27, and will be on view in the community center’s front garden through Nov. 3. A reception will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1, and is open to the public.

All materials should be sent to via email to Hatcher at margaret@sonomacommunitycenter.org or delivered to the Sonoma Community Center office at 276 E. Napa St. The Sonoma Community Center will make every effort to return materials in the same condition received, but cannot be responsible for damaged or lost materials.

For more information about the Sonoma Community Center and its programs, including a list of portraits in the Dia de Los Muertos collection, visit sonomacommunitycenter.org.