ASHLAND — After living in the Ashland area for about a year, Jessica Brooks had made some startling realizations about Appalachian culture. One of them had to do with death.

“I noticed there weren’t a lot of celebrations here,” she said. “Most people don’t appreciate where their family comes from or what that stands for.”

Sharing culture

In an effort to share her culture and the practice of appreciating her heritage, Brooks decided to organize an art show celebrating Dia De Los Muertos, or The Day of the Dead, a national holiday in Mexico marked on Nov. 1 and 2 to honor dead ancestors. Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed and visiting graves with these as gifts.

Brooks, a native of San Antonio and of Mexican heritage, said she approached co-workers at Hobby Lobby who also are artists and they agreed enthusiastically to provide pieces for the show.

“The main purpose is to show people here something different,” Brooks said. “We view death as something that’s not so bad. When someone dies, they might be gone, but they’re only gone physically. They’re not gone in spirit. They’ve gone on to their next journey. It’s OK to be sad but we can deal with it.”

Brooks created mixed media painting and said she might have as many as 20 paintings in the show at The Upstairs Gallery.

Day’s meaning

Photographer Erica Cleary took a series of photographs to illustrate three stages of death — denial, depression and acceptance.

A intern at St. Mary’s Hospital in Huntington, Cleary, who also has a bachelor of fine arts degree in photography, she said she’ll have about 18 photographs in the show.

“It might seem like a morbid topic, but it’s a very health thing,” Cleary said, noting the aspect of The Day of the Dead that embraces acceptance of death and celebration of life.

She got involved in the exhibit because she also works at Hobby Lobby and had become acquainted with Brooks, who invited her to be a part of it.

“It’s something new, something different,” she said. “I think everybody would like looking at this art.”

Cleary used local models and costumes created by Renee Schmutz-Sowards, who started sewing when she got involved with Medieval re-enactments and needed costumes.

“At first I was afraid of sewing machines. I was afraid I would sew my finger,” she said, but soon she discovered she loved sewing. In addition to working for the Boyd County Public Library, she does alterations and sews wedding gowns and continues to make re-enactment costumes. She said she enjoyed making costumes for the photo shoot.

“It was fun to make something with a lot of color and I had a lot of freedom to create,” she said.

She also made flowered headpieces and Brooks made earrings, rosaries, hats and props for use in the photos.

Helping one another

Sharon Schmutz, who works with Brooks, lent her drawing ability to the exhibit. A pastel portrait artist, she said her contribution will include altered portraiture.

“We all die and we all come from a line of people who died,” Schmutz said. “When you put the sugar skull makeup on, you have to look at it and think about it.”

Schmutz said although the artists were involved to a degree in the creation of one another’s work, they have not seen one another’s completed works. “We want it all to be our own, individual work,” she said.

Brooks said the artists have worked well together.

“As a group and individually, we all work exceptionally well together,” she said, adding they’re comfortable giving one another input and taking constructive criticism.

Cleary agreed. “There are no evil intentions here,” she said. “We all want each other to succeed.”

Brooks said The Day of the Dead includes an altar upon which items of a dead ancestor are placed in memory of that person.

“It could be anything that meant something to that person,” she said, adding such an altar will be available at The Upstairs Gallery for visitors to bring pictures of their loved ones. At the end of the exhibit, those contributing photos will be able to retrieve them.

During First Friday, the artists will be at the gallery to answer questions about and discuss their work.

The exhibit will be available for viewing through November. The Upstairs Gallery is at 1428 Winchester Ave. in Ashland.

For more information, call (606) 325-2470 or (304) 633-4401 or visit yessy.com/TUG.

LEE WARD can be reached at lward@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2661.