Join us for a special workshop this Hispanic Heritage Month, Weaving Our Connections: Remembering and Honoring the Dead across Cultures, led by artist Miriam Alarcón Ávila.

Participants will explore the positive and celebratory ways different cultures view loss and remembrance. Miriam will guide you in creating your own ofrenda (offering), a beautiful tradition often seen in Día de los Muertos celebrations. This is a chance to connect with others, share stories, and create a meaningful tribute to those who have touched your life.

This event is free and open to all. Supplies are available for up to 55 people to make an ofrenda, on a first-come, first-served basis.

The workshop is presented in partnership with the Weaving Our Community Network (part of the Women’s Resource and Action Center), UI Special Collections, and the Latino Native American Cultural Center.

About the artist:

Miriam Alarcón Avila is a Mexican-born, Iowa-based photographer, multimedia and visual storyteller artist, whose art explores identity, belonging, memory, and cultural resilience. With a deep commitment to community and sustainability, her work is rooted in both documentary and poetic aesthetics, spans photography, installation, public art, and educational engagement. Learn more about the artist here.