Dia de los Muertos
Five-year-old Jared Ramirez laughs after falling down during an Hispanic folk dance at the Living Arts of Tulsa Dia de los Muertos arts festival on Nov. 1, 2011. JEFF LAUTENBERGER/Tulsa World
Living Arts of Tulsa hosted a Day of the Dead street festival with music, altar displays, dancing, and food. Unbelievably, I was stopped dead in my tracks at the entrance by an overzealous ticket checker who didn’t seem to think my Tulsa World press ID badge was good enough to let me into this public street festival. He actually said “That just says you’re an intern, I can’t let you in with that.” I thought he was kidding but no, he was serious, and didn’t at all understand that I was actually going to cover the event. This despite me carrying two full gear bags with still and video equipment. Whatever. I tried to forget about that and just make pictures.
Carsen Eastman, 11, Zika Jenkins, 10, and Callan Eastman, 8, eat tamales after having their faces painted to celebrate the Day of the Dead at Living Arts of Tulsa on Nov. 1, 2011. JEFF LAUTENBERGER/Tulsa World
A local artist who goes by the name Donnie Nuthing sits near a display of some of his art from a series called Portraits of the Damned and Art of the Dead during the Living Arts of Tulsa Dia de los Muertos arts festival on Nov. 1, 2011. JEFF LAUTENBERGER/Tulsa World
Dulce Gomez, left, and Deyadira Gomez, dance to an Hispanic folk song at the Living Arts of Tulsa Dia de los Muertos arts festival on Nov. 1, 2011. JEFF LAUTENBERGER/Tulsa World
A fire dancer blows a large plume of flames from his mouth in front of a crowd at the Living Arts of Tulsa Dia de los Muertos arts festival on Nov. 1, 2011. JEFF LAUTENBERGER/Tulsa World