photo by: Submitted by Somos Lawrence

From left, Reyna Álvarez, María E. Cruz, Elizabeth García, Lelies Perales, Felipe Ávila, Wendy Medina, Jackie Mejía and Jonathan Solares stand near an altar created to honor Cruz’s son, Eduardo Olvera-Cruz, who passed away at age 16. The altar was part of a community Día de los Muertos event on Nov. 2, 2022, at John Taylor Park.

A community Día de los Muertos event on Wednesday at John Taylor Park paid tribute to deceased loved ones and included a special installation for those who died of COVID-19.

The community group Somos Lawrence organized the event in collaboration with The Percolator Artist Collective. Community members, including students from Lawrence High School and St. John’s Catholic School, contributed artwork and other items.

photo by: Luisa Garcés

The main altar, or ofrenda, included pictures, offerings and flowers dropped off by neighbors and other visitors in honor of people who died, with special sections in honor of people who died during the COVID-19 pandemic. The altar included artwork by children from the Ballard Center, Lawrence High School, St. John’s Catholic School, and University of Kansas students.

This year’s event was funded by a grant from the Douglas County Heritage Conservation Council, and was also planned in coordination with the Ballard Center and the Common Ground community garden program. Somos Lawrence, which is housed in the Ballard Center, advocates for effective and culturally informed grassroots outreach to non-English speaking residents of Douglas County, with specific attention to Spanish speakers. Lawrence Percolator is an artist collective that works to create a more supportive environment for the arts, and to create new places for the public to learn about and experience the arts.

photo by: Submitted by Somos Lawrence

An altar honors Eduardo Olvera-Cruz, who passed away at age 16. The Lawrence community celebrated Día de los Muertos on Nov. 2, 2022, at John Taylor Park.

photo by: Emmanuel Ramírez

Sofía Romero stands in front of the main altar at the community Día de los Muertos event on Nov. 2, 2022, at John Taylor Park.

photo by: Emmanuel Ramírez

A papier-mâché installation put together by The Percolator Artist Collective was included in the main altar, or ofrenda, as part of a community Día de los Muertos event at John Taylor Park.

photo by: Emmanuel Ramírez

An altar honors KU Sociology Ph.D. student Greg Goldman. The Lawrence community celebrated Día de los Muertos on Nov. 2, 2022, at John Taylor Park.

photo by: Emmanuel Ramírez

An art piece by St. John’s students includes marigolds carrying prayers to the students’ deceased loved ones. The Lawrence community celebrated Día de los Muertos on Nov. 2, 2022, at John Taylor Park.

photo by: Submitted by Somos Lawrence

A papier-mâché skeleton was included in the decorations at the community Día de los Muertos event on Nov. 2, 2022, at John Taylor Park.

photo by: Submitted by Somos Lawrence

The Lawrence community celebrated Día de los Muertos on Nov. 2, 2022, at John Taylor Park.