Live Blog Post 2 - Caroline Johnson

The dialogue between panelists was very informative and powerful. They were asked to discuss how altars allow them to process grief and rage and also how altars are a form of activism. Ofelia started this out by saying how honoring someone brings up a dialogue and then hopefully action. It is not just creating an art piece, it does not end after it is created. Francesca Garcia continues this by first saying altars are a tradition of remembering but also a call to action. She then went back to what Ofelia said earlier in that people who died in traumatic ways "It is not about just the death, but also how the person lived" and how they were loved. These people believed the struggle was worth it and we have to honor that. It is not just about the sadness but about the joy of living and that is what we remember. Omi continued this by saying right now people need a place to pray.

I really enjoyed hearing them discuss how even though they all have different experiences with altar making, they all use it for healing with society today and connecting to ancestors.