This Sunday, the Alabama Center for the Arts came alive with color, candlelight, and memory. In a beautiful one-day exhibition, students from Decatur City Schools presented their ofrendas — offerings built with love, crafted by hand, and rich with story.

The Visual Arts Walking Gallery held walls of vibrant pieces, each brushstroke echoing the heart of remembrance. Across the way, in the Performing Arts lobby, stood altars adorned with marigolds, sugar skulls, candles, and portraits — each one a window into the ways we honor those who came before us.

There was a stillness in the air that felt sacred. Children and families stood side by side, whispering names, lighting candles, remembering. In every color, every flower, every handmade detail, you could feel the pulse of heritage and the beauty of continuity.

Día de los Muertos is not just about loss. It’s about love — the kind that transcends time, the kind that keeps our ancestors close. This youth exhibition was a reminder that the next generation carries that love forward. They remember. They create. They keep the bridge between worlds open, bright, and alive.

May we all continue to build altars — in art, in home, in heart — to those who shaped our path.