GRATEFUL LIVING

Latin American Day of the Dead celebrations involve personal artistic expression. Families build altars to honor deceased friends and relatives with sugar skulls, flowers and handmade ornamentation; construct skull-headed Catrinas; and decorate graves with food and other ofrenda. Tonight through November 11, the Sixth Street Gallery at the YWCA of Greater Kansas City (1017 North Sixth Street in Kansas City, Kansas, 913-371-1105) presents Mementos: Day of the Dead Deconstructed, a group exhibit taking a postmodern look at an ancient Latin American tradition. Sculptor Aaron Wrinkle, photographer Ernie Block, painter David Goodrich and others take up the day’s themes of love, death, the afterlife and really, really well-dressed skeletons. The reception for the artists kicks off at 5 p.m.

Oct. 9-Nov. 11, 2009