Snapshot In Time: Rather than a time of mourning, Dia De Los Muertos or The Day Of The Dead (observed every November 1st and 2nd) is a celebration of life and death. It is the time when spirits of the dearly departed return to Earth for a family fiesta. For the most part, the Mexican Day of the Dead is celebrated in that country, Central America and certain parts of the United States.

About The Art: Carol Summers lives part of the time in Mexico and has a great respect for Hispanic art or the art Latino that come from his studio there. His THE DAY OF THE DEAD woodblock print visually incorporates many of the traditional elements of the celebration. On the actual Day of Dead holiday people often visit the grave sites of loved ones. In this woodblock art Summers has chosen to depict the final resting place of the remains of Mexican hero General Santa Ana when he was finally interred. This is also why this woodcut is also titled The Grave of Santa Ana's Leg.

The star lit sky represents the heavenly resting place of all the dearly departed upon which is the ofrenda or offering alter. On top of that Summers has placed one of the most popular icons for the holiday.....a sugar skull. Molded from sugar paste, sugar skulls represent the sweetness of life and the sadness of death. The cross on top reminds us the day is also called All Souls Day in the Catholic Church. The leaves on the palm trees shown here can be used to hold the pan de los muertos, bread baked in round loaves or the shape of skulls. It is eaten at the family feast time with tamales, enchiladas, tequila and beer. Dia De Los Muertos is a holiday that is growing in popularity among all peoples and you will be seeing much more about it in years to come.

Art Smart Fact: Carol Summers is one of the few remaining master woodblock artists alive today and a national treasure. Indeed, Summers’ woodblock art is in the permanent collections of virtually every major museum in the world...including the MET, MOMA, the LA County Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, the Kunstmuseums throughout Europe plus many more. His work is shown and discussed in over 25 important art reference books. Along with a sampling of the woodblock prints from nearly 245 editions created over the past 55 years, this particular image was included in two major museum retrospectives in New York and California as part of the millennium celebration. Summers' woodblock printing methodology is both original and readily recognizable. In woodblock printmaking fine arts programs in universities throughout the world it is referred to and taught as the "Carol Summers Woodcut Printmaking Technique".

Note: With the purchase at Peggity's of an original Carol Summers woodcuts you receive free a four-color, 48-page Catalog Raisonne; a four color, 64-page 50-Year Retrospective Exhibition Catalog (including a color woodcut frontispiece); and the museum poster ROLLING SEA.....all personally signed by Carol Summers. Each of these items can also be acquired separately here at Peggity’s.