Post 2 / Research / Día De Los Muertos Public Cookbook

After researching, I changed my article to an article from KSAT. This article stood out to me because it shows how much San Antonio values Día de los Muertos. The city and event organizers signed a 10-year agreement to keep Muertos Fest at Hemisfair, meaning families will continue to have a big, public space to gather and share memories of their loved ones. Events like creating a community space for grief and joy to exist together. This deeply resonates with what I'm doing for my BFA project. 

A question I’ve been asking in my research is, “ How does food play a role in remembering people?”. In this article, I started to think about how public celebrations such as Muertos Fest reflect the same kind of remembering that happens in family kitchens. Other articles from Texas Public Radio and visit San Antonio also discuss how food vendors at these events. Foods such as pan de muerto, tamales, or champurrado aren't just dishes, they are memory keepers. That’s why in my cookbook I want to include more than just recipes. I want to include the stories and emotions behind these dishes and why they’re important. 

Sources:

KSAT News - Muertos Fest to remain at Hemisfair

San Antonio Report - Day of the Dead: A brief History 

Visit San Antonio - River Parade Tickets and Announcement

Texas Public Radio - Reflections on Día de los Muertos

Art Intervention 

For my project, I want to create a public cookbook altar. It will be a place where people can contribute handwritten recipes in honor of a loved one they’ve lost. This altar will not only include food but also stories, photos, and memories tied to those recipes. By doing this in a public space, I hope to change the idea that cookbooks belong only in private kitchens or bookstores. But instead becomes a space for shared grief and celebration open to anyone.