10 x 8 x 3.5 inches

Small altars are created in shadow boxes to replicate what might be built for a deceased loved one during The Day of the Dead in Mexico. This is a time in which those who have lost loved ones honor their lives by hanging photos and placing offerings such as bread and fruit. The creation of these has evolved to include beloved historic or pop culture figures, and to celebrate the simple things in life, like going to the market. Each and every shadow box is a unique, handmade treasure. "La Catrina", created by the Mexican cartoonist José Guadalupe Posada in 1912 and later popularized by Diego Rivera, was intended to make fun of women who achieved a high social status who left their customs to try to dress and behave in the European way. Today, "La Catrina", has become an icon of Día de Los Muertos, (Day of the Dead). She has become a prominent icon of Mexican culture and the ties that this culture has with death. Contemporary artists have taken this idea and expanded it to include other symbology such as swarms of butterflies, large fantastical birds, or the likeliness of Frida Kahlo.