The Presentation

Join us for a nostalgic journey back to 1994 as we revisit the vibrant Day of the Dead celebrations in Teotitlán del Valle.

This newly edited archival footage, discovered in the archives of Kapra Fleming, captures the essence of this cherished tradition.

Witness the heartwarming preparations as children engage in the traditional "nuts" game, altars are adorned with offerings, and delicious food is prepared in traditional kitchens. Follow the community as they gather at the cemetery to await the return of their ancestors and perhaps even encounter unexpected visitors.

This 39-minute film, presented to the Teotitlán del Valle community last year, offers a unique glimpse into the past. Following brief introductions by Luis Mendoza and Kapra, we will screen the film and then open the floor for questions and discussion. Luis will be joined by two colleagues from Teotitlán del Valle to provide valuable insights and perspectives.

The Presenters

Luis Mendoza Hernandez

An indigenous Zapoteco, Luis was born in 1981 in the artisan weaving community of Teotitlán del Valle, Oaxaca.  He attended Escuela Primaria Benito Juarez in Teotitlán and then migrated to the US at the age of 14.  He attended Foothill High School in Orange County, then Riverside Community College.  He lived and worked in California and Oregon for 16 years and then returned in 2011 to Teotitlán del Valle at the age of 30.  Since then he has worked as a weaver and a cultural community promoter in different states of Mexico.  He served as an altar boy in his youth, then as a member of the committee of Escuelas Primarias and as a local guide by Turismo Alternativo de Teotitlán del Valle.  He is passionate about community service and is an avid Teotitlán del Valle promoter.  You can find him in the Teotitlán del Valle Turismo Alternativo, Museo Comunitario or Centro Cultural Comunitario.

Kapra Fleming

Kapra started photographing at the age of 10 and after receiving a BA in German/French in 1975 from Purdue University, West Lafayette she moved to Chicago to work in a Japanese Import company, volunteering at Facets Multimedia and then co-founding and directing a small non-profit art gallery for 3 years.  She received an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1985 where she focused on performance art, film and video. She was active in the mid-1980s with Women in the Director’s Chair and chaired the documentary jury for the Chicago International Film Festival.  She later worked with video training at-risk youth through the Chicago Children’s Museum, The Center for New Television, Gallery 37 and independently through city-funded project grants.  Her work has been seen in Chicago, Atlanta, New York, San Francisco, Milwaukee and Atlanta as well as abroad in Germany, Switzerland, France and Mexico.  Her current film/video works are short experimental pieces or personal documentaries: portraits of people or places.  Her most recent documentary follows an Ocotlán de Morelos artist through the process of harvesting and carving a winning entry in the 126th Noche de Rábanos competition in 2023.  This documentary will be shown at the library on Friday, December 20, as part of the library’s educational events series.