Dia de los Muertos Project

Photographer Joe Patronite

The “Dia de los Muertos”/ “Day of the Dead” Project had its inception in the late 1990s when I was visiting Tucson, Arizona. Travels and assignments in 40-countries and the whole of the United States, has allowed me the chance to document many festivals and celebrations, both secular and non-secular.

After choosing Tucson as home base, in 2006 I returned to photographing the annual celebrations held every November. Over the past decade festivals have been documented in Arizona; California; New Mexico; Texas; Nogales, Sonora Mexico; Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico; and most recently November 2017 in Ciudad Oaxaca, Oaxaca Mexico.

Our world’s cultures are rich, societies, and peoples celebrate life (and lives) in vastly diverse ways. Working quietly in a “street photography” style is my preference in pursuit of honest views of humanity.

Images which reflect quirkiness of people mixed with spontaneity and occasionally humor, are what I strive to capture. Pure social documentation has influenced the style of this and other long-term photographic projects (now including documentary cinema) that I’ve produced.

An on-going endeavor, “Dia de los Muertos” /“Day of the Dead’ is a historical view of the Mexican/Latin culture honoring their deceased loved ones. The project is now into its second decade.

The “Dia” sparked my interest not only for the uniqueness by which the Latino community celebrates, but also because of the manner by which the community comes together to honor the lives lived of those who have passed from this world.

The Aztecs mixing indigenous and Christian rites is how these celebrations began in the 1400’s in central Mexico.

Ultimately, a book and worldwide exhibitions – to entertain and educate – are the goals of this project.

Tucson, AZ

June 2018