DeMeng de los Muertos 2025
A Mixed Media Art Experience with Michael deMeng
During Dia de los Muertos in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Oct 26 to Nov 4, 2025
Dia de los Muertos – Day of the Dead
Dia de los Muertos is one of the most beautiful celebrations in all of Mexico, and Oaxaca is one of the best places to experience it firsthand. Oaxaca, a UNESCO world heritage site, is a vibrant, welcoming, historical and culturally rich city in southern Mexico. Oaxaca has become a world class destination. Pick up any travel magazine and they will have lists of the 10 best things to do in Oaxaca…from eating unique regional cuisine and mezcal tastings to visiting the ancient archaeological sites and lovely artisan villages. It is home to some of the finest artists in the world and abounds with ceramics, textiles, tin art, woodcarvings, jewelry, and so much more. There is also a prolific contemporary art scene with many murals, printmaking studios, photography and modern art galleries to enjoy. The vibrant atmosphere, fabulous food, and friendly people make Oaxaca an amazing place to visit.
Throughout our stay, people around the city will be getting ready for Dia de los Muertos, one of the most beautiful and treasured celebrations in Mexico. Many homes and businesses will be creating ofrendas (altars) and preparing for the festivities. Every day and night the city is buzzing with excitement that spills into the streets. The photo opportunities are endless. Each time you head out the door for the Zocalo or just a walk around the neighborhood, something new will catch your eye. Storefronts decorated with flowers, a school Catrina costume competition, comparsas (parades) winding through the streets with people in costumes, traditional dancers, lively bands and so much more.
While it has become a time of big celebration, the true spirit of the holiday is a reunion of the living with the dead, who come back to visit their loved ones once a year. It is traditionally a family gathering, a time to remember and celebrate those who have come before us and are no longer among the living. The heart of Muertos continues to live with families in their homes and in the cemeteries where they gather to connect with their departed loved ones. We will build our own ofrenda and visit a local cemetery to witness some of the magic of this beautiful season of remembrance.
The Workshop – Tale of Two Realms
From Michael
Día de los Muertos is one of those wonderfully weird times when the land of the living and the realm of the dead decide to mingle—separated only by a whisper, a candlelit pathway, and maybe a few shots of mezcal. So, I figured, why not dive headfirst into this spectral crossover with an assemblage project that straddles both worlds?
In this workshop, we’ll be creating shrines that embody two halves of existence—maybe the world above and the one beneath the grave, or a split between light and shadow, past and present. However you decide to frame your piece, we’ll be scavenging, assembling, and reanimating found objects into something that has a magical story to tell.
And because we don’t do things halfway, we’ll be summoning our favorite tricks of the trade—paint layering, eerie patinas, and those deliciously distressed applications—to bring these creations to life (or afterlife, depending on your artistic leanings).
Come to Oaxaca, where the spirits are chatty, the altars are glowing, and the art gets a little mystical, a little macabre, and a whole lot of fun.
Itinerary
October 26 (Sunday) – Arrival Day
Arrival day in Oaxaca. It takes all day for the various flights to arrive so we don’t have any big plans. Just settle in after a long journey. You can enjoy a walk to the Zocalo (main square) to see what’s happening and partake in the delicious local cuisine.
October 27 (Monday) – Walking Tour
Breakfast at the hotel. Today we’ll enjoy a walking tour of the city center where we’ll view stunning cathedrals and colonial architecture, visit the zocalo (the bustling city center park), see street art, visit galleries and cultural museums. Lunch with the group. Welcome dinner that evening.
October 28 (Tuesday) – Workshop Day
Breakfast at the hotel. Class begins at 10:00 AM. Break for lunch at your leisure. Return to the workshop after lunch. Trip to the Benito Juarez market after class. Rest of the evening is free.
October 29 (Wednesday) – Workshop Day
Breakfast at the hotel. Class begins at 10:00 AM. Break for lunch at your leisure. Return to the workshop. We’ll take a late afternoon stroll to visit the lovely barrio de Jalatlaco and its myriad of murals. Rest of the evening free.
October 30 (Thursday) – Excursion
Breakfast at the hotel. Today we head to the Zapotec village of Villa de Zaachila for their weekly market, a feast for the senses. We’ll also visit an important archeological site of the area. That afternoon we’ll visit the studio of Antiguas Maravillas, creators of beautiful, silver filigree jewelry. Group lunch. Rest of your evening is free. We’ll keep an eye out for one of the many Dia de los Muertos comparsas (parades) going through town,
October 31 (Friday) – Excursion
Breakfast at the hotel. Today our excursion takes us to the village of Santa Catarina Minas where we’ll visit the mezcal palenque of Real Minero, a multi-generational, woman owned mezcal business that’s been featured on 60 minutes and in Vogue magazine. We’ll learn about their mezcal distillation and what makes Real Minero special, as well as enjoy a tasting and traditional lunch made just for us. From here we’ll visit the wonderful church of Santa Ana Zegache which is an art piece in and of itself. Rest of your evening is free. It’s Halloween night, so there will be lots of festivities to enjoy along the Alcala and in the zocalo.
November 1 (Saturday) – Workshop Day – First day of Dia de los Muertos
Breakfast at the hotel. Class begins at 10:00 AM. Break for lunch at your leisure. Return to the workshop after lunch. At the end of class, we’ll gather around the ofrenda for a mezcal toast to our loved ones now passed. Tonight we’ll head to El Panteon General, the big city cemetery. It’s a scene! Dinner on your own.
November 2 (Sunday) – Workshop Day
Breakfast at the hotel. Class begins at 10:00 AM. Break for lunch at your leisure. Return to the workshop. Then it’s our end of workshop gathering and critique with Michael. Tonight we’ll visit a small neighborhood cemetery in San Felipe del Agua for a more intimate experience of the holiday. Rest of the night is free.
November 3 (Monday) – Last Full Day
Today is a free day to do your last minute shopping or visit one of the many many wonders of Oaxaca that we did not get to. Day tours can be arranged through the travel agent at the hotel. An optional stencil art workshop with Lapiztola arts collective https://www.artrepresent.com/lapiztola will be available. Farewell dinner with the group.
November 4 (Tuesday) – Departure
Breakfast. Fly away home!
- Itinerary is subject to change
- Airfare is not included. When searching for airfares the Oaxaca code is OAX.
- Included: Workshop, hotel for 9 nights, 9 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners and guided tours.
- Alcoholic beverages are not included
Price
Single $3,995
Shared Double $3,595
(price if sharing room with another person taking the workshop)
Tag along $2,395
(Someone sharing a room with a workshop taker but not taking the workshop. Price includes everything except the workshop.)
Deposit
$750 non-refundable deposit to secure your spot
Remaining balance due August 1st, 2025
Cancellation Policy
$750 deposit will be forfeited for cancellation.
No refunds (unless we are able to fill your space) after August 15, 2025.
If the workshop is canceled you will receive a full refund.
Hotel Information
Holiday Inn Centro Historico
Diaz Quintas No. 115
Centro Oaxaca
www.holidayinn.com/Oaxaca
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is strongly recommended. Check out Rick Steves for recommendations and advice on types of coverage.
www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/trip-planning/travel-insurance
To Enroll
CLICK HERE to go to registration form
Complete and submit the form to reserve your spot. Mija will then contact you regarding payment options. If you have any questions email Mija at mija.matriz@gmail.com