Kane County Reporter

SUGAR SKULL CITY RETURNS ON OCT 15, CALL FOR ART ANNOUNCED

DOWNTOWN AURORA - 

Aurora Downtown once again will be turning downtown into Sugar Skull City from October 15 to November 7 to coincide with Day of the Dead events during First Fridays on November 5. 

Started in 2020 by the downtown group, Sugar Skull City will feature dozens of participating businesses, a scavenger hunt, and activities for all ages while honoring a cultural and local tradition.

As part of Sugar Skull City, Aurora Downtown announced a call for art. Artists of all skill levels are invited to submit a 12” x 18” work depicting an alebrije, a magical animal from Mexican Folk Art. Full details can be found online at auroradowntown.org. 

Also this fall, Aurora Downtown will be hosting its annual Halloween Trick or Treat event at downtown businesses from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 30. 

CALL FOR ART

Sugar Skull City: An annual celebration in downtown Aurora that celebrates and honors the cultural and local tradition of Day of the Dead. This year, Sugar Skull City will feature alebrijes, magical animals from Mexican Folk Art as a tie-in with a new mural from Aurora Public Art on the BNSF viaduct wall along East New York Street by artists Pierre Lucero, Catalina Diaz, Laura Reyes, and Janice Rodriguez. 

To coincide with First Fridays and Day of the Dead activities on November 5, Sugar Skull City promotions and activities will run from October 15 to November 7. Artists, community members, youth and families are invited to honor the Mexican tradition of the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) holiday by creating an unframed 12” x 18” work depicting an alebrije that can be displayed in business windows in downtown Aurora. Participate by creating a 2D artwork in the style and media of your choice. All skill levels are welcome. Once completed, the submitted works will be displayed in storefronts as part of Aurora Downtown's Sugar Skull City events, and community members are invited to view them through November 7.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE:

CREATE: ALL ages and abilities are encouraged to participate. Using the media of your choice, create a 2D alebrije that can be scanned, or sent as a PDF to print. SIZE: 12" x 18" vertical. No watermarks, signatures, or other identification added to the print, please.

RETURN: Once your artwork is completed, send a PDF to info@auroradowntown.org or drop the artwork off to Aurora Fastprint, Inc. along with your name, title, city, and contact info no later than October 1, 2021 (drop off or email) to be included in the show. Originals can be picked up the week of October 18. No late submissions accepted. Notify us by email if originals are dropped off, and/or will be picked up. 

DISPLAY: The pieces will be printed and displayed in downtown storefronts from October 15 – November 7, 2021. After the show, prints will not be returned to you. QR codes and/or logos could be added to prints by Aurora Downtown.

PAYMENT: Participants who have their print displayed in a storefront will receive a $25 gift card from a downtown business (randomly drawn). One per family; does not apply to school groups or other organizations with multiple submissions.

SALE: Prints of submitted works will be available to the public for purchase for a donation to benefit Athziry Dia de los Muertos 501(c)(3) at First Fridays on November 5 and Art and Market on November 13.

Find more information online at auroradowntown.org.