A Bethany couple is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month by creating custom La Catrina looks, blending tradition with artistry.
As Hispanic Heritage Month begins, a Bethany couple is crafting custom La Catrina looks, celebrating the Mexican cultural icon with elaborate dresses, fancy hats and skeleton makeup.
Jennifer Cisneros, the creative force behind Catrina Bones, and her husband are bringing tradition to life.
"They symbolize life, death, joy and happiness," Cisneros said.
La Catrina originated in the early 1900s, created by Mexican artist José Posada as satire, and was later named by artist Diego Rivera in 1947. Since then, she has become a symbol of Dia de los Muertos.
"This is our version of a tribute to dress for him," Cisneros said, referring to her creations.
From her workspace in Bethany, Cisneros sews the dresses, does her own makeup and creates all the artwork, while her husband handles special effects like lights, smoke and fire.
"This is the Frida one. It's still not done yet," she said, showcasing her work in progress.
Cisneros's passion for art began with her grandfather.
"Since I was a child, he taught me how to celebrate Dia de los Muertos. Since then, I enjoyed the colors and everything," she said.
Her journey with Catrinas started later in life after seeing a competition online.
"So, I said, 'I want to jump in. I want to start doing and creating,' and, actually, I won!" she said.
Creating a dress can take from three to six months, depending on the complexity. The Chantico dress, representing the Aztec goddess of fire, has been in the works for about a year.
"I decided to do it so big, and it's taken me time to do it, but it's going good so far," Cisneros said.
Once she has an idea, Cisneros researches the history of what she'll be showcasing, then paints and adds every rhinestone, feather, flower and light bulb individually.
"You're coming into where I do all my creations!" she said, showing her workspace.
Even the headpieces are custom-made.
"This is the headpiece of the Chantico one," she said.
When everything is put together, the Catrina can be beautiful, elegant and otherworldly, serving as a reminder in Mexican culture that life and death are intertwined and worth celebrating.
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