Photos courtesy The Museum of Ventura County Calaveras, or skulls, from Oaxaca, from the Janss Collection, are in a display about el Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead.

The work of local artists will highlight an exhibit that combines the spiritual traditions of Mesoamerica and Spain.

The Museum of Ventura County's Art & Soul: Arte y Alma exhibition will showcase a display that features el Dia de los Muertos — the Day of the Dead — folk art and photographs of Mexico by Ventura County residents.

"This is an important annual celebration," said Anna Bermudez of Ventura, curator of collections for the museum. "It is becoming increasingly popular in the United States among Latinos and non-Latinos alike."

The exhibit will commemorate el Dia de los Muertos, a tradition that honors the dead who are said to come back to Earth on Nov. 1 and 2, Bermudez explained.

The event is punctuated with colorful altars called ofrendas that are built by families to honor their deceased relatives and include objects the departed cherished or foods they loved.

Though the subject matter may be considered morbid from the perspective of some other cultures, celebrants typically approach the Day of the Dead joyfully, and though it occurs at the same time as Halloween, All Saints' Day and All Souls Day, the traditional mood is much brighter, with emphasis on honoring the lives of the deceased, and celebrating the continuation of life; the belief is not that death is the end but rather the beginning of a new stage in life.

"The skeleton, or calaca, is the dominant symbol of the celebration; even bread is baked in the form of a skull or bones and sugar skulls are very popular during this celebration," Bermudez said. "The tradition of Dia de los Muertos does not see death as frightening but rather as a connection to honor and laugh with those who have gone before us."

The exhibit, which runs from Sept. 29 through Nov. 15, focuses on contemporary Dia de los Muertos folk art from Mexico from the collection of Thousand Oaks residents Marney and Larry Janss. The Janss collection includes work by Mexican cartoneria craftsman Ricardo Linares and ceramicist Alfonso Castillo Horta.

The display also features skeleton drawings of Westlake Village resident Francisco Behr, and images of life and festivals in Mexico captured by photographers Hope Frazier of Ojai, John Lewis of Newbury Park and Arturo Perez of Ventura.

"The museum has for some time wanted do an exhibit that would complement our annual Day of the Dead community celebration, which takes place this year on Sunday, Oct. 28, from 12 to 3 p.m.," said Bermudez, adding that there are approximately 50 pieces from the Janss folk art collection alone.

"We are very excited to have the opportunity to exhibit a delightful selection of pieces from the Janss Mexican folk art collection that includes not only pieces from renowned artists but also some lovely and whimsical pieces from anonymous craftsmen.

"There is a sense of joy and humor in these incarnations of skeletons and skulls."

A free cultural festival will open the exhibit from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 28. The opening will include a woodcarving demonstration by the Vicente Family of Sol de Oaxaca Gallery in Ventura, music by Perez, and Mexican food by Antojo of Ventura, Chili Peppers in Camarillo and Tomas Café of Oxnard. The museum store also will serve as a "Deadquarters" for Dia de los Muertos merchandise.

"We thought an exhibit featuring a premier collection of folk art from Mexico would lend itself to a festive Mexico-inspired opening," Bermudez said. The event is enhanced by the fact that it features the work of local talent, she added. "The exhibit also focuses on Ventura County's appreciation of Mexican culture," she said. "After all, the exhibit's folk art collection, drawings and photographs all come from Ventura County residents."