Paper Cempasúchil Flower-Making Workshop

Date and Time

• Sunday, Oct 26, 2025  1pm - 3pm

Location

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Details

Join Liz Ortiz of Mad Hare Press to create beautiful paper marigolds to honor loved ones during Día de Muertos.

This hands‑on workshop explores the meaning of the cempasúchil, known as the “flower of the dead.” For centuries, these bright orange and yellow marigolds have symbolized the sun, life, and the cyclical connection between the living and the dead. Their color and fragrance are believed to guide ancestral spirits back to the world of the living, lighting their path home.

Participants will learn a traditional crafting technique using tissue paper and wire to make their own cempasúchil flowers. These can be added to the community altar at Cornerstone Gallery or taken home to decorate personally.

This event is part of the exhibition We Were Never Meant to Disappear and is open to all.

Date and Time:
Sunday, October 26th, 2025 | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Location:
Cornerstone Gallery at The Masonic
225 W Oak Street, Fort Collins, CO 80521

TICKETS
$35 | includes materials for several flowers, garland making options and the beauty of tradition.
More info at www.madharepress.com

Workshop Overview

- Brief introduction to the history and symbolism of the cempasúchil
- Guided flower‑folding and assembly techniques
- Discussion on how marigolds are used in traditional ofrendas
- Community‑centered crafting and reflection
- No experience necessary. All ages welcome. Children under 12 should be accompanied by an adult.

What’s Included:

- Pre‑cut tissue paper in traditional colors
- Wire, floral tape, and craft tools
- Optional take‑home instructions
- Shared materials for altar decoration

About Liz Ortiz:
Liz Ortiz is an Indigenous Latina printmaker and cultural educator whose work uplifts the stories of those often erased. Her workshops blend cultural tradition and creative accessibility.

Contact Liz at:
thehare@madharepress.com

We Were Never Meant to Disappear
A deeply personal solo exhibition by Liz Ortiz, founder of Mad Hare Press. This 21-year retrospective features previously unseen works across printmaking, drawing, painting, and photography. Each piece rooted in resilience, memory, and the reclamation of space as an Indigenous Latina artist in Northern Colorado. This is more than an art show, it is an act of preservation, testimony, and visibility.

Exhibition | September 6th - November 15th, 2025
Cornerstone Gallery at The Masonic

Gallery Hours | TUE, WED, & SAT 2-6 PM
First Friday each month 6-9 PM
gallery@focomasonic.com