Nicario Jiménez, visual artist Samantha Navarro, Danza Azteca Guadalupana Nely Rodríguez, Coalition of Immokalee Workers
Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a traditional Indigenous celebration that honors the lives of departed loved ones. Though it originated in Mexico, it is observed across various cultures, each with its unique customs and traditions. Visual artist Nicario Jiménez; Samantha Navarro, member of Danza Azteca Guadalupana (Guadalupean Aztec Dance); and Nely Rodríguez, Coalition of Immokalee Workers, will come together in a panel discussion to illuminate the profound significance and rich ancestral traditions behind the celebration of el Día de los Muertos. They honor this vibrant and spiritual event through their unique perspectives and cultural heritage.
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Nicario Jiménez
Nicario Jiménez
Nicario Jiménez was born in Ayacucho, Peru, a peasant community in the high Peruvian Andes. He is a master retablo artist known for creating intricate three-dimensional dioramas that blend traditional Andean art with contemporary social narratives, often incorporating themes such as Día de los Muertos. His work tells stories of cultural resilience, migration, and daily life in the Andes, bridging the gap between history and modernity.
As a child, Jiménez learned the art of crafting religious retablos, or altarpieces, under the guidance of his father, Florentino Jiménez. While working with his father, Jiménez learned techniques he continues to use for his mixed media sculptures — a mixture of boiled potatoes and gypsum for the figurines and wood for the boxes. Jiménez attended the Universidad Nacional de San Cristóbal de Huamanga in Ayacucho, Perú, and has taught and lectured at institutions including the University of Miami and American University. His retablos have been showcased at prestigious exhibitions across the United States, including the San Francisco Craft and Folk Art Museum and the Museum of Man in San Diego. The Smithsonian Institution has even selected Nicario’s work for its Seeds of Change exhibition and is now part of their permanent collection.
Samantha Navarro
Samantha Navarro
Samantha Navarro was born in Naples, Florida, to Mexican parents. Ceremonial dance has been a constant in her life. She has been dancing with Danza Azteca Guadalupana (Guadalupe Aztec Dancers) since she was 6 years old and currently serves as the group’s sahumadora — the person responsible for smudging and overseeing the sacred fire before the dance ceremony begins. Now that she has a family of her own, she has continued the tradition. Now, all of her family members participate in the Danza Azteca Guadalupana.
Nely Rodríguez
Nely Rodríguez
Nely Rodríguez was born in Tamaulipas, Mexico. She has been a community organizer and worker-leader of the Florida-based Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) since 2007. Rodríguez leads worker-to-worker educational meetings on farms across more than 25 states on farmworkers’ new rights under the Fair Food Code of Conduct. She heads the CIW’s Women’s Group gatherings, is a speaker at CIW events and meets with public officials and food industry leaders to press the case for Fair Food.
In 2013, Rodriguez was selected to be highlighted in WGCU Public Media’s “Makers: Women Who Make Southwest Florida” as one of several leaders recognized for their contributions to building a stronger and more just Southwest Florida.
For over 25 years, the CIW Women’s Group has upheld a cherished tradition by creating an annual ofrenda (altar) to honor and celebrate the lives of departed loved ones on the Día de los Muertos. Rooted in remembrance, this heartfelt practice has provided farmworkers — many of whom are far away from their families — with a meaningful sense of connection, belonging and community.
Danza Azteca Guadalupana
Danza Azteca Guadalupana
Danza Azteca Guadalupana was officially founded in Naples, Florida, by Guadalupe Navarro, originally from Guanajuato, Mexico. After her passing, Celestina and Leobardo Navarro (Samantha’s parents) started leading the group. The family first began dancing in 2000 as part of a manda—a promise to the Virgin of Guadalupe in gratitude for a family member’s health. Initially composed solely of family members, the group has since welcomed newcomers, creating a space for ceremony and a safe and supportive environment for youth.
Last year, Danza Azteca Guadalupana was honored with an estandarte (banner), an achievement reserved for committed and long-standing ceremonial dance collectives. Generals or guides bestow this recognition upon the captains or leaders of a group, signifying their dedication to preserving tradition. Danza Azteca Guadalupana embodies commitment, pride, and reverence, upholding an ancestral ceremony that endured despite colonial disruptions. It is not entertainment or performance, but a living tradition.
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