The centerpiece of the DIA's tribute to Diego Rivera is
the Detroit collection of Linda and Michael Margolin.

AARON HALABE

Special to The Jewish News

W

hen Linda and Mich-
ael Margolin bought
their ' first piece of
Mexican folk art 18
years ago, they hard-
ly expected it to be the begin-
ning of what experts call an
"important" collection. Today,
some 800 pieces later, that's
exactly what they have.
It has become so important
that a portion of it is now be-
ing used in the Detroit In-
stitute of Arts exhibition,
"Ofrenda: An Offering to
Diego- Rivera," running
through Nov. 3.
The exhibit is part of the
DIA's celebration of Latin
American month, based On
the Day of the Dead
festivities, observed in Mexico
on Nov. 1-2.
The annual Mexican holi-
day consists of offerings, ofren-
das, placed at the grave sites
of deceased. relatives. Family
members decorate tombs with
marigold flowers, breads that
represent souls, and sweets in-
cluding sugar skulls and can-
dy coffins. At night, fires of
copal wood are lit to attract
spirits, and family members
often maintain a vigil at the
grave site.
Contemporary ofrendas are
sometimes set up as altars in
homes and feature favored
items of the departed such as
a pack of cigarettes or a
favorite food or beverage.
Despite the central theme of
death, the celebration is not
considered macabre. It is
thought of as an affirmation of
the spiritual presence of
deceased loved ones.
Nancy Jones, curator of the
DIA ofrenda, said the exhibi-
tion is intended to honor the
legacy of Mexican artist Diego
Rivera whose Detroit Industry
murals adorn the walls of the
DIA central court. She said
the exhibition was fortunate
to have the help and expertise
of Juan Coronel Rivera, Diego

Rivera's grandson, who
designed and set up the ex-
hibit and assisted with
curatorial functions.
The exhibit portrays a
graveyard setting on an
elaborately decorated plat-
form. The artifacts, most of
which come from the
Margolins' collection, are plac-
ed on and around various
tombs. A figure of a pre-
Columbian god, designed in
multi-colored seeds, is seen at
the center of the platform
which is less than a foot off
the ground and surrounded by
colored stones.
Unlike traditional exhibits,
the objects are not easily ac-
cessible to viewers. They are
not described on placards nor
are they signed or numbered.
"The objects in the exhibition
are not being presented as
isolated objects of art in a

standard museum context,"
Ms. Jones said. "They are be-
ing presented in a context that
represents a larger living
tradition which is the Day of
the Dead ceremony:"
The Margolins' living and
dining rooms remain crowded
with artifacts, even after Juan

The theme is
death, but ofrenda
affirms deceased
loved ones.

Coronel Rivera visited their
home and selected more than
100 pieces from which he
designed the DIA ofrenda.
Their spacious Detroit col-
onial is filled with art
representing such Mexican
regions as Oaxaca (Wah-hah-
kah), Michoacan and Ochimi-

cho. From wall to wall and
floor to ceiling, nearly every
space bursts with colorful, ex-
otic and often unusual
artifacts.
Their collection includes
sculpted and painted wooden
masks and animals, numerous
terra cotta and painted plat-
ters and pots, candlesticks,
papier-mache mermaids, col-
orful clay figurines and many
other examples of Mexican
popular art.
At first glance, it appears as
if their collection is crowding
them out of living space. But
the Margolins say the ar-
tifacts give their home life,
and they are willing to
sacrifice space for them. "All
of a sudden it has become chic
to collect Mexican folk art,"
Mrs. Margolin said. "People
are now decorating with it. We
do not decorate with Mexican-

folk art. We collect objects that
we are passionate about and
they live with us in our home
— they are not accessories.
And that's a crucial difference
to us."
The Margolins' wide-
ranging knowledge of in-
digenous Mexican • art
developed after years of collec-
ting. But they also have pro-
fessional and personal ties
that helped them become
skilled collectors. Mrs.
Margolin is an assistant
curator in the DIA's Depart-
ment of Education and Mr.
Margolin has been active in
numerous volunteer roles
with the Institute.
The couple share an ap-
preciation for many of the ar-
tifacts in their eclectic collec-
tion, but they also have
distinctly different opinions
about other objects. "Michael

Linda and Michael
Margolin survey
the Rivera ofrenda
in the DIA's
Central Court.

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

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