STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

The author of an award-winning book on Day of the Dead celebrations in the United States will discuss how the celebration has evolved over the past 50 years in a free presentation at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, at Ketchum’s Community library.

Regina Marchi is author of “Day of the Dead in the USA: The Migration and Transformation of a Cultural Phenomenon.” She will discuss how Chicana/o artists initiated public Day of the Dead observances in the United States in 1972 and the cultural, political and commercial transformation that has taken place since.

Prior to the presentation at 5:15 p.m., artists will show attendees how to make paper flowers that adorn Dia de los Muertos altars. Attendees will also be able to view objects that are integral parts of the altars.

Dia de los Muertos celebrations originated as a way to remember the dead via elaborate household altars and mountain shrines. They have been reinvented as a holiday of ethnic pride.

Marchi is a Media Studies professor at Rutgers University where she studies the intersections of media, culture and politics.

The program is presented in partnership with the Sun Valley Museum of Art, which has been staging a several Dia de los Muertos workshops and lectures leading up to two community celebrations on Oct. 22 and 29. To save a seat, go to https://thecommunitylibrary.libcal.com/event/8991034.

Thursday’s program also will be livestreamed with a recording made available through Oct. 13 at https://vimeo.com/749273579.