Day of the Dead at New Stone Age: Offerings of Shrines and Altars

THE DEAD ZONE: Incense and roses, papier-mache and candy: These are just some of the traditional offerings laid on Mexican family shrines during el Dia de los Muertos --the annual Day of the Dead.

The observance begins on Halloween and continues for two days, with celebrations, Mass and trips to the cemetery to honor family members who passed away within the last year.

The New Stone Age gallery is now presenting its fifth annual Day of the Dead show of 15 artists’ shrines and altars, composed mostly of glass, ceramics and found objects.

“Many of the shrines will be non-traditional,” says gallery owner Susan Skinner. Bruce Schwartz, a local performance artist and puppeteer, is constructing a shrine to Marie Antoinette.

The exhibit ends (as does the Dia de los Muertos celebration) Nov. 2, with a closing party from 6 to 9 p.m. The shrines and altars then will be fully dressed with fresh flowers and offerings, and the public is invited to attend.

New Stone Age Gallery, 8407 W. Third St., Los Angeles. (213) 658-5969. Open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.

BEVERLY HILLS PRIMITIVES: Bruce Kapson, owner of Santa Barbara’s Galeria Primitivo, will conduct a show of naive and native arts of the Americas at Neiman-Marcus in Beverly Hills from Oct. 27 through Nov. 17.

The show, drawn from Kapson’s personal collection, will include about 300 pieces, including Eskimo soapstone sculpture, Hopi kachinas, a Tlingit totem and Navajo rugs, as well as assorted textiles, beadwork and photographs.

Kapson will be at the show daily. For information about Galeria Primitivo, Kapson can be reached at (805) 969-5802.

Neiman-Marcus, 9700 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills. (213) 550-5900.

NO PIPE CLEANER ANIMALS HERE: The sixth annual Contemporary Crafts Market, an exhibition featuring 200 crafts designers, will take place Oct. 29 and 30 at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.

The Oct. 29 preview party will benefit the Craft and Folk Art Museum. Ann Hallatt, a mask maker based in Sausalito, will be there to help guests make their own Halloween masks, and the Craft and Folk Art Museum will be displaying international masks from its own collection.

Dinner will be catered by Joss; guests will have a chance to win door prizes. Tickets to the benefit are $30. General admission is $3; free to children under 12. For information, call (213) 829-2724.