6,000 paper butterflies mark expanded Dia de los Muertos exhibit at Sahara West

More than 6,000 paper butterflies hang from the walls and ceiling of the grotto gallery at Sahara West Library as part of an expanded Dia de los Muertos installation. The exhibit, titled The Return, opened to the public and runs through November 30.

Local artist Isaias Hiram Urrabazo created the installation, which debuted in the same space in 2025. He stated he had additional time this year to develop what he described as a deeper story. The central ofrenda features a statue of the Virgin Mary with baby Jesus surrounded by hundreds of photographs of deceased loved ones.

This year’s exhibit is dedicated to the memory of Urrabazo’s friend Max. The 2025 version was inspired by the loss of his mother, Maria S. Urrabazo. Urrabazo noted that his mother wanted her children to come together, describing the gathering as a blessing where family can cry, laugh, and enjoy the moment.

The gallery includes several stations designed for meditation on grief. These include an empty chair with a pair of shoes and a papel picado-laced altar for deceased pets. Benches with tissue boxes are positioned in the center of the room for rest and reflection. Community members provided the photos of their deceased relatives for the display.

Outside the main grotto in the library lobby, Urrabazo installed skull sculptures known as calaveras. The collection includes characters such as Elvis, Frankenstein’s Monster and his bride, Princess Leia, and Frida Kahlo. The exhibit is free to the public and open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Urrabazo will present another exhibit called Sacred Light at Springs Preserve from November 6 to 8. His family helped with the meticulous details of The Return, including stringing marigolds and gluing the paper butterflies to garden netting. The installation aims to evoke memories of loved ones and initiate a healing process for visitors.