Mary J. Andrade

Mary J. Andrade is a native of Ecuador. She established her residence in the United States in 1967 and became an American citizen a few years ago.

Andrade received her B.A. in Journalism from the University of Guayaquil, in Ecuador, and then came to the United States to specialize in photography. She also became interested in journalism and, twenty six years ago, Andrade and her husband Frank founded the bilingual newspaper La Oferta. This weekly publication circulates in the San Francisco Bay Area.

In 1987, Mary J. Andrade began a research project in Janitzio Michoacan, about the celebration of The Day of the Dead. This pre-Hispanic tradition has crossed the border and is celebrated throughout the United States as a way to honor the memory of our loved ones. Every year she covers a different state in Mexico to gather information and to photograph a tradition that originated during the pre-Hispanic era. You can see some of her work at websites on the subject: www.dayofthedead.com and www.diademuertos.com.

Mary J. Andrade has interviewed historians, anthropologists and experts concerning Day of the Dead and how it is celebrated in their communities, a tradition that has evolved through the centuries and has become an important element of the Mexican spirit and culture.

She has published the following books:

Through the Eyes of the Soul, Day of the Dead in Mexico - Michoacan August 1998. Second Edition: January 1999. Third Edition July 2003.

Through the Eyes of the Soul, Day of the Dead in Mexico - Oaxaca August 1999. Second Edition: August 2002.

Through the Eyes of the Soul, Day of the Dead in Mexico - Mexico City, Mixquic and MorelosOctober 2000. Second Edition August 2003.

The Vigil of the Little Angels, Day of the Dead in MexicoThe work covers the celebration of children in the cemetery of Janitzio, Michoacan. July 2001.

Through the Eyes of the Soul, Day of the Dead in Mexico - Puebla, Tlaxcala, San Luis Potosi and HidalgoAugust 2002.

Magical Christmas in OaxacaSeptember 2003.

Through the Eyes of the Soul, Day of the Dead in Mexico - YucatanSeptember 2003.

She is also much-awarded. She was presented The OHTLI Award by the Secretary of Foreign Relations through the Comunidades Mexicanas en el Extranjero Program. This honor was for the support she gives through La Oferta to the Mexican citizens and Mexican American residents in the San Francisco Bay Area.

On April 9, 2000 she received The Mexican Silver Pen from the President of Mexico, Dr. Ernesto Zedillo. This award is given through the Secretary of Tourism to the best works published promoting the cultural and tourist destinations of Mexico.

She was awarded The Mexican Silver Pen for her first book of the series Through the Eyes of the Soul: Day of the Dead in Mexico. This work covers the celebration in the State of Michoacan.

The Latino Hall of Fame Award was given for her series Through the Eyes of the Soul: Day of the Dead in Mexico and The Vigil of the Little Angels.

The City of San Jose Commendation noted her "dedication to informing, celebrating and honoring Mexican Americans and their heritage through her work at La Oferta." The Commendation was presented by the Mayor of San Jose Ron Gonzales, and City Councilmembers Cindy Chavez and Chuck Reed, in August of 2003.

The photographic work of Mary J. Andrade regarding this tradition is internationally known. Her photographs have been reproduced in dozens of magazines and newspapers and exhibited in more than 150 exhibits in museums and galleries in the U.S., Mexico, Ecuador, Chile, Spain, Germany and Egypt, to name a few.