Local spotlight: Nikki "Detourbutterfly" Saraiva

Nikki "Detourbutterfly" Saraiva (photo by Paul Misciagno)

 F.A.T. Village on Friday will celebrate the Day of the Dead with music, art, a skeleton processional, giant puppets and altars devoted to the memory of loved ones. Boca Raton artist Nikki "Detourbutterfly" Saraiva will be there tending to an altar of her own.

"Titan's Dance" by Nikki "Detourbutterfly" Saraiva

Her installation at F.A.T. Village's Project Fine Art is part of "Art of the Dead," a group show also featuring works by  Cenigma, Joseph Fischer, Emily Crawford, Deborah Gregg, Michelle Brecher, Alfred Lopez, Anthony Burks, Leanne Gardner and Nik Satterfield.

Saraiva's altar contains fresh flowers, lit candles and shelves with smaller artworks. Beyond the altar is a 20-foot wall filled with her paintings and the mixed-media assemblages that have become one of her primary passions. The assemblages are made from found items including bones, skeleton keys, clocks and parts from disassembled dolls, vintage lamps and a wooden rolling foot massager. She particularly likes things that look weathered and have history.

While many of the works were Day of the Dead-inspired, they have other meanings too, Saraiva assures. Continue reading Arterpillar's story on Detourbutterfly n the Sun-Sentinel's Lifestyle section.