ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- In a colorful celebration in the Mexican tradition, artists taking part in Florida CraftArt's latest exhibition, "The Day of the Dead: A Celebration of Life," remember those who have gone before them.

St. Petersburg artist Mark Noll curated the show.

"In Mexico, they say you die three deaths,” Noll said.

The first death, Noll explains, is when your heart stops beating.

"The second is when they put you in the ground and it consumes you,” Noll said. “The third and the final death is when your name is no longer spoken."

Day of the Dead celebrations are meant to honor the dead -- to keep their memory alive.

Artists from across the country contributed their own interpretations of the well-known Latin American tradition.

Some imprinted their deceased loved one’s drawings into their sculptures. Others focused on the more traditional “Catrina,” a woman’s skull ornately decorated, set off with a crown of flowers or a hat.

The exhibition showcases a wall of sugar skulls -- or cavaleras -- originally made as joyful representations of loved ones passed on.

They are interpreted here in the spirit of whimsy.

"As long as we remember them and keep their memories alive, they are always with us,” said Noll of our loved ones who have passed on.

So through this art and the traditions of the Dia de los Muertos, we fight death forever.

The gallery is selling the sugar skulls as a fundraiser for their children's programs, and you can also buy your own sugar skull to create for yourself. "The Day of the Dead: A Celebration of Life" is open through May 26.