Saturday, October 21 – Thursday, November 2, 2023
LOS ANGELES (October 3, 2023) – Gloria Molina Grand Park, powered by The Music Center, will host the 12th annual Downtown Día de los Muertos, a 12-day public art installation in Downtown L.A. that honors Angelenos’ longtime customs and traditions of the “Day of the Dead” celebration. Beginning Saturday, October 21, through Thursday, November 2, 2023, the park for everyone will be a unified space where visitors can explore to pay reverence at 19 altars (known as ofrendas) created by professional artists and local organizations. Parkgoers can also contribute to the annual community altar—the 20th ofrenda—which will honor the victims of gun violence in Monterey Park and those who perished in Maui’s wildfires.
Curated by local multimedia artist and educator Consuelo G. Flores, the altars are designed to reflect the community spirit. Park visitors will encounter tributes to multicultural ancestors; members of the lowrider, LGBTQ+ and Ranchero communities; and beloved family pets. There will be two distinct altars dedicated to honoring Gloria Molina, the iconic figure of Los Angeles, in recognition of both her personal relationships and her impactful public work. One of these altars will be lovingly created by her family.
“The 12th anniversary of Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Downtown Día de los Muertos celebrates the communities that helped build the park into L.A.’s central gathering place. This year we are also paying tribute to former Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina with two altars in her honor. This park exists because of her tenacity to see this beautiful green oasis come alive to serve all in L.A. County,” said Robert Gonzalez, director of Gloria Molina Grand Park. “I invite all Angelenos and visitors to pay their respects to former Supervisor Gloria Molina, as well as all our loved ones who have passed, by contributing to the community altar. Celebrating lives make us stronger.”
On opening day of Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Downtown Día de los Muertos (Saturday, October 21, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.), Grupo Folklorico Huitzillin and Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles will perform in the park at the Fountain Overlook; LA Opera Connects, the educational arm of The Music Center’s resident company partner, LA Opera, will present tenor Jonathan Lacayo, who will perform an array of songs celebrating Día de los Muertos. Additionally, Angelenos and visitors can create their own mini altars and cookie sugar skulls to take home. The opening day of Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Downtown Día de los Muertos coincides with the highly popular DTLA event, Grand Ave Arts: All Access, in which the park is participating.
As a grand finale to the 12-day Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Downtown Día de los Muertos, the park will partner with GuadaLAjara Film Festival (GLAFF) to proudly present a special screening of the 1960 film Macario, directed by Roberto Gavaldón, on Thursday, November 2, at 7:30 p.m. in Block Three of the park between Hill Street and Broadway. The community is invited to the free screening that celebrates the legends of Latin American cinema; free tickets are available at glaff.org/program. GLAFF is dedicated to identifying, nurturing and empowering Latin American and BIPOC filmmakers across generations, with a focus on fostering creativity and building bridges between the U.S. and Latin America. More details about special guests and activities related to the film screening will be announced soon.
This year’s altars will be created by individual artists, local organizations and community partners, including: Antioch University Los Angeles; Association of German Shepherd Rescuers; Dulce Stein International; La Familia Flores (a.k.a. The Stax Family); The Family of Gloria Molina; Generaciones en Acción; LADWP Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) & The American Society of Civil Engineers of Los Angeles (ASCE); Mexican Cultural Institute of Los Angeles; The Norte Family; Monica Perez; Office of Supervisor Hilda Solis; OZO CommUNITY, Plus; Ester Petschar; Plaza de la Raza conceived by artist Jose Lozano; Rose Portillo; Antonio Rael; Rock Rose Gallery; Somos LOUD; and The Wall Las Memorias.
Gloria Molina Grand Park's Downtown Día de los Muertos is supported by the California Arts Council, a state agency; community arts activities are proudly presented by UCLA Health.
CALENDAR LISTING
WHAT:
12th Annual Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Downtown Día de los Muertos
Gloria Molina Grand Park will showcase a public art installation in DTLA honoring Angelenos’ longtime customs and traditions of the “Day of the Dead” celebration. For 12 days, the park for everyone will be a unified space where visitors can explore to see 19 beautiful altars created by professional artists and local organizations honoring their deceased loved ones. Parkgoers can also contribute to the annual community altar—the 20th altar—which will honor the victims of gun violence in Monterey Park and those who perished in Maui’s wildfires.
WHEN:
Public Viewing of the Altars
Saturday, October 21 – Thursday, November 2, 2023
8:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Opening Day Community Celebration with Mariachi Band, Folklorico Dancers and Arts Activities
Saturday, October 21, 2023
11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Free Film Screening of Macario (1960)
Thursday, November 2, 2023
7:30 p.m.
WHERE:
Gloria Molina Grand Park
200 N. Grand Avenue
Los Angeles 90012
MORE INFO:
For the latest news about Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Día de los Muertos, visit grandparkla.org or follow @grandpark_la on social media.
ABOUT GLORIA MOLINA GRAND PARK
A vibrant outdoor gathering place, Gloria Molina Grand Park is a beautiful public park for the entire community in Los Angeles County. With expansive green space for gatherings large and small, Gloria Molina Grand Park celebrates the county’s cultural vitality and is host to community events, cultural experiences, holiday celebrations and many other activities that engage and attract visitors from all communities. The 12-acre Gloria Molina Grand Park, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2022, stretches from The Music Center on the west to City Hall on the east and is easily accessible by Metro via the B/D (formerly Red/Purple) line to the Civic Center/Grand Park station. The park was named one of American Planning Association’s 10 “Great Public Spaces” in the U.S. for 2013. Working closely with the county, The Music Center is responsible for all operations and programming for the park. For more information, visit grandparkla.org. Follow Gloria Molina Grand Park on Instagram, X, Twitch, TikTok, Spotify and Mixcloud (@grandpark_la) as well as YouTube and Facebook (@grandparkLosAngeles).
ABOUT THE MUSIC CENTER
The Music Center convenes artists, communities and ideas with the goal of deepening the cultural lives of every resident in Los Angeles County. The $70 million non-profit performing arts organization has two divisions: TMC Arts and TMC Ops. TMC Arts, The Music Center’s programming engine, provides year-round programming inside The Music Center’s four theatres, on Jerry Moss Plaza, outside at Gloria Molina Grand Park—a 12-acre adjacent green space—in schools and other locations all over Los Angeles County and on a digital platform called The Music Center Offstage. TMC Arts presents world-class dance with Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center, free and low-cost public concerts and events, as well as live and digital K–12 arts education programs, workshops, performances, interactive experiences and special events. TMC Ops manages the theatres, the Plaza and Gloria Molina Grand Park, which comprise $2 billion in county assets, on behalf of the County of Los Angeles. The Music Center is also home to four renowned resident companies—Center Theatre Group, Los Angeles Master Chorale, LA Opera and LA Phil. For more information, visit musiccenter.org. Follow The Music Center on social media @MusicCenterLA.
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