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In honor of the Día de Los Muertos with Dudamel concerts, the Los Angeles Philharmonic commissioned five local artists to create altars that celebrate Latin American culture, ancestry, and identity. 

Also known as Day of the Dead, Día de Los Muertos is a historically Mexican holiday meant to reunite the living and the deceased. Friends and families often build and decorate ofrendas, or altars, with items that best represent who their lost loved ones were in order to give their souls a dedicated space to revisit the living. 

The artists—Teresa Flores, Liseth Amaya, Lily Martinez, Consuelo G. Flores, and Dalila Paola Mendez—each crafted a life-size altar with using items like marigolds, photographs, candles, musical ephemera, and more to delve into a range of sentimental and celebratory themes. 

The exhibition will be on display in various locations throughout Walt Disney Concert Hall—including the lobby, BP Hall, Keck Amphitheater, Garden, and more—from October 25 to November 3.  

 

Explore the Exhibition


 

De Colores Catrina Sisters by Lily Martinez 

Located at BP Hall

This captivating trio of sisters embodies the spirit of Día de Los Muertos through their modern and festive Catrina attire. Each sister showcases a unique interpretation, featuring vibrant colors and intricate details that celebrate Mexican heritage. The elegant black elements provide a striking contrast, adding depth and sophistication to their looks. Together, they represent the unity of family, culture, and remembrance, merging contemporary artistry with traditional motifs to honor the past while embracing the present.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/lilylove213/

Catrina Headpieces by Lily Martinez 

Located on the 3rd floor, near the exit to the Grand Avenue side of the garden

Braided Rainbow Halo Catrina

This modern Catrina headpiece blends classic elements with modern flair, drawing inspiration from the vibrant hues of rainbows and featuring the elegance of braided designs. Short soft pastel hair cascades gracefully in the piece, reflecting a playful yet respectful homage to Día de los Muertos. Its colorful palette and intricate styling celebrate both life and the afterlife, embodying a fresh take on a beloved cultural icon.

Ribbon Halo Catrina

This striking Catrina headpiece draws inspiration from the beloved Mexican Maria doll, featuring a vibrant ribbon headband that beautifully frames its design. The headpiece showcases playful pink hair and whimsical flower daisy eyes, while the black sugar skull accents pay homage to the Día de los Muertos tradition. This piece combines elements of nostalgia and modern artistry, celebrating the rich cultural heritage of Mexico with a lively, contemporary twist.

La Mexicana Catrina

This captivating Catrina headpiece reflects the vibrant spirit of Mexico in the 1940s. Adorned with a striking halo of crystal beads in the colors of the Mexican flag, it embodies national pride and cultural richness. The dramatic sugar skull makeup enhances the headpiece’s bold statement, merging traditional aesthetics with a contemporary flair. This piece honors the past while celebrating the enduring legacy of Día de los Muertos, inviting viewers to remember and rejoice in the beauty of Mexican heritage.

Jewel Halo Catrina

This exquisite Catrina headpiece showcases the vibrant artistry of Día de los Muertos. Inspired by delicate tissue paper, its intricate design features jewel tones of periwinkle, blue, and purple, symbolizing the beauty of life and the afterlife. Adorned with sparkling gems, this piece captures the spirit of remembrance and the joy of celebration, making it a stunning tribute to the rich cultural heritage surrounding the holiday.

Cactus Halo Catrina

This enchanting Catrina headpiece draws inspiration from the resilient cactus, a powerful symbol of Mexican culture and survival. Featuring vibrant teal and pink makeup, it captures the essence of the desert landscape while celebrating life and beauty. The intricate design reflects the strength and adaptability of the cactus, intertwining nature with the spirit of Día de los Muertos. This piece serves as a vivid tribute to the interconnectedness of life, death, and the vibrant traditions of Mexico.

“Remembrance of Peace and Hope for the Future” by Consuelo G. Flores 

Located in the Grand Avenue Lobby 

Loss is one of the most challenging experiences we face. Processing our grief is important so that we find peace and honor the legacies of those who impacted our lives. Thus, the focus of this altar is peace. The doves represent that offering to every level of the altar. While there are photos of loved ones from our community who have died, this altar also pays homage to those who, throughout their lives, worked toward peace, freedom, and equity for all. This altar is about focusing on the reconciliation within us as we process our grief and restore inner and outward harmony. 

An Offering to Accompany the Music by Teresa Flores 

Located at the AT&T Bar on the 3rd floor

This year’s altar honors legendary Latino and Afro-Latino composers. The theme is inspired by the LA Phil’s program which includes Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos and Mexican composer Silvestre Revueltas. The program also includes Gabriela Ortiz’s Yanga, which features African instruments that arrived in Latin America hundreds of years ago and continue to shape the sound of Latin American music today.   

The altar includes traditional elements like cempasúchil (marigold flowers), pan de muerto, candles (flameless), and photos as well as items specific to the composers, like instruments, batons, sheet music, record players, vinyls, CDs, cassettes, and other musical ephemera. In addition to Villa-Lobos and Revueltas, the altar honors, Brazilian composer Chiquinha Gonzaga and others as informed by the LA Phil community.  

IG: https://www.instagram.com/notteresa/

Dedicated by Liseth Amaya 

Located at W.M. Keck Children's Amphitheatre

"Dedicated" is an altar created to honor beloved souls who have departed this world. It stands as a powerful reminder of our commitment to keeping their memories vibrant and alive. This sacred space embraces the inseparable nature of life and death, inviting us to accept mortality's presence rather than fear it, even as we navigate its complexities. Through this altar, we celebrate the enduring bonds that connect us to those who have passed, transcending the veil between worlds.

Abuelo 

Located indoors on 3rd floor of WDCH on Grand Avenue side

"Abuelo" honors Liseth's grandfather and countless others torn from future generations by immigration, war, and upheaval. Though they never met, Liseth's bond with her grandfather lives on through family lore and a poignant journey to restore his neglected resting place in El Salvador. This piece spans generations and borders, paying tribute to those who, due to conflict and displacement, couldn't witness their families' new chapters. It captures the essence of Día de los Difuntos, observed on November 2nd in Central America, preserving the legacy of loved ones separated by strife, distance, and time.

IG: http://instagram.com/liseth.amaya.studio

Dalila Paola Mendez for Self Help Graphics 

Located at A Rose for Lily in the Garden 

Description: Dalila Paola Méndez is a first generation queer Indigenous Salvadoran/Guatemalan artist. Combining modern and ancestral narratives, she explores indigenous connections as a way to reinterpret and navigate issues confronting communities of color. Through painting, printmaking, photography, and murals she visually narrates stories of resilience, queerness, matriarchs, indigenous cosmologies and our environment. Her work is influenced by her grandmother’s matriarchal line of wisdoms and knowledge. She is currently working on a series of Huipiles depicting different contemporary social justice narratives for an upcoming exhibition.

Founded in 1970 in the heart of East Los Angeles, Self Help Graphics & Art is dedicated to the production, interpretation, and distribution of prints and other art media by Chicana/o and Latina/o artists. Our multidisciplinary and intergenerational programs promote artistic excellence and empower our community by providing access to space, tools, training and capital.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/dalilapaola/

https://www.instagram.com/shg1970/