The community altar at Downey's Dia de los Muertos Festival (Photo: Eric Pierce)

Downey-At this year's Dia de los Murtos Festival, a huge marigold altar greeted the patron of the festival. 

As the focal point of art and the first thing you see when entering from the Firestone side, the Downey Community Altar, Ofrenda a la comunidad de Downey, is located in the new design plaza in front of the Downey Theatre, marked as the day’s plaza memories Or, Plaza de Recuerdos. The Downeys, with strollers, old people walking, and even dogs pushing the stroller, all came to enjoy the sunny afternoon. 

This is Downey’s 8th Reaper Festival, and marigold is the signal flower. It is said that the scent of these bright orange and yellow flowers brought souls from their graves to their homes on this day. This day is first of all a family time to celebrate the life of ancestors and enjoy today's life.

Cempasúchi is the Aztec name for marigolds native to Mexico, and they are everywhere. An art gallery visitor wore a hat studded with marigolds, and artist Caroline Estrada-del Toro wore a long metal necklace and earrings with painted marigolds from her hometown of Niyarit in Mexico.

The square altar was built by the seventh generation of altar master Rosanna Esparza Ahrens, who is the daughter and protégé of the noble lady Ofelia Esparza who made the Los Angeles altarpiece. It contains family photos contributed by residents of Downey, making it a real Orenda. 

This year's art festival is hosted by Downey City and Downey Theater, and the Downey Art Alliance hosted an art performance at Downey Theater. The participation of the Downey Art League is the idea of ​​Amber Vogel Shaver, co-producer of the festival and manager of Downey Theatre, who made suggestions for cooperation at the first film festival. The theater hall highlights three large ceramic works by the guest artist Jorge del Toro (Jorge del Toro).

Downey Day is recognized as one of the most outstanding festivals in the South, partly because of the indoor/outdoor environment and the overall display including the coordinated booths and decorations. After a rain earlier this week, the sky has turned bright blue and the temperature has reached more than 70 degrees. The day started with Aztec dancers dressed in feathers at Civic Plaza and will end with a ticket sales performance by Mariachi Divas at the Downey Theatre. 

Carolina Estrada del Toro (photo by Lorine Parks)

"I am Jorge's most loyal fan," his wife Carolina Estrada del Toro said, pointing to a certificate of approval. "An hour ago, State Senator Bob Archuleta (Bob Archuleta) came here and submitted it to Jorge in the California State Senate because he'inspired everyone who watched his work '." Alistair Hunter also received the award from the chairman of the Downey Art League "10th anniversary, to provide artists with a place to thrive."

We took the fast new glass elevator neatly tucked into the wall to reach the balcony level of the theater and the mezzanine gallery to watch the rest of the art exhibition. DAC curator Andrew Hernandez has assembled a wide variety of works, including pastels and smaller sculptures by Jorge del Toro, as well as works by newcomers Wendy Hernandez and Maricela Avina.  

Pat Gil, the project coordinator and vice president of the Downey Arts Alliance, pointed out that Hector Silva, Pinchmitch, Carolina Del Toro and Polaris Castillo are also included.

It is said that Ophrendas is a bridge between two worlds. The walls are covered with paintings and three portraits of painted and hammered tin foil glittering in the light.  

Jorge was standing next to a piece of ceramics, a small skull of a jaguar carrying its prey, a large all-wool sheep, this is one of his many works and paintings. "I like to do this," Jorge said. "I'm very happy that the community can see so many of my works today."  

Jorge Del Toro (Photo by Lorine Parks)

To commemorate this day, Jorge wore a shirt with small skulls and a grey bead necklace with carved jade skulls. Some of his works are too large to be fired one by one, but fired separately and assembled together. Bringing them here and arranging them for a day of performance will definitely require a lot of work hours. Wife Caroline stood nearby and gently repositioned the sculpture. 

The gallery is a busy place. Frank Kearns stopped to chat. When we descended by the same glass elevator outside, a dog was holding a leash and wearing a marigold collar, and we could see the view of the square. 

The theme of the exhibition is "ofrendas", the term meaning offers or gifts, and usually refers to a family altar, a series of objects on display during the annual and traditional Mexican Day of the Dead. It is said that this tradition originated from the Aztecs, and that night, the soul of the dead can travel freely between the realm of the living and the dead. 

El Dia de Los Muertos is a family affair, a celebration of life, and a moment of respect for generations that have passed. The dancing skeleton wearing a black lace turban and roses? She may be your Abra. The skeleton with a black top hat and a cane? Theo Marco. 

The altars are designed to welcome the return of the dead. Most altars have stimulating flowers such as candles and marigolds to help souls find their way, as well as their favorite food and drinks and personal belongings. A glass of water, because you will be thirsty after a long journey. The artists in the performance showed the spirit of return in various imaginations.

The traditional icon Calaveras Catrina comes from a skull cartoon drawn by Mexican illustrator Jose Guadalupe Posada around 1910. Posadas's satirical version of the upper class was quickly overthrown by the Mexican Revolution. Regardless of occupation, class or status, there are figures with skulls as faces. So the skeleton wears a gorgeous turn of the 19th century.

In Hispanic culture, children cannot escape the reality of death. Regardless of age, children will attend the funeral. Death is talked about publicly. With these bento boxes, children are taught how to simulate death. 

The theater hall is decorated with colorful posters. Live music is playing on the terrace, and the beer and wine garden is open. Outside the square again, the family strolled through the pedestrian zone created in the parking lot of the Civic Center. A promenade is dedicated to dining trucks, and the Taco Cartel trailer is next to pupusas, French Crepes Bonaparte and the only Puerto Rico dining truck in Los Angeles. Music on the theater terrace floats by, and the city intimately provides picnic tables and benches.

In front of the newly opened Downey Library, the friends of the library placed a few carts of books at a low price, and used them gently: 50 cents each, three books per dollar. Virginia Jishan, chairman of the Friends Association, said that the cart is being filled and refilled. The bright orange tiled exterior wall of the library perfectly matches the color of the day. 

Another avenue with the Mercado flag is lined with bright white pavilions, selling artisan jewelry and decorated T-shirts. Calaveras y Diabiltos said of another person who sells skull masks. Most people dress casually, but many girls and women wear makeup, with white faces with sugar skulls, fancy dresses and gorgeous headdresses. Everyone wears a mask, except for the smallest one.

Several children in their Halloween costumes, Wonder Woman, Superman and Spider-Man jumping around. But Dia de los Muertos is far from "Mexican Halloween". Northern Europe also celebrates the same night on Halloween. This is a time when the soul is walking among the living. Yes, but with faceless, invisible and terrifying ghosts, creatures without names are foreign to humans. 

The altar is the heart of any Dia de los Muertos, composed of love, honor and respect. Out of the food and market areas, we found some special outstanding examples. In the parking lot area around the Heritage Church (formerly the First Baptist Church) is the car altar. Built in the open trunk of the car and growing on the sidewalk, these are more concentrated and personalized, with photos of flower arches and happy times, plush toys and live balloons. There is a festive and happy atmosphere everywhere, but still full of respect. 

State Senator Bob Archuleta (left) awarded certificates of commendation for the 10th anniversary of the Downey Arts Coalition, the sculptures of Jorge del Toro and the Dia de los Muertos Festival in Downey. (Picture provided)

Back on the Embassy Suites side of the Theater Square, the family was attracted to three giant Caterinas made of papel maché to take pictures. 

Three charming skeleton ladies, each eight feet tall, stood on a bed of marigolds, their skulls wearing elegant hats, and one holding a black lace parasol. Toddlers pose next to these extravagant figures, and an old woman is helped from a wheelchair so that she can also stand next to them.  

These noble ladies of the afterlife, the symbol of the Day of the Dead, link the times with their interpretation of death. Some people say that their elegant dress implies celebration, and a smile reminds us that accepting death may bring comfort. The dead should be remembered, not fear. 

The marigold arch in the theater square was lit with lights, and the evening scenery quickly became charming. The solemn palm trunk is decorated with marigolds and 5-foot-long garlands. Wide butterfly.

I left before dawn, but the shadows over El Plaza de Recuerdos in the Plaza de Recuerdos grew longer and longer. 

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