Self Help Graphics & Art's 36th Annual Day of the Dead Celebration to be held at East L.A. Civic Center

Full Schedule Features Exhibition, Musical Performance, Altars, and More that Define the Theme of Deadly Stylish--Volunteers Needed! Please sign up on our website!

Self Help Graphics & Art welcomes the community to its 36th Annual Dia de los Muertos Celebration on Monday, November 2nd, 2009. To better accommodate the thousands of visitors who attend the landmark event, Self Help Graphics & Art will hold this year's celebration at the East Los Angeles Civic Center. The location will provide visitors with free easy access parking, restrooms and greater space for vendors and activities.

The event will feature children's art workshops, art and crafts vendors, elaborate altars, as well as delicious local food. Guests will also enjoy a day of the dead fashion walk, live music from top local performers including Conjunto Los Pochos, Killsonic, L'Esprit d'Afrique, Ollin, La Santa Cecilia and surprise special guests. One of the highlights of the celebration includes a traditional public procession featuring people of all ages in colorful calavera face paint and attire.

This year's commemorative print was created by vanguard artist Diane Gamboa who continues to feed off the urban landscape and its underground makings to fill her creative palette. Diane is known for her Hit and Run Paper Fashion, the Pin Up series, her Unpopular Culture series of photographs and related images and concepts, her ongoing Day of the Dead couture style, and Bruja-Ha objects. Gamboa is also serving as curator of the Deadly Stylish art exhibition featuring works by William J. Acedo, William Borges, Ofelia Esparza, Simone Gad, Angie Skull Garcia, Jessica Gudiel, Theresa Hernandez, Edgar Ibarra, Pola Lopez, Rigo Maldonado, Sandra Vista, Dawn Wirth, and Jaime aka Germs Zacarias. The exhibition will run from November 1-November 28, 2009 at Self Help Graphics & Art at 3802 Cesar Chavez Avenue.

Self Help Graphics will kick off the celebration with a series of FREE art workshops in October featuring courses on papel picado, luminarias and mascaras. Workshops will conclude with the construction of a community altar during the Noche de Ofrenda celebration on October 24, 2009 at 6 p.m. at Self Help’s Cesar Chavez Avenue location.

This year's event is sponsored in part by the Walt Disney Company, with support from Los Angeles County Supervisor, Gloria Molina, Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation, Los Angeles County Libraries, Los Angeles County Internal Services Department, Ex-Voto Design, Hit + Run, La Morenita, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Sticky Rick's.

DAY OF THE DEAD CELEBRATION: Nov. 2nd 2009, 5-11 p.m. East Los Angeles Civic Center 4801 E. 3rd Street, LA 90022 (on the corner of 3rd Street & Mednik) PROCESSION: 4 p.m. Gathering at the Virgen Mural on Mednik at Cesar Chavez Avenue

DEADLY STYLISH EXHIBITION: November 1-November 28, 2009 Opening Reception: November 1, 2009 5-7 PM Artist Talk: November 21, 2009 2-4 PM Self Help Graphics & Art 3802 Cesar Chavez Avenue, East Los Angeles, CA 90063

ARTS & CRAFTS WORKSHOPS: Throughout October 2009 NOCHE DE OFRENDA: October 24th, 2009, 6-9 p.m. Self Help Graphics & Art 3802 Cesar Chavez Avenue, East Los Angeles, CA 90063

Image: Deadly Stylish by Diane Gamboa, 2009