Boyle Heights Day of the Dead exhibit celebrates Latino veterans
October 29, 2009 | 7:00
am
A Boyle Heights gallery and art space is paying homage to Latino soldiers who died in U.S. wars abroad as part of an exhibit celebrating Day of the Dead, a festive Latin American holiday to remember departed loved ones.
"This is a way of honoring the dead but with a purpose and a message," said Casa 0101 founder Josefina Lopez, a writer whose autobiographical play, "Real Woman Have Curves," was made into an acclaimed HBO movie. "We want to affirm our contribution to this country."
The event is open to the public and will also feature a screening of "As Long as I Remember: American Veteranos," a documentary about the toll of war on three Chicano Vietnam veterans.
Casa 0101 Theater will host a dedication of the exhibit, which explores death in wars from Vietnam to Afghanistan and Iraq, during a ceremony and reception at 8 p.m. tonight. The exhibit will feature a colorful altar with photos and other memorabilia dedicated to Latino members of the armed forces.
Day of the Dead, or Día de Los Muertos, is observed Nov. 2. Typically, family members visit graveyards, taking food and decorating burial sites with candles, flowers and photos of deceased relatives. The roots of the holiday date back hundreds of years to before the arrival of the Spanish in the Americas.
"This is a way of honoring the dead but with a purpose and a message," said Casa 0101 founder Josefina Lopez, a writer whose autobiographical play, "Real Woman Have Curves," was made into an acclaimed HBO movie. "We want to affirm our contribution to this country."
The event is open to the public and will also feature a screening of "As Long as I Remember: American Veteranos," a documentary about the toll of war on three Chicano Vietnam veterans.
--Robert J. Lopez
Photo: Latino soldier taking a break. Credit: Casa 0101.
There is MORE than just one showing of the documentary As Long as I Remember: American Veteranos by Laura Varela
Thursday October 29th at 7pm
Friday, October 30th at 5:30pm
Saturday, October 31st at 6pm
Sunday, November 1st at 7pm
Posted by: Laura Varela | October 29, 2009 at 03:15 PM
Photo: Author Michael Rodriguez (featured in the film) taken by Luis Alejandro Parker (also in the film).
Posted by: Laura Varela | October 29, 2009 at 03:16 PM