THANK YOU FOR AN INCREDIBLE 2024 SEASON
SAVE THE DATES FOR OUR 2025 DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS WORKSHOPS SATURDAYS IN OCTOBER
& CELEBRATION SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2025
AN ANNUAL TRADITION
free • all ages • ALTARS • SHOP MUERTOS MARKET • LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
SUPPORT FOOD VENDORS• L.A. COUNTY RESOURCE FAIR • ARTS & CRAFTS •FACE PAINTING
Self Help Graphics is proud to present our 51st Annual Día de los Muertos Celebration in partnership with the Office of Los Angeles County Board Supervisor Hilda L. Solis on Saturday, November 2, 2024 from 3:00 PM-8:00 PM at LA County Civic Center Park. The park is located at the East LA Civic Center, at 4801 E 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90022 (on the same campus of the East LA County Library).
You’re encouraged to dress in your favorite Día de los Muertos fashion! While we welcome your creative expression of Día de los Muertos, please remember that Day of the Dead is NOT Halloween. This is a time of reflection and a place where we can come together in community to honor our ancestors and remember our loved ones and the causes close to our hearts.
Our annual celebration, one of the nation’s longest standing Día de los Muertos public commemorations in the country, will feature: A danza blessing to honor our ancestors and welcome you to the celebration, community altars by local community members and organizations, live entertainment highlighting the sights and sounds of our cultura, Muertos Market with handmade art and goods by local artists and artisans, Self Help Graphics serigraph prints for sale, local street food vendors to nourish our community, face painting, art activities y más! This year, our community altar will be created by Altarista, Denise Esparza, and will be located inside the East LA County Library, located on the same campus as the park.
Our Annual Día de los Muertos season and celebration is a family-friendly affair. Always FREE and open to ALL AGES. Scroll down to learn more about our PROCESSION, WORKSHOPS y más!
GENERAL QUESTIONS & PRESS INQUIRIES
To inquire about becoming a season sponsor or questions regarding our 51st Annual Season workshops, celebration, Tonalli Studio Dia de los Muertos Gallery hours (where our Commemorative Print is featured), please email info@selfhelpgraphics.com.
For all SHG press requests, please contact VPE Communications: lorena@selfhelpgraphics.com.
CELEBRATION LIVE PERFORMANCES•3PM-8PM
Danza Ketzalitztli WILL BEGIN OUR EVENT AT CIVIC CENTER WITH A TRADITIONAL BLESSING
2024 PERFORMERS INCLUDE Jessa Calderon FEATURING MAYA JUPITER, TEATRO LAS RAMONAS,
the SUGARSKULLS (TRIBUTE TO EDDIE AYALA), LA FAMILIA GUTIERREZ,
DANZA DIVINA DE LOS ANGELES AND LOS CUMBIA DRAGONS
Jessa Calderon
Featuring Maya Jupiter
Jessa Calderon is a vibrant Tongva/Chumash MC, singer, as well as the Land, Water, and Climate Justice Director for the Sacred Places Institute for Indigenous Peoples. Known for her soulful voice and heartfelt lyrics,
Maya Jupiter is an Australian hip-hop artivist, MC, and passionate advocate for social justice. With a career spanning over two decades, she has made a significant impact on the music scene, blending hip-hop, Latin, and Chicana rock sounds.
Danza Divina Los Angeles
Danza Divina de Los Angeles is an intergenerational group dedicated to preserving and enriching the living tradition of Danza Azteca. Led by its Creative Director and Founder, Jeniffer Sanchez (Indigital Productions), the group includes members from diverse nations, and comes together to celebrate the Mexica tradition through their vibrant regalia and performances.
La Familia Gutiérrez
La Family Gutiérrez navigates the Son Jarocho from Veracruz, Mexico using resources from genres such as Bolero Habanera and jazz. Ramón Gutiérrrez - a Grammy awarded musician, composter and luthier - leads the band with the melodies and tangos of his requinto jarocho. Pabo Emiliano accompanies him with the harmonies and strumming of his jarana. Lucía and Santiago Gutiérrez set the rhythm and cadence with the woody sound of the zapateado and the cajón. And to the sound of this ensemble, the four of them sing the verses of various traditional sones and compositions by Ramón. Familia offers a rich and varied musical experience; enjoyable, like a family afternoon in which spontaneity, improvisation and interaction are protagonists.
Los Cumbia Dragons
Los Cumbia Dragons is a vibrant musical group led by singer/songwriter, Gabriel González, known for their electrifying fusion of traditional cumbia with modern Latin sounds. Originating from Los Angeles, they blend percussion, flutes, and stringed instruments with dynamic beats and rhythms that draw crowds into a collective celebration of culture. Los Cumbia Dragons pay homage to the roots of Latin American music while embracing contemporary influences, creating a sound that is both timeless and innovative.
Marlene Beltran
(Teatro Las Ramonas)
Las Ramonas are comprised of Marisol L.Torres, Marlene Beltran, and Jo Anna Mixpe Ley: Las Ramonas are conspirator clowns, utilizing theater, comedy, video, music, parody, and all tools at their reach (including but not limited to: Aquanet, shoulder pads, & chihuahuas ) to prompt laughter and provoke thought in their communities and throughout the *world. (*insert echo here). Performing as Las Ramonas at S.H.G.51st annual DDLM event are members, Marlene and Marisol. C/S y que!
The Sugarskulls
(Tribute to Eddie Ayala)
The Sugarskulls are a tribute band that has been formed to honor a friend, bandmate, musician, singer and songwriter, Eddie Ayala. The band is comprised of musicians that collaborated with Eddie at different times throughout the years at various capacities. Eddie Ayala’s collaboration with Rudy Medina in Cactus Flower included recordings with former band members of Oingo Boingo, John Avila, and Johnny Vatos.
Eddie’s work with Manuel and Tony began with Eddie as the co-Lead singer of Los Illegals then later with Aztec Radio that was primarily an unplugged band playing original music at various coffee shops and art galleries. Amongst the many musicians Eddie work with included Nigel Harrison of Blondie.
Marisol Torres
(Teatro Las Ramonas)
Las Ramonas are comprised of Marisol L.Torres, Marlene Beltran, and Jo Anna Mixpe Ley: Las Ramonas are conspirator clowns, utilizing theater, comedy, video, music, parody, and all tools at their reach (including but not limited to: Aquanet, shoulder pads, & chihuahuas ) to prompt laughter and provoke thought in their communities and throughout the *world. (*insert echo here). Performing as Las Ramonas at S.H.G.51st annual DDLM event are members, Marlene and Marisol. C/S y que!
procession meet-up at mariachi plaza • 2pm
ride metro to civic center park thereafter
OUR 2024 PROCESSION ORGANIZED BY MUJERES DE MAÍZ
Danza CHICOMECOATL WILL BEGIN OUR PROCESSION AT MARIACHI PLAZA WITH A TRADITIONAL BLESSING
PROCESSION WILL FEATURE poets Jessa Calderon, Matt Sedillo, Zoe Blaq,
Teatro Las Ramonas and Garfield High School’s Mariachi
Garfield High School Mariachi
Jessa Caldron
Zoe Blaq
Matt Sedillo
Teatro Las Ramonas
2024 Procession on the Metro L-Line
2PM Meet-up & 2:30pm start
Organized by Mujeres de Maiz, this year's procession will be mobile on the Metro L Line, from Mariachi Plaza to East LA Civic Center, where we'll move collectively to arrive to our Celebration destination!
Participants are encouraged to dress festively and express yourself in your favorite Día de los Muertos fashion! The procession is open to ALL AGES.
The procession will feature local artists along the train route, sharing poetry, music and palabra! Poets include Jessa Calderon, Matt Sedillo, Zoe Blaq, Teatro Las Ramonas and Garfield High School’s Mariachi!
Note: SHG will provide up to 150 Metro TAP cards for procession participants, while supplies last (please note that all riders must use TAP cards to ride the Metro).
COMMUNITY ALTAR AT EAST LA COUNTY LIBRARY
COMMUNITY ALTAR BY DENISE ESPARZA ON VIEW AT EAST LA COUNTY LIBRARY
This year’s Community Altar by Denise Esparza (Tonalli Studio) is on view now at the East Los Angeles County Library at Civic Center Park– stop by to see the ofrenda during our Celebration!
Remembering those who have passed, celebrating their lives, sharing their stories, and keeping their memory alive for generations to come—never to be forgotten—is her inspiration for continuing this family legacy of altar-making.
Denise represents six generations of altar makers of Purepecha roots, hailing from Guanajuato, Mexico. Her work as an altarista and handcrafter was heavily influenced by her mother, Mastar Altar Maker Ofelia Esparza, who is globally recognized for her Day of the Dead ofrendas, and by her grandmother, Lupe Aviles Salazar.
Esparza continues in these traditions with her four children and five grandchildren.
SEASONAL COMMUNITY ART WORKSHOPS
AT EAST LA COUNTY LIBRARY
october 5, 12 & 26• 12PM-3PM
october 19 • 3pm-5pm
Register now on Eventbrite for our Dia de los Muertos season art workshops, where you can create beautiful crafts to honor your ancestors! Workshops will be held on Saturdays in October 2024, specifically on October 5, 12, & 26, from 12:00 PM.-3:00 PM and October 19, from 3:00 PM-5:00 PM at the East Los Angeles County Library.
Our free seasonal workshops feature exciting activities such as Papel Picado, crafting Paper Marigolds, Painting with Natural Dyes and decorating a Pre-made Calaca Magnet that participants can take home. Please note that the Painting with Natural Dyes workshops are only available on the 5th and 12th of October and the Pre-made Calaca Magnet workshops are only available on the 19th and the 26th of October.
The Dia de Los Muertos Community Art Workshops will be held at the East Los Angeles Library every Saturday of the month of October in the Community Room. The East Los Angeles County Library is located at 4837 E 3rd St Los Angeles, CA 90022, directly across from the Metro L Line East LA Civic Center Station; located at the intersection of 3rd Street and Mednik Avenue.
Registration links:
DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS Commemorative Print
This year Self Help Graphics had the distinct honor of working with Chicana Curator, Author and Visual Artist, Amalia Mesa-Bains, on the production of our 51st Annual Día de los Muertos Commemorative Print, Antepasados y Memoria, 2024, available for purchase on our website. Produced with Master Printer, Dewey Tafoya, Antepasados y Memoria, 2024 is a Serigraph, Ediion of 55, 30 x 44 in.
*Collectors who purchase Antepasados y Memoria, 2024 by October 21 may be eligible to pick up the print at our Día de los Muertos Celebration; otherwise collectors may request to schedule an in-person pick-up of the artwork, or have it shipped.
For questions regarding print sales, please contact Lulu Urdiales here.
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR 2024
SEASON SPONSORS & COMMUNITY PARTNERS
VIEW OUR COLLECTION OF DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS
Commemorative PrintS ON OUR WEBSITE
for a limited time get 20% OFF DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS COMMEMORATIVE PRINTS
(2023 and earlier - limit 4 per collector)
hurry, sale ends november 15!
CELEBRATE DIA DE LOS MUERTOS AT HOME
TRY THESE FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES
Thank you for another wonderful season of Día de los Muertos workshops, where we geathered in community to make papel picado, paper marigolds, paper maché sculptures, and ofrenda paper cutouts!
Check out this article and video for kids created by PBS SoCal, featuring ofrendas at Self Help Graphics, located inside of our gallery through November 23. You can also download Día de los Muertos coloring pages illustrated by Peter Tovar and ofrenda paper cutout illustrated by Cynthia Navarro on the PBS site or scroll down below to download these resources and celebrate together at home!
Embellish a photo of your beloved at Noche de Ofrenda for our community altar on November 2.
free day of the dead ACTIVITY BOOK
Download our free digital Día de los Muertos activity book. Stop by Self Help Graphics starting October 8, to pick up a physical copy of the booklet to bring the festivities home with you!
Build your own paper OFRENDA
Our “Mi Ofrenda” activity illustrated by Cynthia Navarro (shown), is a fun activity to teach your children about the significance of this holiday and special season. Download the ofrenda base and page with graphics, then print them out. Next color your images and cut out sections with scissors to assemble on your ofrenda!
VOLUNTEER
Ready to help? Volunteers are a crucial component to SHG's year-round programming, including Día de los Muertos season.
We have multiple opportunities for volunteers
to donate their time to the event.