Dia de los Muertos

Dear Editor:I wanted express my appreciation for the Dia de los Muertos Festival that The City of Downey and The Downey Civic Theatre produced on November 3rd. It was great to see a public event that showcased a variety of mediums that entertained the crowd by stimulating each sensory sense; see, hear, taste, smell, and touch. The organization of the event was pristine. There were a lot of people there but the way the spaces were activated allowed each person to seek out their desires whether it was listening to live music, watching dance performances, or satisfying hunger. It is great to see events honoring Dia de los Muertos being presented in the City of Downey. Before, I would have to go to Olvera Street in Downtown Los Angeles or Santa Ana to participate in the festivities of honoring the dead and celebrating this Latin American tradition. Amber Vogel, her staff, and volunteers did a fantastic job producing the festival. By collaborating with a variety of art organizations, artists and local businesses, there was never a dull moment in an event that lasted nine hours long. Also great to see the works and involvement of local artists such as Ricky Ostendi and Carolina Del Toro in this event as they also helped us establish our inaugural Dia de los Muertos event last year. I am proud to be a part of the community's organic growth in creatively producing cultural events available for the public. I can't wait for what the arts community has in store for next year. Joseph Manacmul Downey

********** Published: Nov. 14, 2013 - Volume 12 - Issue 31