Originally created for Channel 101 by Danny Jelinek and Jason Whetzell, the popular web series was picked as a Vimeo staff favorite and featured on Spike Jonze’s “We Love You So” website.

THE ART OF CREATIVITY is Jim Wooden’s new video series devoted to exploring and revealing the workings of the inner artist. These profiles are a fascinating look at the artisan’s world and are a powerful way to connect the audience to the art.

Those already documented by Mr. Wooden include painter Yvette Gillis, 2009 Edward Albee Playwright Award Winner Neil Wechsler, and established collector Dallas Price-Van Breda. Check back weekly for updated installments of Mr. Wooden’s work.

Photo Slide Show By Nancy Accomando

Video By Linsey Levine

Story By Lisa Manson

Often mistakenly dubbed as the “Mexican Halloween,” Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, holds a special significance to the descendants of the Meso-Americans. Part of a ritual that has been practiced for over 3,000 years, Dia de los Muertos honors death as a continuation of life. Celebrants wear skull masks, called calacas, or face paint to honor deceased relatives and build elaborate altars to fill with offerings for the dead. For all its mysticism, at its core, the celebration is about family and community.

This past October, the art community came together at the Carter Sexton gallery to enjoy the debut solo show of photographer and Forth contributor Nancy Accomando, who has been documenting the local celebration of Dia de los Muertos for years. Admittedly, I was no expert on the Dia de los Muertos celebrations, but I have long been awed by the intricate and colorful painted faces that seem to be ubiquitous around Halloween. So I came to the show not only to view some art, but also to learn.

Nancy’s photo-documentary was shot in October 2009, during the week long celebration on Olvera Street in Downtown Los Angeles. Olvera Street’s Dia de los Muertos is a rich and festive experience (and knowing what Olvera Street is like on a normal day, this came as no surprise). In addition to her photographs, Nancy also created a “shadow box,” which featured a paper mache skull with Day of the Dead-themed designs on it . If you looked through the eyes of the skulls, you could see a slide show of Nancy’s images that were shot during the first event she documented. Through these pieces, Nancy was able to capture the sense of community along with the sense of celebration. The focus of her photographs was the people, both those who have obviously been participants in the ceremony for years (and had their calacas down to a science) and those who were clearly new to the tradition. Nancy’s lens gave them equal significance, since both represent the diverse and dynamic community of Los Angeles. By doing this, she was able to show that the celebration is simply an “appreciation of a time we all share together in this world and beyond.”

The gallery itself also served as a host for a mini celebration, which truly drove home the theme of community. People broke bread (or taquitos), sipped sangria, and filled the cozy gallery with a happy clamor of conversation. The real treat (besides the delicious food) was when the crowd parted for a group of four elaborately-dressed women with full skull makeup. In the middle of the room, they improvised an eerily beautiful dance to three Mexican-influenced songs. The dance group, known as “The Nautch Conspiracy,” is composed of Leila Maitland, Cory Podielski, Hannah Trimbath, and Jennifer Knott. When that was over, and while you were waiting to get some face-time with the artist, you could wander outside and get some airbrush art from Mr. Hoodbrush. Fun and festive times abound. For someone who came in knowing Dia de los Muertos simply as “Mexican Halloween,” I left feeling like I knew a little something more about the Los Angeles community of which I am now a part.

Unfortunately, the exhibition ended on November 12th, but many of the pieces (and others) can still be seen on Nancy’s website:

nancyaccomando.weebly.com.

Quick View:
WHAT: “Dia de los Muertos: Olvera St., L.A.” at Carter Sexton Gallery
WHERE: 5308 Laurel Canyon Blvd., North Hollywood, CA
WHEN: October 8th, 2010, 6 pm – 12 am
WEBSITES: nancyaccomando.weebly.com
cartersexton.com/mrhoodbrush.com

THE ART OF CREATIVITY is Jim Wooden’s new video series devoted to exploring and revealing the workings of the inner artist. These profiles are a fascinating look at the artisan’s world and are a powerful way to connect the audience to the art.

Those already documented by Mr. Wooden include painter Yvette Gillis, 2009 Edward Albee Playwright Award Winner Neil Wechsler, and established collector Dallas Price-Van Breda. Check back weekly for updated installments of Mr. Wooden’s work.

Originally created for Channel 101 by Danny Jelinek and Jason Whetzell, the popular web series was picked as a Vimeo staff favorite and featured on Spike Jonze’s “We Love You So” website.