Acts of Remembrance: Laura Aguilar’s Day of the Dead Photographs

Between 1984 and 1992, Chicana photographer Laura Aguilar documented both public and private Día de los Muertos gatherings throughout Los Angeles in her series Day of the Dead. Many of the city’s most renowned artistic figures appear in these photographs, revealing a connected Mexican American artistic community.  

Hear directly from artist and educator Glenna Avila, altarista Consuelo Flores, photographer and educator Mei Valenzuela, and artist Barbara Carrasco, who were involved in the making of these photographs. Avila was the director of the Los Angeles Photography Center, where Aguilar took many of the photographs. Flores, along with her family, was the subject of some of the most iconic photographs from the series. Carrasco was a close friend of Aguilar's, and her work engages with Chicana/o civil rights and identity. Valenzuela mentored Aguilar during this period and was also featured in the photographs. Then, dive deeper into the exhibition through tours and interactive activities. 

This program is presented in conjunction with the Getty’s exhibition “Every Minute Is History: Five Views of Los Angeles,” which includes Aguilar’s work as well as that of other Chicano photographers working in Los Angeles. The Getty will present their own program, Learning from Laura Aguilar, on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 4 p.m. 

Key Details 

• Registration includes free admission to The Huntington after the program ends.
• Please bring registration confirmation with you.
• Check in with Education staff at Rothenberg Hall beginning at 12:30 p.m.
• Unless otherwise noted, all seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. We recommend arriving early to guarantee a seat. Unclaimed tickets may be released 10 minutes before the event.