Siempre Mujer announced that it is once again partnering with The Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) to host its second-annual Day of the Dead fundraiser celebrating the traditional Mexican holiday. The ticketed event, held at MOLAA in Long Beach, Calif., on Friday, Oct. 30, at 8 p.m., is open to the public. Tickets are available both online and at the door. The 2014 event raised more than $75,000, and proceeds from ticket sales and the silent auction will continue to benefit MOLAA’s exhibition and art education initiatives. Stuart A. Ashman, MOLAA’s President and CEO says, “I am so pleased to partner with Siempre Mujer on Fotos y Recuerdos, our Día de los Muertos fundraising gala, an event that supports the Museum’s educational goal of providing a rich, cultural context for our exhibitions through vibrant events and programs.” The theme of the event, Fotos y Recuerdos celebrates the memory and enduring legacy of Selena’s music two decades after her tragic death. The museum will also display a Community Altar honoring the Tejano artist. “Our partnership with MOLAA was a huge success last year,” says Siempre Mujer Editor-in-Chief María Cristina Marrero. “This year’s Fotos y Recuerdos gala will once again be the place to be to celebrate Day of the Dead, as we honor our unique Latino heritage, support one of the leading cultural institutions in the country, and pay tribute to one of the most talented and iconic Latinas of the past century.” The fundraiser will also kick off MOLAA’s first-ever Day of the Dead Art & Altar Exhibition, featuring A Room of Her Own, an altar installation created by renowned author Sandra Cisneros honoring her mother, Elvira Cordero Cisneros, which was previously on display in The National Museum of American History, as well as additional altars created by local artists. Attendees will enjoy a private viewing of the exhibit, which runs through Nov. 29. Cisneros says, “My mother was a devotee of museums, so I am thrilled that this final installation of her traveling altar will have meaningful home at the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, California.” The event is expected to attract more than 500 leaders in art, media, entertainment, politics, philanthropy and business. Additional event highlights include:
- Musical performances by Thee Commons, Boogaloo Assassins, Buyepongo, and Eastside Luv Residente D.J. Bsyde Morales.
- Special guest appearances by Sandra Cisneros, the renowned author of The House on Mango Street and the upcoming A House of My Own, and Va por Ti finalist Virginia Stille.
- Live painting by Los Angeles-based artist Robert Vargas.
- A silent auction featuring exclusive travel, art and entertainment experiences.
- Specialty cocktails and traditional Mexican cuisine with a twist.
- Day of the Dead-inspired face painting.
Siempre Mujer is the Official Media Partner of the event. Additional event sponsors include Official Food Sponsor HERDEZ® Brand, the No. 1 salsa brand in Mexico, which will be providing a bountiful spread of festive food and the face painting stations; Ancestry, which will provide access to its world class searchable database of historical records and documents through interactive, and on-site ancestor and lineage tracing; el Jimador tequila, which will be providing specialty cocktails; Korbel, which will be providing champagne; and Event Partner Mexico Tourism Board. “Siempre Mujer is committed to helping our Latino community thrive, whether it’s through cultural events, scholarship programs or beyond,” says Siempre Mujer Associate Publisher Veronica Viviana Wilson. “We’re excited to team up again with our returning sponsors and new partners for the second year of this fun and unique program, and work together to benefit this celebrated cultural institution.” For more information, please visit http://molaa.org/diadelosmuertosgala.aspx.