Siqueiros’ masterpiece “América Tropical” opening event Nov 3

A free family-friendly Festival and Opera is being staged at El Pueblo on Saturday, November 3, 2012 to celebrate the opening of Siqueiros’ Masterpiece América Tropical.

Eighty years after it was first painted, the mural América Tropical by David Alfaro Siqueiros, one of the great Mexican artists of the 20th century, is again on view to the public.  More info on the history of this controversial mural here.

Celebrate the artistic, social and historical significance of América Tropical at a free festival on Saturday at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes and El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument. 

Enjoy music, theater, dance, workshops, food and more for adults and kids.

The free festival begins at 10:30 a.m. and goes until the music stops.

WHAT:

A free, family-friendly festival celebrating Siqueiros’ masterpiece, América Tropical, including art exhibitions, folkloric dances, street theater, mariachi music, and fun workshops on how to paint a mural, printmaking and more.

Plus a special performance of América Tropical the Opera by David Conte, with libretto by Oliver Mayer, followed by the UCLA Philharmonia presentation of América Tropical by Steven Loza.

América Tropical also is open for viewing, accessible through the América Tropical Interpretive Center.

WHERE:

Olvera Street:
LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, 501 North Main Street, Los Angeles, and
El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument.

WHEN:

All day event Saturday, November 3, beginning at 10:30 a.m., until the music stops.

The América Tropical Opera debuts at 4:30pm in the LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes courtyard and runs for 50 minutes.

MORE INFO on the day’s detailed schedule can be found here.

The festival is sponsored by the Getty Conservation Institute, LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes and El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument. Produced by Community Arts Resources (CARS) with additional support from the Olvera Street Merchants Association Foundation.

The J. Paul Getty Trust is an international cultural and philanthropic institution devoted to the visual arts that includes the J. Paul Getty Museum, the Getty Research Institute, the Getty Conservation Institute, and the Getty Foundation. The J. Paul Getty Trust and Getty programs serve a varied audience from two locations:  the Getty Center in Los Angeles and the Getty Villa in Malibu.

The Getty Conservation Institute works internationally to advance conservation practice in the visual arts—broadly interpreted to include objects, collections, architecture, and sites. The Institute serves the conservation community through scientific research, education and training, model field projects, and the dissemination of the results of both its own work and the work of others in the field. In all its endeavors, the GCI focuses on the creation and delivery of knowledge that will benefit the professional conservation community through scientific research, education and training, model field projects, and the dissemination of the results of both its own work and the work of others in the field. In all its endeavors, the GCI focuses on the creation and delivery of knowledge that will benefit the professionals and organizations responsible for the conservation of the world’s cultural heritage.

Additional information is available here.