Reflection and Futurity: 45 years of Dia de Los Muertos reception was hosted at the gallery Oct. 25th at 7 p.m. Self Help Graphics & Art (SHG) showcased various colorful prints and paper mache heads that drew attention from all the guests present.

The event boasted pieces from world renown Los Angeles based artists such as Willie Herrón, Ofelia Esparza, Alfredo de Batuc, and Rosana Esparza Harens just to name a few. From feminism, music, and of course, Dia de Los Muertos.

“SHG is a significant part of the community. I discovered them as a teenager when I went to The Vex, their music venue. I was introduced to Chicano art history and I think it’s very important for students to learn about it and let culture empower them,” said professor Miyo Stevens-Gandara.

Stevens-Gandara was one of the creators for the show and along with SHG employee Alexa Kim they went through the archives of prints and works at SHG to pick the ones they’d showcase at the gallery. The giant paper mache heads were a popular attraction as students and professors alike posed for pictures with them.

The pieces themselves were created in different techniques including traditional screen printing and ink on a napkin.

“I wanted to incorporate music into [the show] because it’s such an integral part for young people. I also wanted to instill that sense of ‘do it yourself’ and weave it together,” said Stevens- Gandara, “I guess because I feel that some of the students are just waiting for someone to say to them ‘ok, you’re an artist now’ and I want them to understand that they don’t need that kind of validation. They already are artists, they need to get out there and create.”

SHG does have that hands-on feel to everything they do and they offer their teaching services to the community, hosting screenprint making workshops fairly regularly. Among other things, SHG helps the community bridge art and culture, an important key to its success both among the Los Angeles community and the one here on campus.

“This isn’t the first time SHG is at Rio Hondo,” said Betty Avila, an SHG executive director, “thanks to Miyo, this is our second year here. And I want to underscore the importance of benefitting the students and connecting with the campus. I think it’s integral for students to see themselves in our work.”

Jax Sanders, a Los Angeles based artist and the daughter of master altar builder Ofelia Esparza was at the reception.

“This print is very personal and representative of my family, especially my mother. It was a joined effort, you can really see the three of us. My mother is the lace, the draping fabric, and the arches. My sister Rosana is the sugar skulls and the bleeding hearts. I’m more contemporary, the fox and the blue haired girl is me. And this was all done by the master printers at SHG,” said Sanders.

“That’s something I think is very important for people to know,” said professor Lynch in regards to the master printers, “this is all hand-pulled prints. These aren’t computer copies. These are very intricate prints that take a long time to achieve. You can see the layers of paint in the texture. It’s a real gift that students get to learn about this.”

Reflection and Futurity: 45 years of Dia de Los Muertos exhibition will run through Nov. 16th at the gallery. SHG will also have their annual Dia de Muertos event Nov. 2nd from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. If you’re interested in SHG’s cultural programs and events visit them at 1300 E 1st St, Los Angeles, CA 90033 or head to selfhelpgraphics.com.

The print version of this article appeared Tuesday, Oct. 30th.