Tsipekua

Celebration of dead and living stories of Mexico through immersive theater and interactive art installations.

Immersive event

Creative Director • Producer • Scenic Designer
2022 and 2023


Day of the Dead in Gloria Molina Grand Park 2023


Since our first Day of the Dead Celebration at CalArts in 2022, our ambition has been to scale the project's reach and deepen its impact, particularly across the broader Los Angeles community. In 2023, this vision took a significant stride forward through a partnership with the Mexican Cultural Institute of Los Angeles, culminating in the creation of a public art installation at the core of Gloria Molina Grand Park.


The park, recently renamed in honor of Gloria Molina, stands as a testament to her years of tenacious advocacy—a space conceived for Angelenos to forge bonds and nurture community spirit. Following her recent passing, our endeavor to create an ofrenda within this space was imbued with deep meaning, serving as a symbol of respect, remembrance, and our collective dedication to the principles of community.


The ofrenda we crafted was a heartfelt homage to Gloria Molina's indelible impact as a pioneering force in Chicano politics. With its intricate blend of textures and hues, the altar emerged as a three-dimensional quilt, each thread and patch a narrative of her devotion to quilting, her unwavering dedication to fostering community, and her relentless pursuit of social justice. This creation wasn't just an artistic expression; it was a vibrant quilt of memories, a poignant tribute that echoed her enduring legacy and resonated deeply within the hearts of the Mexican and Mexican American communities across Los Angeles.

Credits: Tsipekua 2023
Co-director and Playwright
Jeannette Srinivasan

Chroeographer
Dulce Escobedo

Directing Consultant
Ilse Castro

Sound Technician
Joshua Salgado

Music Composer and Sound Designer
Pablo Leñero

Indigenous Instruments of Mesoamerica Music Performance
“México Atemporal” Christopher Garcia and Pablo Leñero

Scenic Design Team
Nicholas Sasano • Victoria Solorio • Gerardo Quintata Bernal • Bonnie Kim • HongJu Lee • Nicholas Sasano • Xiaoke Zhang

Mural Design (Conceptual Phase)
Antoine Couttolenc Camacho

Costume Design Team
Arthur Siprut • Briana Newson • Artemis Wiegand

CalArts Latin American Music Ensemble Coordinator
Julianne Sillona

Bolero Band Coordinator
Chris Galindo

Lighting Assistance
Miles Karraa

Cast
Josephine Nuñez • Jared Perez • Linda Paola Varela • Gerardo Quintata Bernal

P’urhépecha Folk Dance
Danza de Los Viejitos Corazón Alegre

Film and Photography Team
Xochitl Cruz • Fernanda Jurado • Alejandra Sanchez • Juliana Webster

Watercolor Workshop Facilitator
Polaris Castillo

Volunteers
Jordanna Peronico • Miranda Rosales

Sponsors
Blick Art Materials, Mexican Cultural Institute of Los Angeles, Student Art & Leadership Initiative, CalArts School of Theater, Nick England Intercultural Arts Project, CalArts Student Union.

Special thanks
Everyone who volunteered and participated throughout the week, the CalArts Latin American Ensemble, Margarita Medina, José Antonio Aguirre, Christina Dailey, Taso Dimitriadis, Shannon Scrofano, Evelyn Serrano, the Solorio family.

Dedicated to those who keep alive the stories and traditions of their heritage, transcending the boundaries of life and death.


Credits: Tsipekua in Gloria Molina Grand Park 2023
Scenic Design and Fabrication Team
Victoria Solorio • Gerardo Quintata Bernal • HongJu Lee • Xiaoke Zhang

Sponsors
Mexican Cultural Institute of Los Angeles and Blick Art Materials


Credits: Tsipekua 2022

Co-director and Playwright
Jeannette Srinivasan

Associate Producer
 Elizabeth Zaragoza

Mural Consultant and Coordinator
Marlene Solorio

Scenic Design Team
Victoria Solorio • Tilda Seo • Bonnie Kim • Jennifer Park • Ryan Meglino • Shannon M Siegel • Macine Johnson • HongJu Lee • Zoë Lappin • Erika Salazar

Costume Design Team
Karen Ayala • Margot le Duy

Sound Designers
Joshua Salgado • Ashray Harishankar

Lighting Designer
Alejandro Melendez

Stage Manager
Mia Condon 

Sculpture Artist
Nikki Ochoa

Photography and Film Team
Fernanda Jurado • Gabriela Gonzalez • Sedona Cruz • Alejandra Sanchez • Emiliano Aguirre

Makeup Designers
Alexa Orovitz • Arson Kim

Cast
Grant García • Maria Jurado • Linda Paola Varela • Nina Malinow • Ember Vinci • Atlas Molina

Sponsors
Student Art & Leadership Initiative, CalArts School of Theater, Nick England Intercultural Arts Project, CalArts Student Union.

Special thanks
Everyone who volunteered and participated throughout the week, José Antonio Aguirre, Christina Dailey, Taso Dimitriadis, Brenda Ivelisse, Shannon Scrofano, Evelyn Serrano, the Solorio family.

Dedicated to the people Mexican at heart around the world who have made it possible for us to share these stories with you.