How a photographer’s ‘magnetic’ connection with his grandmother inspired him to celebrate Día de Muertos

As a child, Carlos Eric Lopez remembers seeing his grandmother Abuelita Lita create orendas in honor of Día de Los Muertos, also known as Day of the Dead.

Photos of deceased family members were placed on the altar with candles, flowers and tokens to symbolize them. Big or small, it was a place of remembrance for the dead.

An only child and a “military brat” who moved frequently, Lopez had strong family ties, especially with Lita, whom he calls the “cornerstone” of his family.

“She’s the matriarch,” he told TODAY.com. “The importance of it and its meaning was truly beautiful.”

It wasn’t until his own mother, Josephine “Josie” Cisneros Lopez, died when he was 17 that he began to understand the scope and beauty of the Mexican holiday celebrated throughout Latin America.

Day of the Dead is celebrated in many ways, but its purpose is to preserve the memory of a deceased loved one with the belief that one day you will be reunited. It takes place on November 1st and 2nd, but can be celebrated on different days depending on the region.

Lopez has made it his mission to educate his non-Hispanic friends about the importance of Día de Muertos, and his determination began as a result of the pandemic.

“My family started getting COVID,” Lopez recalls, describing how he immersed himself in his ancestral history after family members died.

“I wanted to connect with them more, I wanted to find a way to keep their memories (alive). And that’s when my altar began to literally explode with every decoration I could think of. It started to overflow with photographs. I would buy flowers. I would start bringing all their things that they loved. I would put food in there. I added drinks to it and really started to make it into this beautiful thing.”

Towards the end of 2021, as people began to gather again, he had friends who politely asked why he had so many photos of his deceased family on his desk.

“The easiest way to explain it to them was, ‘Have you seen the movie Coco?’ he says. “As much as I love that movie and it’s a great example, I thought, ‘There’s no way I can explain this magical day that we’re all celebrating.’

That’s when Lopez, who was influenced by his late mother to study art, decided to host his first intimate Día de Muertos dinner.

Photos of the event caught the attention of the Latino world, who thanked him for truly respecting the culture. The success of the dinner prompted him to host a larger event in 2022 and turn it into a significant cultural celebration.

Second annual For the Día de Muertos event, friends and celebrities gathered at Casa De Plata in Los Angeles, a hacienda-style home designed by Mexican architect Luis Barragán’s protégé Ricardo Legorreta.

When her third year arrived, Lita’s celebration was a grand affair and took place at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. He also debuted his beverage company, Cura Lita, named after his grandmother.

Lopez did not intend for it to become a Día de Muertos gala, but he is honored to combine traditional elements with the new traditions he establishes as he continues to host the events. This includes honoring the actor Gael Garcia Bernal with the first Premio Vida y Legado (Life and Legacy Award) at the 2023 celebration, as well as Lita with the inaugural Abuelita Award.

“Since my mother died, there has been this connection that has become even more exciting in a beautiful way. When the two of us are together, we create my mother because she is the older generation and I am the younger generation,” Lopez says. “So we both create this magnetic field together.”

Branded “King of the Dead,” Lopez’s upcoming 2024 gala, titled “Hecho in Hollywood,” will be held at the historic Paramount Studios and will highlight the contributions of Latinos to Hollywood.

“What I really want to focus on and emphasize is the question: ‘Who puts on ‘hecho’ in Hollywood?’ These are Latinos,” Lopez says. “We are often the hidden force behind so many industries and so many jobs that we often go unnoticed.”

Instead of adding to the conversation about “not enough representation,” Lopez wants to “show the world what Latinos in Hollywood really look like.”

He took over control of the Paramount Studios sound stage due to its connection to Desilu Studiosco-founded by I Love Lucy stars and former couple Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.

“We’ve always been in Hollywood. Let’s highlight who we are,” he says. “Let’s change and control the narrative to celebrate each other, to celebrate our past.”

To bring his vision to life, Lopez brought in Oscar-winning production designer Eugenio Caballero. The Mexican creative is the creator of Pan’s Labyrinth, A Monster Calls, Roma and Cirque du Soleil shows.

In a conversation with TODAY.com, Caballero said he was intrigued by Lopez’s interesting take on “Dia de Muertos” because it tied his love of cinema to honoring the Latino community who “fought in their trenches to help make this dream come true.” which is Hollywood.”

“I usually do movies, but I like to do (other projects) … to shake my comfort zone,” Caballero says. “And Day of the Dead is the most important for me personally, but also visually (stunning). Of all the Mexican holidays, this is the one that really fascinates me.”

Tradition and modernity are Caballero’s focus at the gala. Marigolds, candles and sugar skulls will be involved, but will be intertwined with theatrical techniques used in classic Hollywood musicals to span and unify the soundstage. It will also honor Mexican architecture with the stage and decorations.

Eva Longoria will receive this year’s Premio Vida y Legado award. Actor Isabela Merced will present the Abuelita Award to her aunt Gloria Rojas in honor of her late grandmother and perform the traditional Día de Muertos folk song “La Llorona.” Miguel will perform at the first ever after-party.

Throughout it all, Lopez credits Lita for keeping her family’s memories alive, saying she has a “wonderful sense of togetherness and family,” which he also incorporates into his gala.

“She passed it on to my mother. My mother passed it on to me,” he says. “This is where all this comes into play. I really like the legacy and heritage… I want everyone to feel like they are a part of (the celebration).”

This article was originally published on TODAY.com