From sunrise to sunset this Saturday, Echo Park Lake will play host to Fiesta Perpetua!, a day-long art installation, performance piece and community happening that will activate the entire grounds of the park, and even the lake itself. The project has been brought to life by artist Carmina Escobar and more than 80 creative collaborators.
Escobar’s concept for the performance is her re-imagining of a daylong community ritual, drawing particularly from the customs of her own Mexican heritage, but updated and blended with elements of other traditional global celebrations.
"Ritual is communal experience, there is no audience as the audience participates by being present so it becomes part of it all," the artist told LA Weekly. "Ritual seeks to transform the space and bring a liminal experience of communitas."
Over the course of the day, Escobar will be joined by performers including two different youth brass bands from Oaxaca, Mexico under the leadership of acclaimed conductor Yulissa Maqueos, and the Japanese Butoh dancer Oguri, who will perform both on the banks of the lake and atop a specially-designed floating raft.
Early-risers will want to be there at 5:48am when things kick off, and the experience will continue until the official sunset time of 7:52pm. No schedule of what exactly will happen when will be announced in advance, but there will be performances approximately hourly, meaning a walk through the park at any time of day should be will be filled with surprises. Escobar’s artist statement says she has the details planned out according to a “mystical algorithmic schedule.”
Seems like a perfect sunny Saturday to explore the Eastside 'hood!
Fiesta Perpetua! takes place at Echo Park Lake from 5:48am to 7:52pm on Saturday, May 20. Admission is free.
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