andFound MetThose at the Birthplace of Los Angeles, Olvera Street by Christine Kao
Table of Contents 01-02 Preface 03-04 Why Olvera Street? 05-06 The Cross 07-12 Jackie Hadnot 13-18 Carmen 19-24 Felix Munoz 25-26 Chelsea Reed 27-28 Sadie Jimenez 29-30 Rocio Ruiz 31-32 Armando Murillo 33-34 Imported Huaraches 35-38 Rene Gutierrez 39-42 Religious Symbols 43-44 Clara Corona 45-48 Ubiquitous Imagery of Frida Kahlo 49-50 Norma Garcia 51-52 Dia De Los Muertos 2021 53-58 Davil 59-60 Acalea Valle 61-64 Festive Calaveras Monique Hernandez 65 Alma Lemus 66 Manuel Acosta 67-68 a peek at the past, 69-70 a hope for the future Acknowledgement 71-72
01
Preface Those Found and Met at the Birthplace of Los Angeles, Olvera Street is a journalistic photography book that documents the vibrant scenes of Olvera Street. It dives into rich stories shared by folks photographed within the community and the profound meanings behind those miscellaneous objects captured. To imitate a vivid walk-through experience, the entry point of the book echoes the entrance of the site by first introducing the subject Jackie Hadnot, the carver of the wooden cross that guards right in front of the marketplace. More portraits of merchants and visitors, as well as narratives collected from them gradually unfold. Interweaving with the portraits are sections showcasing artifacts commonly observed throughout the street, building upon the book’s humanistic focus. Amid the site’s celebration of Dia de los Muertos, events and activities hosted for the festival are also touched on toward the end. The series aims its lens toward interactions between human subjects and their dynamic surroundings. It searches for framings that deliver layered visual appeals. Complementing the photographs are texts that provide an angle into the unseen tales. Through these approaches, the piece strives to convey the richness and complexity of the hidden treasures found and met on Olvera Street. 02
Avila Adobe, the most ancient house standing in Los Angeles. 03
Why Olvera Street? As to how the early establishment on Olvera Street planted practices and different markets through photojournalism. the seeds for the ever-changing Los Angeles, the city has What also took place during these months is the long been nurturing my constantly developing identity. isolation amid the Covid-19 pandemic, where I have spent the most time with myself than ever before. Growing with my Long after the Gabrielino-Tongva people inhabited interest in documentary photography and my understanding the land of Los Angeles, settlers from Mexico arrived in of self is a deeper connection with Los Angeles where these 1781 to officially name and establish what is presently self-growth and self-discovery came to light. Returning to known as the metropolis of L.A. Olvera Street, being campus after 18 months of online schooling, with this fresh the earliest part of Downtown, is therefore dubbed personal mindset and new relationship with the city, I decided “the birthplace of Los angles.” The site was transformed to revisit Olvera Street, where one of my first impressions of into a Mexican marketplace under the effort of Christine L.A. was established. I look forward to this journey delving Sterling’s campaign in 1930. It became a part of the El into the place that gave rise to the city that rebirthed me. Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, which also encompasses the Los Angeles Plaza Park and the Plaza Substation that will soon be mentioned in the book. My first encounter with Olvera street was during my first quarter at UCLA when I took the class Engaging Los Angeles. Our first assignment was to take a bus from campus to Olvera Street through either Sunset Boulevard or Wilshire Boulevard. Passing ethnic districts, entertainment hubs, and close regions that reveal large economic gaps, the ride allowed me to access the multiple aspects of Los Angeles beyond the immense fantasy often associated with it, as professor Shalom Staub, who laid out the syllabus intended. Every part of this task opened my eyes differently, especially as an international student from suburban Taiwan who had just landed in this “city of dreams.” While the experience raised overwhelming thoughts and emotions, “hopeful” was what I jotted down as I walked through the destination, Olvera Street. I was amazed by how an early settlement could be turned into a marketplace representing and commemorating its heritage. All the decorations, handicrafts, and wooden stalls in vibrant colors resonate with the lively music and vigorous energy of the space. Two years after that first encounter, I am now a college junior who has found a passion for exploring cultural 04
The Cross At the entrance of Olvera Street, the wooden cross marks the Spanish settlement founded in 1781. Carved on the cross is one of the original names of LA recorded in history, “EL PUEBLO DE LA REYNA DE LOS ANGELES,” meaning “the town of the Queen of Angels.” Underneath the title of this landmark carved the name of Felipe De Neve, Alta California’s fourth governor who officially established the town. Around five and a half years ago, the cross was renewed to its third version carved by artist Jackie Hadnot. As to how the marker greets and welcomes visitors to this historic site, a talk with Hadnot will open the book, hoping to lead readers and viewers into the abundant wonder of Olvera. 05
Jackie Hadnot As a self-taught artist, Hadnot began drawing cartoons at the age of five and has been practicing wood carving since he was 14. He recalls visiting Olvera Street in elementary school and appreciating pieces of design inside the Plaza Substation right next to the marketplace. The building’s window sill is now mounted with the historical marker carved by Hadnot. “I would’ve never dreamed it,” he said, recollecting his early encounter with Olvera and his role now as its wooden marker artist and third-ever cross carver.
At the designing stage of the cross, people suggested to Hadnot that a rose would look elegant on the back of this piece. Yet, before incorporating the abstract pattern, Hadnot had to ensure a deeper connection between the rose and the site that goes beyond a flower’s beautiful look. He called the general manager at the time, who went on to tell him an anecdote of how early settlers of Los Angeles discovered a rose in the stream while they were down by the Portiuncula River. Hadnot, therefore, decided to incorporate the rose pattern along with the heart-shaped decorations into the backside of the cross. 09
10
11
Prior to becoming the third carver of Olvera’s cross, Hadnot Besides the legacy of the cross, he also aims to not sell any had already located his studio inside this marketplace. He of his artwork hung in this studio, hoping to keep it full of was drawn to its environment where people from all over the inspiration for artists who walk in. world would come to visit. This charm of Olvera perceived by Hadnot echoes with the blessing that he put on the cross, “May it bless everything in the world as a whole, anything we ever can imagine.” He realizes now that he has created a piece of which every visitor can go up and take a picture, “and they hand that down through generations,” said Hadnot. 12
Carmen Behind the blue and green booth stands Carmen, who greets with her big smile while holding a tamarind candy spoon. 35 years ago when Carmen was eating at a restaurant on Olvera Street, the owner of Lupe’s Candy Shop was searching for extra hands to help out during the weekends. Ever since then, Carmen has been working at the stand, selling a variety of sweets from or popular in Latin America such as the coconut flavored Alfajores, the milk fudge candy Jamoncillo, and the milk candy wafer Aldama. 13
A plate of red camote was placed inside the clear food display case. These sweet potatoes flavored with sugar, citric acid, and lime are one of Carmen’s favorites from the shop. The pink cookies, on the other hand, are popular among customers. 15
16
17
18
Felix Munoz wide array of commodities ranging from medicines, candies, refrescos, to Born in Mexico City, the capital of Mexican-style popsicles ﹘ paletas. Mexico, Felix Munoz moved to the Among these goods include the States in the Summer of 1979. Today, wooden masks carved and painted he has been working on Olvera Street by hand. Some of the horns on for 13 years. He enjoys meeting these masks are made out of real people from different countries at the goat horns according to Munoz. site. “You learn their cultures, they learn your cultures,” said Munoz. As he explained, the name of his underground shop “Mi Tiendita” means “my little store.” It functions like a convenience store, selling a 19
20
Other than mythical creatures, many masks in Mi Tiendita depicts the devil figure. The icon of the devil was originally introduced to the Indigenous people of Mexico by the Spaniards in an effort to eradicate their religions. The attempt was unsuccessful, while the fusion of native ceremonies and the devil motif began to emerge. 21
22
Chelsea Reed “This is the one!” says the 5-year-old Chelsea Reed as she lifts a yellow Mexican embroidered blouse in the store Casa de Flores Imports. Reed and her father Christopher Reed took a train from Pasadena to Olvera Street on this day, marking her very first trip to the site. Her father noted that he enjoys taking her here, citing the cultural aspect of the place and their break from technological devices. 25
Sadie Jimenez Sadie Jimenez holds the newly brought toy guitar that intrigued her. Jimenez and her mother Rosie Jimenez, who moved from Mexico to the States as a kid have just gotten back from a trip to Mexico the last weekend. “We like the heritage, and I want to make sure that she knows where it comes from,” said Jimenez’s mother, who also plans to pass the Spanish language on to Jimenez. 28
29
Rocio Ruiz In the market to help out her friend on a busy Sunday, Rocio Ruiz walks out of Mexico Shop. She recently moved from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, to Los Angeles after spending her vacation in the city. On Olvera, Street Ruiz was able to meet people not only from Mexico but from other parts of the world such as Spain, Italy, and France. While she sees many objects as significant to Mexican culture, kitchenwares like cups and plates from Mexico remind her of home the most. “When you are drinking coffee in a real Mexican glass, you are feeling home,” said Ruiz. 30
Armando Murillo Armando Murillo, the second-generation owner of Murillo Growing up in this site and learning from his parents who Leather polishes his shoe. Ironically, leather shoes are the are both leather artisans, Murillo aims to “keep the legacy only item in this store that are not crafted on their own. alive” as the tradition feels dear to his heart. He cuts cowhide According to Murillo, Murillo Leather is the only store left leather into different patterns and marks them into bags, on Olvera Street that still manufactures its own projects, belts, wallets, and more. The process, to him, is a way of following the same procedures established since 52 years ago. expressing himself and his creativity. 32
Imported Huaraches While no other stores on Olvera street handcraft their leather products as Murillo Leather does nowadays, sandals woven with leather strips, also known as “huaraches” could still be seen all around the site. Many vendors, like Rafael Caballero, import these handmade leather shoes from Mexico. 34
Rene Gutierrez Rene Gutierrez smiles as surrounded by the rich collections of his stall, Casa Gutierrez. Located at the central aisle of Olvera Street, Casa Gutierrez was founded by Gutierrez’s parents from Mexico. Despite having to work even on weekends and holidays, being his own boss has been a great part of taking on the store as a second-generation owner, according to Gutierrez. 35
36
A tin heart decoration hung in Casa Gutierrez reflects different colors as it spins with the wind. The sacred heart as a prevalent motif in Catholic folk art is often seen as a symbol of healing or miracle. Yet to Gutierrez, the decoration could also represent the come and go of love. He believes that many patrons and vendors are appealed to heart-shaped crafts because “everybody has one (heart).” 37
38
39
Religious Symbols Besides the tin heart from Casa Gutierrez, arts and crafts derived from or related to the Catholic religion can be spotted throughout the market in other stores. Symbols and figures are manifested into various forms such as posters, cards, statues, chains, clothing, and crosses made with different materials. However, rather than being strictly tied to their religious meanings, some of these handicrafts have transformed into decorative objects, creative souvenirs, or symbolic reminders of certain values. 40
41
42
43
Search