In April, Forest Lawn Museum (Glendale) opened its art exhibit “Filipino California: Art and the Filipino Diaspora,” which showcases the work of seven contemporary artists working across styles and formats, and includes paintings, drawings, sculptures, installations, conceptual art and more. Artists in the exhibit – Eliseo Art Silva, Allison Hueman, Anthony Francisco, Maryrose Cobarrubias Mendoza, Christine Morla, Maria Villote and Junn Roca – directly and indirectly address issues related to Filipino culture and the Filipino-American experience.
For the April 20 launch, the museum held an opening reception that included live music and complimentary Filipino food and drinks. The event also featured presentation of a $500 Forest Lawn Museum Arts Fellowship to rising Filipino-American artist Edmund Arevalo. The free, family-friendly public event was ADA compliant and wheelchair accessible.
Stated participating artist Eliseo Art Silva: “Filipinos have been in California for centuries and continue to shape the state. It’s an honor to exhibit alongside other Filipino-American artists and explore the commonalities and variations among our perspectives on the culture of the Philippines and the impact we have made on the culture of California.”
The exhibition is on view at Forest Lawn Museum through September 8.
In other news, Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks & Mortuaries (Glendale) honored fallen veterans with free Memorial Day remembrances at each of its six southern California locations. On May 27, the family-friendly, park-wide remembrances brought generations together to commemorate the lives and valor of American veterans with patriotic music, the laying of wreaths, presentations and retirements of the U.S. flag, keynote addresses, presidential proclamations, invocations and giveaways.
This year’s featured event at the Hollywood Hills location included speaker Dr. Brenda Threatt, emcee Michael Ellington, an invocation and benediction by Monsignor Frank Hicks, a presidential proclamation by Police Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton, music by the Los Angeles Concert Band and family-friendly activities.
Forest Lawn-Glendale’s celebration included the Glendale Sunrise Rotary’s Field of Honor American flag dedication, which took place May 22 and culminated with a stage event on May 27 at 11:00 a.m. Flags were available for a $50 sponsorship, with proceeds benefiting local veterans. forestlawn.com