Division 9 Gallery Founder Cosmé Cordova Set for 20th Day of the Dead Celebration

50,000. That is the estimated number of people Cosmé Cordova expects to attend the Day of the Dead festival in Riverside this weekend. The event runs Saturday, Nov. 7 and Sunday, Nov. 8, with festivities beginning at 1 p.m. It will be held on Market Street, with a full closure from University to 14th, as well as in White Park and the area surrounding Division 9 Gallery.

Cordova, a local arts figure, has operated Division 9 Gallery on Lemon Street since the late 1990s. The space sits next to Crooks Skate Shop and the Riverside Community Association. The gallery did not start in its current location. Cordova first displayed his work in 1997 in the basement of the Americore at Bobby Bonds Park. He later secured a basement space in the Life Arts Center after a band left it in disarray. He and friends gutted the room, removing carpets and repainting walls stained by punk shows. A damaged piece of drywall marked with the letters "Div 9" inspired the gallery's name.

The first showcase in that basement occurred in 1999. Cordova noted that local museums did not represent his culture or the work of his friends. "At the time, there was no one representing my culture and my friends," Cordova said. "It was really cool to showcase artwork that was relatable to me." These early shows helped Cordova connect with artists across Southern California. He was invited to a monthly ArtsWalk in Pomona, an event he had never heard of before. He returned to Riverside to urge officials to host a similar event, but local organizers were reluctant to participate.

Cordova created his own version in 2001. He used a two-week solo show opportunity at the Riverside Community Association as a launchpad. On opening night, attendees moved from his show to his friends' work at Division 9. Approximately 150 people participated in that initial gallery-sponsored event. The success encouraged the association to organize a citywide ArtsWalk. The event eventually moved from small indoor spaces to the street in front of Pixels, then to a parking lot, and finally to Main Street.

Cordova also introduced the Day of the Dead celebration to Riverside in the fall of 2004, inspired by events in Palm Desert. The first gathering was modest, featuring two altars, one food vendor, three artists, and one band. It drew 350 people, many of whom were Mexican-born. "The emotion I felt at that time felt like something big happened and I didn't know how big it was gonna become," Cordova said.

For the first seven years, Cordova distributed a pamphlet he wrote to explain the holiday's meaning. He said some attendees initially found the event cultish before recognizing its focus on celebrating life. This year's festival includes 80 altars, a car show, a lucha libre wrestling ring, and three stages featuring seven bands. Twenty-four Inland Empire cultural dance groups will also perform. The Voodoo Glow Skulls are scheduled to play on the new Detour Stage at 8:30 p.m.