Keeping Culture Alive in Highland Park featuring Diana Gran | The Chicagoland Guide – Episode 139

Aaron Masliansky (00:00)

Welcome to the Chicagoland Guide and I'm your host, Aaron Masliansky. Today we are here with Diana Gran. She is the director of the Día de los Muertos week in Highland Park and she is the founder and portrait artist of Diana Gran Portraits in Highland Park. And it's a really great event that's going on and we're gonna talk all about it and it's actually happening right now. So this is very, very timely. But Diana, thank you so much for joining me today.

Diana (00:29)

Well, thank you very much for inviting me. I really appreciate it.

Aaron Masliansky (00:32)

My pleasure. ⁓ So this is, you know, I think this is my second interview in a row for something in Highland Park. There's so many great things that happened there. I just had the director of Rovinia on. ⁓ So now ⁓ there's just, you know, you can go anywhere in the North shore and you can find all these different types of things, but like it's so, and that's why it's so special to be someone who lives here. ⁓ But tell us a little bit about.

what got you into ⁓ creating this ⁓ event and your background in being an ⁓ artist photographer.

Diana (01:07)

Thank you. Well, the reason why I really wanted to bring this beautiful tradition to life, it is to really honor, honor the people that are not longer here because that's the basis of the celebration. And I thought about it because we have a very diverse community and this tradition is not about religion, it's not about a culture because honoring our ancestors, it just creates unity. And that message, especially in today's times, it just brings us hope.

And ⁓ that really is my inspiration. I am an immigrant myself. I was born and raised in Mexico. I have kids here in Highland Park. We have one of the oldest dual-language programs in the state. And our community is diverse. And we have Highwood next to us. So I think what a better place to have this welcoming community and to bring this beautiful and vibrant tradition to our town.

Aaron Masliansky (02:00)

And so you're from Mexico and this tradition, what was it like growing up and celebrating?

Diana (02:07)

You know, at home, I'm from Acapulco, which is a city. It's a, you're probably familiar with it. It's a very coastal town. So I just grew up with a small ofrenda, which is an altar, which is, ⁓ I grew up just basically thinking about our ancestors and, you know, my abuelos and just having families get together and share stories. But it really isn't until I was here that I was able to.

⁓ When I came here when I was 18 that I was able to go back to my roots. don't mean I remember that I felt lost I'm I was thinking I'm not from here. I'm not longer Mexican So I was for a period of my life I didn't know who I was and it wasn't until I went to the Mexican Fine Art Museum that I worked to through an exhibit called Mexicanidad Which means Mexicanity that I really felt ⁓ Called to to claim my roots

to go back to our ancestors. And over the last few years, I've been spending the summers with my family in Oaxaca, which is a different town from where I grew up. And I realized that the culture in certain states is pretty much alive. And everywhere you go, there is color, there is music, ⁓ is food. So just to have a little piece of that during a week in Highland Park, that's really something that inspires me to.

again create, ⁓ I was not always an artist, I was actually an accountant and then I discovered photography. And again, the same way I reclaim my roots, I reclaim my ability to create, to connect to the arts and the authenticity because I had to become authentic to be able to bring such an authentic tradition.

Aaron Masliansky (03:43)

Absolutely. mean, it must have been tough to come here as an 18 year old to a completely different. I mean, did you come to Chicago at first?

Diana (03:52)

I did I literally came with a backpack and I said I am just going to live here and then you know I put myself through college I got a job I was doing all those things well at the same time trying to figure out who I was so it was a Every immigrant that you talked to has a similar story again. I was privileged to come ⁓ You know with a big visa and be able to work my wealth through it, but I know that ⁓ It is very important for our community to

to get our roots together to be able to keep going. So I think that's part of the inspiration of also ⁓ creating this holiday, I mean, bringing this tradition to Highland Park.

Aaron Masliansky (04:32)

Absolutely. I mean, I think that's the beauty of having people from all over the world living together and you get to learn about each other's cultures and holidays and to be able to celebrate it. And one of the things, if you're watching this right now, if you're listening, maybe go on YouTube and you'll see, but you are wearing this beautiful crown on your head. Tell us a little bit about that. What does that represent?

Diana (04:55)

Well, you know, this particular holiday is vibrant. You we don't talk about our loved ones that have passed. This is not a sad ⁓ holiday, actually. I mean, tradition. When you walk to a no friend out, which it is installed down at the Memorial Park in Highland Park, you walk into this space that is colorful and beautiful. And that is an invitation to say this is a celebration because we are going to celebrate the stories and the memories of the people that we love.

Yes, they have passed, but we bring them back during this time by sharing their memories and by uniting and hearing stories from other community members, creating that space of reflection at the Gazebo has been very meaningful. I live actually a few blocks away from there, and every day I pass by and I see people gathering at the space. So again, this colorful ⁓ diadem that we call is just that. It's just a celebration. It's a vibrant.

It is a moment of happiness right now, even though we're talking about death, which is this tradition dates back to pre-Hispanic times, right? Way before the Spanish conquered Mexico. So back in the day, if you can imagine, indigenous cultures like the Aztecs and the Mayan, they celebrated death. And can you imagine living in a world that we're actually celebrating death? So again, we're celebrating in a way that we are ⁓ honoring.

the people that we have lost. So that's how we're celebrating them.

Aaron Masliansky (06:23)

You know, I never had heard about the holiday. You know, I grew up in the area, but it just never knew about it. And I saw the movie Coco. And that was my first introduction to the Maritosa. Sorry, I can't speak. And I and it was so amazing. And then I went to Mexico not long after seeing the movie and I see everything out there. And it's like.

I feel so ignorant that I didn't know about it and it's so culturally relevant in Mexico. And I think that that's, it's great that there's a festival here where you can go and walk through and learn about this great holiday. And I do think that there's a beauty to being able to celebrate the dead, to be back with your loved ones who aren't there anymore and to remember them in such a positive manner. there's, you know, singing and dancing. mean, what

What are some of the things that happened at the festival here in Highland Park?

Diana (07:23)

Well, again, the main, the heart of this celebration is the ofrenda. It is an installation that has a meaning. If you walk through the gazebo, you will see a display kind of like you're walking at the Mexican Art Museum. You will be able to read what it's all about. And the cool thing about this specific ofrenda is that we are tying it back to our local businesses. I curated as over 20 businesses that are participating. So you learn about the elements of the ofrenda.

but then you get to interact with them at our local business. Today, for example, Milcoli Riz in Ravinia has a workshop where she will be ⁓ teaching us how to make day of the dead bread. We're gonna be able to learn about the tradition, we're gonna be able to taste it, we're gonna be able to see it. So again, that bread is a key component of your friend that you get to see at the gazebo, but then again, you get to experience it and then you get to taste it at one of our local businesses.

So again, we curated a series of events for an entire week. That's why we call it DDM week, because as you know, Coco has been everywhere and this tradition is growing. next weekend, are going to be in pulling so many different directions. Do you go here? Do you go there? Because there will be many celebrations. And that's why it was important to me to create a whole week of activities for kids, for adults. So we didn't have to ⁓ divide up our attention.

We have a full calendar of events, again, with these curated experiences that one, are meant to teach you about the tradition, and two, are meant to support our local businesses that in return are supporting our project. And the way that we're doing this, just so you know, it is a very interactive way. You purchase a pass to support the project, and then you go around these businesses collecting stamps. Every stamp is a meaning of, it's an element of your friend, so you get to learn again about the bread, about the pictures, about

the water about all these different elements that create an ofrenda.

Aaron Masliansky (09:21)

And what is special about the bread for this?

Diana (09:24)

So the bread symbolizes the body. it's actually, you can see a little dot on the top that is the head of the skeleton and then the little bones. So it really symbolizes we are here. So for example, the papel picado, do you know that beautiful paper that is colorful? I'm sure you've seen it. So that is right above the ofrenda. And the minute that you work into that arch of marigolds,

You see this beautiful papel picado that is full of colors? That is telling you we're inviting you into this party. But also, it is a reminder. The paper is a reminder of it's vibrant, but it's also fragile, meaning that's life. At any point, it can break. So again, every element has a symbolism, and then you will get to learn about all the details about what it is if you experience your friend.

Aaron Masliansky (10:18)

And is it like every day and what times is the event going on?

Diana (10:23)

So tonight is at 7 p.m. at Mil Colibris but it is a full calendar of events. Basically every single day we have an activation tomorrow night at Soul Shine Boutique. ⁓ The owner will be leading a drumming session to connect you with your ancestors. She will be teaching you live right there how to build your own of friend at home. The following day we have another activation at Secret World Books where she will be ⁓ teaching us. ⁓

she will be leading a writing workshop where you can write letters to your ancestors. Again, these experiences have been curated so that you can experience. On Friday, you're welcome to my studio. As I said, I'm a photographer, so one of the key elements of your friend are photos. So obviously, I will get the photo stamped so you get to come in and take an authentic portrait because again, going back to what made me a photography is becoming.

authentic to myself, to my roots, because for a while I thought I had to diminish my colors. I had to diminish who I was to be able to fit in. But I have been learning that the more attached I am to my roots, the more authentic I am for myself and for my clients. So I will be inviting you to come in and let's see, let's create an authentic portrait for you.

Aaron Masliansky (11:36)

I think that's really an important point that so many people think that they have to change in order to be able to be successful. But if you're your authentic self, that's what people appreciate. And especially in an age where so many things are AI or ⁓ people put on a different type of face for, for Instagram or Tik Tok or whatever it may be, people appreciate the real. And I mean, how

Diana (11:59)

Yes.

Aaron Masliansky (12:02)

So you were in accounting, you said at first when you first started working and talking about getting real, going and becoming a photographer is a big jump. How did you get into that? Like what's your backstory?

Diana (12:15)

wow. I have, I'm a creature of service. I have always been supporting local organizations. I serve in multiple boards and one of them was my kids preschool. They needed a fundraiser. They needed to a brand new park. So I said to them, I had never touched a camera, but I said, well, why don't we take pictures of this kids? It is a bilingual preschool in Evanston and every year they had a festival where they dress up with beautiful costumes, traditional. ⁓

costumes from different countries. So I started taking photographing them and that camera never left my hands. then again, doors kept opening towards this space. And, but again, it was through service that I found what is now my passion and my job. So yes, it's just by chance that I was able to serve in that capacity.

Aaron Masliansky (13:06)

And how did that lead from, you know, having a local business to being in charge of DDM week?

Diana (13:14)

Well, again, I actually started this project through the Highland Park Business Alliance because as a downtown Highland Park, we have these funds available and anyone, any three businesses can take part of it. And I decided, well, why don't we make Highland Park the North Shore destination to come in and celebrate Dia de los Muertos? Because there isn't anything around and you can go to the city, you can go to the Southside and different places. So that's how it came about. Because again, as a business owner, I was able to access to some of the ⁓

⁓ funds that are provided to local businesses to start projects.

Aaron Masliansky (13:48)

And did you get a lot of support from other businesses who were excited about this idea right away? And how many years have you been doing this again? Okay, so it's new.

Diana (13:57)

This is only our second year. This is only our second year.

So it's new and it's growing and we continue to add layers to it. again, I think this is something special and businesses are really, ⁓ we just had our opening ceremony on Saturday and we had seven people come into the park and participating. And then again, what's beautiful about this holiday, this tradition is that it's cross-generational. We had little kids painting their Catrina faces to

know, parents and grandparents and everybody celebrating together. So you don't see as many festivals like that ⁓ where anyone can just come in and be part of the celebration. So I think ⁓ the story behind the tradition, again, ⁓ is a uniting story in our town. And then again, the healing aspect of it as well is very powerful in our town.

Aaron Masliansky (14:49)

Yeah, you know, right now it ⁓ is a challenging time to say the least with what's going on ⁓ with immigration raids and whatnot. You know, how did that affect your thoughts on planning this ⁓ with what's reflecting in the rest of the area?

Diana (15:10)

It has been devastating and for a minute I thought about not doing it this year, but at the same time I was encouraged by the community to keep our light shining because in a time where we want to be the menace, it is very important to keep shining and this tradition elevates our roots, elevates our culture and I am here and creating this.

for them. This is a tribute to my parents that are no longer here. This is a tribute for generations to come. And we're just doing it with heart and passion. And if you're able to come and support, please do, because this is not going to last forever.

Aaron Masliansky (15:55)

Yeah. I mean, I think that's, it's powerful. It's powerful to be able to, to celebrate, to celebrate the culture and to push back on, ⁓ some of the, ⁓ hate mongering that's been going on. And I think that, you know, there is a, ⁓ I mean, I have such a deep appreciation for the Mexican community within Chicago and it is, ⁓ so integral. So I think it's, it's powerful to be able to celebrate.

and to stand up and to be able to push back on some of those things that are happening right now.

Diana (16:29)

Well, if you recognize, do you know what a Catrina is? The Catrina is a beautiful skeleton that has become the symbol of the day of the death. So that was back in the day, a political statement because, you know, it was this beautiful figure dressed in the most expensive clothes, but at the end of the day, it's all bones, which is a reminder of equality. At the end of the day, we are all equal. So again, it's more important than ever to bring that symbol back because...

Aaron Masliansky (16:40)

sure.

Diana (16:59)

⁓ We are all the same underneath and we want to make sure that we ⁓ continue with the traditions that honor that.

Aaron Masliansky (17:09)

Absolutely. ⁓ I mean, I think you have a lot of ⁓ bravery to be doing what you're doing. And also for a second year, and you've gone from all these different types of things. mean, you ever, some people when they're trying to ⁓ start doing something new, they always are trying to perfect it and figure it out before they start. And they're worried about missing something or things not working perfectly. And then they never actually do it. ⁓

What gets you to just be able to say, know what, I'm going to 18 years old, I'm going to come to America. I'm going to become an accountant. You know what, I'm going to become a photographer. I'm going to put together DDM week, all these different types of things, being a community leader. How do you get that inspiration to do that?

Diana (17:56)

Well, I think again, ⁓ in my heart, I am a visionary. I am a creature of service. I really have a strong sense of social justice. Again, part of my full-time job is to be an advocate for bilingual education. ⁓ But really what keeps me going is to find people with the same missions. I could never do anything without my partners, know, the designer of the ⁓

to bring in, ⁓ again, just finding the right people, the right leaders to connect and continue to grow because yes, believe me, as a perfectionist, could never, if I listen to myself, I would never done anything. But my partner says, you know what? Done is better than done perfect and we can keep moving on and producing. And then again, the problem with creatives like me, once you're a sub that you're a creative is again, you always keep adding and adding and adding and never finishing.

But if you get surrounded by people that again, have the same creativity, also really is, again, just form a team. And that's really what keeps me going to find people that align in values and ⁓ again, ideas. And we are trying to really create a legacy for our kids. ⁓ And then again, for the community to enjoy because this tradition is uniting, this tradition is healing.

⁓ And that's really the underlying, ⁓ for this specific tradition, for this specific project, that's really the underlying ⁓ message that we're trying to get across.

Aaron Masliansky (19:33)

Yeah, absolutely. ⁓ And since it is only your second year, I'm sure you have ideas and thoughts and plans for the future. What are some of the things that you're thinking of?

Diana (19:43)

You know, involving the community a little more. Actually, today I just thought about how we want the entire park to look next year, how we want to expand from maybe downtown to the Ravinia district because we are tapping into some of the businesses down there. So again, my idea is to really have everyone for a week to not just be Mexican, but really to embrace this Mexican tradition. And the way that we do it is by increasing our business.

our participation, ⁓ strengthening our community partners because we're also working in this project. The beauty of this project is that I said is brings in different people, not only community members and businesses, but also ⁓ the Highwood Library, the Highland Park Library, the Art Center, all these, the Park District, all these different community partners are also very involved. had SaLT, which is a local youth organization that are doing wonderful missions, wonderful things, especially with our immigrant community. They are right now.

feeling the gap between they are fighting for the scarcity right now. Many of our families are afraid to go to the store. Many of them are losing their benefits. And these kids are pulling their resources and their magic to get together and create food for, gather food for these families and deliver them to them because they know they cannot leave their homes. So again, the more that we're involving the community,

That's how we want to grow this and the possibilities are endless.

Aaron Masliansky (21:10)

They are. And I know, know, Ravinia has different types of festivals throughout the year too, during like, I went at the end of the season. ⁓ but I think that the idea of growing it and connecting and maybe doing more weekends could, ⁓ definitely, ⁓ elevate the community as well. Yeah. and when you're there though, so it's at night, it's what are the, it started on Friday, correct? On. So.

Diana (21:37)

⁓

Saturday through Sunday. But let me just tell you, there's several things going on. So in addition to the past that I said before, it's almost like an scavenger hunt. It has a full calendar of events. ⁓ Yesterday on Sunday, we play a kids movie at the movie theater related to Day of the Dead. In the afternoon, one of our local businesses hosted a sugar skull workshop at her shop.

But also several other businesses, even though if you're not on that path, they are jumping into the DDM Wagon by offering a special sort week. You can go to Bright Bowls and get a beautiful Day of the Dead bowl. You can go to Yoga Six where they are going to have ⁓ DDM classes. So basically everyone is really turning for a week, ⁓ adding items in their menu, ⁓ adding special classes in their programming to be able to join the celebration.

in some way or another. So I think it's beautiful that the community is interested, the businesses are interested, so that you can really experience the tradition through food, through movement, through flavors. And it doesn't matter if you're a service business like mine, or if you're a restaurant, or if you're a store, we're all finding ways to really participate in this movement.

Aaron Masliansky (22:55)

And, you know, I need to go to the event and see it. ⁓ So I think I will be coming this week. is everything set up in the park or is everything like you go to the businesses and then you get checked in and from there?

Diana (22:58)

I'm sorry.

Yeah, so there's two community events. One that kick off on Saturday that was at the park. We actually had, again, community organizations leading crafts for kids. We had the ofrenda and we actually had a performance from a pre-Hispanic Aztec group that came in and gave us a demonstration of the music and dances that are way, from pre-Hispanic times. So that was a beautiful celebration. I'll start posting things on Instagram about it.

So it starts with that community event, but throughout the week, it's in the local businesses. You go to their store, for example, on Thursday, Piska, one of our local restaurants, will be having a mezcal tasting with Mexican bites, food and bites. So again, if you're a pass holder, you're welcome to join in. But throughout the week, they created this authentic Oaxacan mole that I don't know if you ever had mole, but it is a very labor intensive and incredible.

Aaron Masliansky (24:04)

Mm-hmm.

Diana (24:07)

incredible dish from Mexico whole week, even if yo experience, you can go ahe this amazing dinner that setting up for guests. ⁓ going to be closing this w of Catrina's runaway show we're inviting the community to dress up as a Catrina because as I mentioned before, when you dress up as a Catrina you are making a statement

My daughter, my eight-year-old daughter decided that she's gonna participate in this fashion show. She's gonna be representing the Catrina of love because in her eight-year-old eyes, she believes that our community and our world needs more love. So she will be walking the runway with that Catrina and then we will have judges. So again, it's another community event and this will be at Ellie Style, Downtown Highland Park, who opened her doors to welcome the community during this event.

So again, there's multiple ways to enjoy this holiday, this tradition in Highland Park, whether you come to the community events, whether you go to the specific activations that we set up in that past, or just really have, you know, taste the flavors or the activities or participate on the classes that our community members or our community businesses are offering. There's multiple ways. So I just wanted to mention that there's not one way to enjoy this celebration.

Aaron Masliansky (25:25)

Right, there's so many ways to experience it. If you're completely clueless on the tradition, where's the best places to learn about it besides going to the event? So you come here and you fully appreciate what you're walking into.

Diana (25:40)

I think the absolute step number one, as I said, is going to visit the ofrenda, especially at night if you can, because the lights are on. You're able to see, it's kind like when you're walking through a museum, it's self-explanatory. We really try to write up the elements, the meaning of this year's ofrenda, because we're dedicating this to every ofrenda, usually at home. is, you you put pictures of your loved ones that have passed, but in this year, we wanted to dedicate the ofrenda

to one specific element. And this year's element, if I may share with you, I'm not gonna spoil the full description because I really want people to come in and read what it's all about. But really our inspiration was corn. The seed of life is a symbol of origin and nourishment and unity. This Dia de los Muertos, we honor our roots and celebrate life that continues through remembrance. So again, you will see a lot of corn elements in the ofrenda to really symbolize that unity and at the end,

We start on the earth and we all go back to earth. So if you're not familiar with the ⁓ tradition, you will see all the elements explained. You will get to see again the activations from the ofrenda tied back to the businesses. So I think that's the number one place to start. And if you don't get to go to the ofrenda, please do watch Coco because that's where you're going to learn everything about it.

Aaron Masliansky (27:02)

I sure did. I felt so silly. mean, I have to say, but...

Diana (27:08)

You know

what, as I said, I grew up with this tradition, but it wasn't until I came here that I really embraced it. So do not feel bad, even me as a Mexican myself. It was up here, but it wasn't in my heart until I came here. And I actually lost my parents, so it really is very minimal.

Aaron Masliansky (27:28)

Yeah, no, it, you know, and I think some people look at death at, or something like this where it could be sad, but really it's not because you do get to reconnect and you do become, you know, it's almost like, ⁓ stoic, the, like the stoic vision of things is to like recognize that death could be around the corner. Everything is paper thin, like you mentioned before. And then you get to appreciate the moment that you're in every, every minute.

everybody who you your relationships with, because you don't know how long that will last. So I think it's actually, it's a beautiful thing to be able to celebrate with your community, ⁓ celebrate maybe a culture that you weren't ⁓ really knowledgeable of beforehand, but now you can appreciate and it just enriches your life. Yeah.

Diana (28:03)

Mm-hmm.

Aaron Masliansky (28:20)

So if people want to learn more, where should they go online to be able to find out about this? Where's your Instagram and then also about your studio.

Diana (28:30)

Well, the Instagram for the project is ⁓ ddmweekhp. It's beautiful. That's where we put all the beautiful photos. But also ⁓ our website is hpculturalarts.org. We have all the information there. All the events are listed. You can buy passes. But again, coming to the city of Frienda, it's free. The community events are free. And ⁓ really, if you want to have that deeper exploration, that's when you support the project by buying a ticket and going to see the activity.

activations that are placed at the local businesses. ⁓ So those are the main two ⁓ spaces to find the VN Week. For myself, my studio is located down in Highland Park. My website is dianagranportraits.com. And I'll be more than happy to welcome anyone with a pass on Thursday, not Friday, that I will be opening my doors right before Halloween. So please stop by. I would love to help you capture an authentic portrait that is included with your pass.

Aaron Masliansky (29:22)

yeah.

That's awesome. mean, that's perfect timing to blend everything together like that. ⁓ Well, that sounds awesome. I am going to be there. I'm going to be coming up to Island Park to check out DDM week. And Diane, I really appreciate you sharing with us ⁓ everything that's going on for what you're doing. I think it's so important and I look forward to meeting you in person.

Diana (29:51)

Thank you. Well, thank you very much for your time. Thank you for sharing with the community this beautiful tradition. We are very excited for the welcoming and the way that our businesses, visitors, and community members are embracing this tradition. So we know the future is bright. Again, it is a lot of work. I'm not going to lie. But we do it with a lot of heart and a lot of love. And again, really supported with everyone that wants to see this shining.

Aaron Masliansky (30:17)

We love it. Thanks so much again.

Diana (30:19)

Thank you, bye.