Riverside Artist Cosmé Cordova Built Two Major Local Events From a Basement

Cosmé Cordova, who operates Division 9 Gallery in Downtown Riverside, is the driving force behind two major cultural events in the city. He founded the Riverside ArtsWalk and introduced the local Day of the Dead celebration. Both events began with small, informal efforts that Cordova organized on his own.

Cordova moved to Riverside from San Pedro de la Cueva, Mexico, at age five. He grew up in the Arlanza neighborhood and attended local schools. His early artistic education came from family members. His mother and grandmother taught him to create clay pots and cups. They also made artwork from palm leaves for religious holidays. Cordova described art as a necessary layer of his livelihood from a young age.

His first professional art display occurred in 1997. He was offered a space at the Americore in Bobby Bonds Park. After that show ended, he secured a personal studio at the Life Arts Center. He asked the building owners if they had space for a gallery. The basement was available because a band had used it and left it in poor condition. Cordova and friends gutted the room. They removed old carpets and repainted walls that had stains from punk shows.

The renovation process gave the space its name. A piece of damaged drywall in the basement had the letters Div 9 on it. Cordova had a personal connection to the number nine. He liked the phrase cloud nine. The drywall sign confirmed his decision to name the gallery Division 9. The first showcase at Division 9 took place in 1999. It featured Cordova and local artists who took turns exhibiting their work in the space.

Cordova used the gallery to connect with artists from across Southern California. He met an artist from Pomona who invited him to a monthly ArtsWalk event. Cordova had never heard of an ArtsWalk before. He visited Pomona and was impressed by the format. He returned to Riverside and urged city officials to start their own event. No one else stepped forward to organize it. Cordova took the initiative himself.

In 2001, the Riverside Community Association asked Cordova for a solo show. He used the opportunity to create a walk between his solo show at the RCAA and his friends' work at Division 9. About 150 people attended the event. It moved from gallery to gallery. The RCAA was inspired to organize a citywide ArtsWalk after seeing the interest. The next year, the event moved to the street in front of Pixels. The space was too small for the crowd. The city allowed the event to move to the parking lot across from Division 9. It eventually settled on Main Street, which was Cordova's original goal.

Cordova also brought the Day of the Dead festival to Riverside in the fall of 2004. He was inspired by celebrations in Palm Desert. The first event had two altars, one food vendor, three artists, and one band. About 350 people attended. Many attendees were born in Mexico. Cordova handed out a pamphlet explaining the holiday for the first seven years. Early attendees thought the event was cultish. They soon understood it celebrated life. The festival has grown substantially.

This year's Day of the Dead festival is scheduled for November 7 and November 8. Festivities start at 1 p.m. The event is free and family-friendly. It will take place on Market Street, White Park, and the area around Division 9 Gallery. Market Street will be closed from University to 14th. The festival usually attracts 50,000 people. It features 80 altars, a lucha libre wrestling ring, and three stages with seven bands. Twenty-four cultural dance groups from the Inland Empire will perform. The Voodoo Glow Skulls are scheduled to play on the Detour Stage at 8:30 p.m.