News

Embark on a captivating journey about the life and art of legend Frida Kahlo in a free multimedia lecture at 6 p.m. in the Cerritos Library’s Skyline Room on Monday, September 18. In “Frida Kahlo: Crossing Borderlines,” Dr. Gloria Arjona will discuss the late artist’s influence on culture by merging languages, genres, disciplines and her life and art. All ages are welcome.

Born to a German-Hungarian father and a Mexican mother with a strong Indigenous heritage, Kahlo is widely viewed as an icon of female creativity and feminism. The artist proudly embraced her Mestiza identity, transcending boundaries while seamlessly blending her father’s European culture with the vibrant tapestry of her native Mexico. Fluent in German, English and Spanish, Kahlo effortlessly navigated between languages, adapting to different situations and scenarios with ease.

The trailblazer crafted her own unique fashion style, by combining the Mexican tunic-like garment huipil with jewelry and garments from India and China, and merged elements of popular poetry, sayings and music into her visual art.

A Spanish professor at the California Institute of Technology, Dr. Arjona lectures through music, stories, media, traditional attire and living pictures to draw attention to the rich cultures and traditions of Latin America – in particular Mexico and the United States-Mexico border.

The Cerritos Library is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is located at 18025 Bloomfield Avenue in Cerritos.

The Cerritos Library is joining with libraries nationwide in September to remind parents and students that signing up for a library card is the first step towards academic achievement and lifelong learning.

The Cerritos Library offers a collection with the latest fiction and non-fiction books, Blu-ray discs, audiobooks and music CDs. Cerritos Library cardholders also have free access to digital media services offering e-books, e-audiobooks, comics, music, TV shows and movies. Cerritos Library also provides access to subscription databases covering topics such as investing, language instruction, genealogy and reference for school projects. As an added convenience, many of the databases can be accessed remotely by cardholders. Additional benefits for cardholders include private study rooms available by reservation and high-speed Wi-Fi access within the library and Cerritos Civic Center during operating hours.

Cerritos residents and people who work in the City are eligible to obtain a free Cerritos Library card. People who attend school in Cerritos, work for the ABC Unified School District or are an employee or student at Cerritos College or attend any ABC Unified School District school or Bellflower Unified School District school also qualify for a free library card. Consideration has also been given to active duty military personnel who are permanent or temporary residents of California. Information about how to obtain a Cerritos Library card is available on the library’s website.