11 Mar Chicanitas: Small Paintings from the Cheech Marin Collection
Chicanitas: Small Paintings from the Cheech Marin Collection {size doesn’t matter} showcases 70 paintings by 29 painters from this noted art collection.
Marin, the entertainer who is well known for his work in movies, television, and improvisational comedy, has been acquiring art for more than 20 years, and he has amassed one of the renowned collections of Chicano art in private hands. His most recent passion is collecting small paintings averaging 16 inches square and smaller in size. In contrast to other works in his collection representing and promoting the Chicano art movement of the mid-60’s and 70’s, the content of many of these small paintings leans more towards the artist’s internal or personal statement rather than as a response to political, social or cultural situations.
The paintings, which range from photo-realism to abstractions to portraits to landscapes, offer a window into the lives of the artists. Whether showing us a glimpse of their neighborhood as Margaret García does in her expressive paintings of a car wash, hair salon, grocery store and taco shop; or personal interests such as graffiti art, street fashion and underground music that influence the works of Carlos Donjuán; or peppered with mystery and a bit of humor as in Ricardo Ruiz’s four Masotas portraits based on family members; or making a statement about the double standards imposed on Mexican women as Ana Teresa Fernández does in “To Press I” and “To Press II;” or John Valadez’s underwater figure studies painted on ceramic tiles, each artist draws on his or her own upbringing, cultural heritage, education and life experiences for inspiration.
With a keen and eclectic eye, Cheech has acquired a collection of paintings by both established and emerging Chicano and Chicana artists. Appearing at first glance as a disparate grouping of paintings, Chicanitas begs the viewer to examine, interpret and appreciate each artwork individually. This reveals the true secret of the exhibition that the individual parts are greater than the whole and size doesn’t matter! The exhibition was organized by Melissa Richardson Banks. The full-color art book was published by CauseConnect.
VIDEOS
• Cheech about Chicanitas
• Curator Patty Haberman talks Chicanitas
• Art talk by Cheech at Washington & Lee University on April 22, 2013 (NOTE: Cue up to 5:00 as that first part is all audience background)
TOUR SCHEDULE
Carlsbad, New Mexico – Carlsbad Museum & Art Center
November 18, 2016 through January 29, 2017
Amarillo, Texas – Amarillo Museum of Art
January 30 through March 27, 2016
Corpus Christi, Texas – Art Museum of South Texas
September 18, 2015 through January 10, 2016
Los Angeles, California – Vincent Price Art Museum
June 13 through August 1, 2015
Topeka, Kansas – Mulvane Art Museum
March 27 through Sunday, May 17, 2015
Eureka, California – Humboldt State University, First Street Gallery
January 27 through Sunday, March 8, 2015
Lubbock, Texas – Texas Tech University School of Art, Landmark Gallery
October 3 through December 14, 2014
Las Cruces, New Mexico – Las Cruces Museum of Art
May 2 through July 19, 2014
San Diego, California – Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego
December 21, 2013 through March 23, 2014
Laramie, Wyoming – University of Wyoming Art Museum
September 7 through November 23, 2013
Odessa, Texas – Ellen Noël Art Museum
June 21 through August 18, 2013
Lexington, Virginia – Staniar Gallery, Washington & Lee University
April 22 to May 31, 2013
Bellingham, Washington – Whatcom Museum
January 10 through March 24, 2013
Monterey, California – Museum of Monterey
December 10, 2011 through July 7, 2012
Notre Dame, Indiana – Snite Museum of Art, University of Notre Dame
September 4 through November 13, 2011
Mesa, Arizona – Mesa Arts Center Museum
March 11 through July 31, 2011
LIST OF FEATURED ARTISTS
Carlos Almaraz, Elsa Flores Almaraz, Jari “Werc” Álvarez, Carlos Donjuán, Ana Teresa Fernández, Diane Gamboa, Margaret García, Cici Segura González, Yolanda González, Jacinto Guevara, Roberto Gutiérrez, Adán Hernández, Leo Limón, José Lozano, Gilbert “Magu” Luján, Gronk Nicondra, Joe Peña, Sandy Rodríguez, Frank Romero, Sonia Romero, Ricardo Ruiz, Leigh Salgado, Marta Sánchez, Eloy Torrez, John Valadez, Patssi Valdez, Vincent Valdez, Sergio Vásquez, Jaime “Germs” Zacarias.