Chicano Art Exhibit @ El Paso Museum of Art and Insights.

Presented by Target Stores and Mervyn’s and sponsored by Hewlett-Packard Company, Chicano, an unprecedented art exhibit, will open to the public at the El Paso Museum of Art and Insights-El Paso Science Museum in El Paso, Texas, on June 14, 2003. Chicano is a five-year, 15-city national tour that is collectively made up of Chicano Visions: American Painters on the Verge, a traditional art exhibit, and Chicano Now: American Expressions, an interactive multimedia exhibit for families. Chicano first opened in November 2001 at the San Antonio Museum of Art and is currently on view at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, NM. Chicano will remain on exhibit at the El Paso Museum of Art and Insights-El Paso Science Museum through September 21, 2003.

“The El Paso Museum of Art has been a leader in collecting and exhibiting works by Latino artists for more than a decade,” said Becky Duval Reese, director for El Paso Museum of Art. “We are pleased to be a venue for Chicano Visions and to share so many significant works with the El Paso community.”

“Insights is honored to host Chicano Now because it truly expresses who we are, where we’ve been and what is unique about the majority culture in the El Paso region,” said Jim Klaes, executive director for Insights-El Paso Science Museum. “This exhibit is perfect for El Paso because to non-Chicanos, it dispels stereotypes, and to Chicanos, it gives reasons for pride in one’s heritage.”

Inspired and directed by Cheech Marin’s vision to highlight expressions of his native culture, Chicano presents the diverse voices of today’s Chicanos. “We’re bringing our interpretation of the Chicano experience to the American public,” says Marin. “I want all Americans to understand that Chicano culture plays a big part in the patchwork quilt that is Americana. The contributions of Chicanos have been so enormous, but they tend to be overlooked.”

Chicano Visions: American Painters on the Verge showcases a wide variety of Chicano visual art. Curated by Rene Yanez, the exhibition features approximately 80 works by more than 26 artists, including Carlos Almaraz, Frank Romero, Gronk, Patssi Valdez, George Yepes, Rupert Garcia, Leo Limon, Margaret Garcia and Eloy Torres. The works, which present images of urban life and the Chicano experience, date between 1969 and 2001. While the majority of the works are drawn from the personal art collection of Cheech Marin, some are on loan from other collectors and institutions. Chicano Visions: American Painters on the Verge will be on exhibit at the El Paso Museum of Art.

Chicano Now: American Expressions is an interactive multi-media exhibit that offers expressions of Chicano cultural style through the eyes of the nation’s premiere Chicano and Chicana performing and independent film artists. Chicano Now: American Expressions will be on exhibit at the Insights-El Paso Science Museum.

“Target and Mervyn’s are pleased to share this national treasure with all of the Paso del Norte region,” said Laysha Ward, vice president of community relations for Target Corporation. “Chicano is an unrivaled art exhibit that celebrates Chicano heritage and achievements, and reflects the diverse populations of present-day America.”

“The social, cultural and political impact of Chicano life has been a mainstay in America since the birth of our country, and this wonderful exhibit provides a real up-close look at the lives and contributions of the Chicano people,” said Jeff Blough, consumer marketing communications manager for HP’s Imaging and Printing Group. “HP is delighted to play a role in helping the public celebrate a slice of American life.”

For more information on Chicano visit http://www.chicano-art-life.com .