Target Stores, Mervyn’s & HP Bring Chicano To San Diego.

Chicano, an unprecedented art exhibition, presented by Target Stores and Mervyn’s, sponsored by Hewlett-Packard Company will make its first visit to the Golden State at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) in San Diego, Calif., on May 30, 2004. Chicano is a five-year, 15-city national tour that is collectively made up of two major exhibits:
Chicano Visions: American Painters on the Verge, a traditional art exhibit, and Chicano Now: American Expressions, an interactive multimedia exhibit for families. Chicano will remain on display at MCASD through September 12, 2004.

Chicano first opened in November 2001 at the San Antonio Museum of Art in San Antonio and has traveled throughout the United States, making stops at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., the National Hispanic Cultural
Center in Albuquerque, N.M. and the El Paso Museum of Art in El Paso, Texas.

Chicano is currently on view at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis, Ind. “We’re extremely pleased to be the first Southern California museum to host Chicano,” said Dr. Hugh M. Davies, the David C. Copley director of MCASD.

“This is a first-class collection of works that speaks eloquently to a cultural movement rich in tradition and heritage. An exhibition of this magnitude takes on special significance in the San Diego/Tijuana region we call home. Cheech Marin’s uncompromising vision, and generous partnerships with companies such as Target and Mervyn’s have helped make this vibrant
exhibition a reality at MCASD.”

Chicano presents the diverse heritage of Chicano culture — a political and social statement among many people of Mexican descent. “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 will be displayed at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego’s La Jolla location.

Chicano Now: American Expressions is an interactive multi-media exhibition that offers expressions of Chicano cultural style through the eyes of the nation’s premier Chicano and Chicana performing and independent film artists. Displayed in the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego’s downtown location, Chicano Now aims to spotlight Chicano culture through the main themes of work, family, style and identity. Visitors to Chicano Now can select a song on the jukebox, try salsa dancing, get behind the wheel of a lowrider and learn more about the many contributions Chicanos have made to society.

“Target and Mervyn’s are proud to shine a spotlight on the rich heritage of Mexican-Americans. Art transcends cultural barriers and speaks a universal language that binds communities together,” said Laysha Ward, vice president of community relations for Target Corporation. “We’re excited to take this vibrant and dynamic exhibition to San Diego, a beautiful city that neighbors the Mexican border and celebrates the Chicano experience every day.”

“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 at http://www.chicano-art-life.com