Chicano artworks gathered by Cheech Marin in San Diego

The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego is to present an exhibition entitled “Chicanitas: Small Paintings from the Cheech Marin Collection” from 21 December 2013 until 23 March 2014 at the MCASD Downtown, Jacobs Building.

Perhaps better known for his work as an actor and director, particularly as part of the comic duo Cheech and Chong, Cheech Marin is bringing together pieces of Chicano art from the past 25 years. He has created a renowned collection and organised exhibitions which have travelled across the United States. For “Chicanitas”, Marin has brought together a rich variety of works which demonstrate the complexity of Chicano art.

The word Chicano is used to describe people from Latin America living in the United States. The Chicano movement is an extension of the Mexican-American civil rights movement of the 1940s. The Chicanos demanded citizenship, no longer wanting to be be classed as immigrants or foreigners within the United States. Within their local communities, Chicanos speak the Spanish language, follow the Catholic faith and retain a close connection to their country of origin.