The prints are of paintings by 26 prominent Chicano artists depicting urban life and the Chicano experience between 1969 and 2001. The exhibition features the works of Carlos Almaraz, George Yepes, Patssi Valdez, Leo Limón, Margaret García and other top Chicano artists.

The exhibition is part of a project spearheaded by Marin designed to advance Chicano art as a recognized school of American art and to increase public accessibility to this work in cities across the country. As part of the project, high quality digital reproductions (giclées) were made of original paintings. The giclées were donated to 50 major U.S. art museums and universities, including Northridge. CSUN is the first of the recipients to display them.

“Chicano art is American art. My goal is to bring the term ‘Chicano’ to the forefront of the art world,” Marin said.

The exhibition will be on view at CSUN Art Galleries from June 17 through July 29, Monday through Saturday from 12 to 4 p.m. Admission is free. A reception celebrating the exhibition’s opening will take place from 7 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, June 17.

Presenting sponsors of the exhibition tour are Bank of America and Farmers Insurance with support in Northridge from Starbucks Coffee Company, Univision 34 and CBS 2 / KCAL 9.

In 2004, Bank of America and Farmers Insurance teamed with Marin to produce The Chicano Collection/La Colección Chicana. Their generous support has funded all aspects of the multi-year project, from print production to portfolio donations and now the exhibition tour.

For more information about the exhibition at CSUN Art Galleries, call Michelle Giacopuzzi at (818) 677-2156. To learn more about The Chicano Collection exhibition tour, the print project and the featured artists, visit www.thechicanocollection.net or contact Melissa Richardson Banks of CauseConnect at (213) 972-0884 or Melissa@causeconnect.net.