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At first, when asked to review a book on Chicano art compiled by Cheech Marin, my thoughts winged back to the late 1970s, and really bad marijuana jokes--not that I'd not listened as avidly as the rest of my peers. As for many of us, my first exposure to the multi-talented Marin was as half of the comedy duo of Cheech and Chong. But decades later, the wild hair is now only a memory and Marin is one of the country's foremost collector of Chicano art. The book consists of ninety-six paintings, most of which are from Marin's own collection. But this is more than just a toss-on-the-coffee-table-as-a-conversation-piece book. An introduction and commentaries by Cheech Marin, essays by leading art scholars, and artists' biographies add the extra heft that turns this from a pretty paintings book to a valuable art reference. From the almost-Impressionistic colorful renderings of Carlos Almaraz to the graphic comic-like works of Diane Gamboa to the near realism of Jesse Trevino's acrylics, "Chicano Visions" encompasses the complexities and beauty of life, death and tradition. Spend some time flipping through the gorgeous color plates, then sit back, relax and learn about the history and culture that spawned these talented artists.
Reviewed by Maria Y. Lima, January 2003
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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