Customer Reviews

Chicano Visions: American Painters on the Verge

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Hats off to Cheech Marin for curating from his own collection, as well as museum and private and the artists' collections, a body of work that is one of the most interesting and challenging definitions of Chicano Art in the USA today. Not only is the book well designed and lavishly illlustrated with superb
paintings, the accompanying essays by Marin, Max Benevidez, Constance Cortez, and Tere Romo are enlightening, thought provoking, and serve to answer many of the questions as to why Chicano art is so unique a contribution to the art world, not only here in Los Angeles but across the country.

The paintings by such luminaries as Frank Romero, John Valadez, Margaret Garcia, Gronk, Eloy Torrez, and the late and much missed Carlos Almaraz only hint at what treasures are in store for the aficionado as well as the novice. The quality of color reproductions is good and the placement of the works in context with brief statements about the artist or the subject makes turning each page an adventure.

Chicano Art is recognized by the knowledgeable art critics as probably the most important single school of art to blossom in Los Angeles in the past 50 years. These artists express the heritage of the Hispanic (if that word may be used...) population - the struggle of the dream of El Norte, the magical realism of folklore, the passionate use of color and light, the incomparably complex compositions that layer not only images but experiential feelings on a single canvas, the joy for living, the response to music. Whether in the hands of photorealist John Valadez or the explosive expressionism of Carlos Almaraz or the grand scale and imagination of Frank Romero (whether dealing with his much collected Still Lifes or his panoramas of East LA past and present), these paintings leap of the page, involve us and demand attention.

This is an excellent homage to this excitingly rich art movement. It deserves to be in the collection of everyone who longs for validation of life as a reason for making and collecting art. Bravo to all concerned!

Some of the most innovative and brilliant art in America is being done by those in the Chicano art movement; the range of styles and techniques is vast, but they all share a vibrancy and vigor that is hard to find elsewhere in the art world.
Cheech Marin has accumulated a fabulous collection, and must be commended for bringing this art to fifteen cities the U.S. in the travelling exhibit, and to the world with this marvelous book. Marin also writes the insightful introduction, and there are excellent and informative essays by Max Benavidez, Constance Cortez, and Tere Romero, as well as mini bios of the 26 artists represented in the volume.

Among the highlights for me are the 4 pictures by George Yepes, that include his "La Pistola y el Corazon," which was the cover for the Los Lobos CD of the same title (pg. 144), the 10 pages of the glorious, impressionistic work of Carlos Almaraz, especially "Southwest Song," with its horse and rider and splashy moonlit sky (pg. 53), and Leo Limon, starting with his "Frida and Palomas" through his complex symbolic storytelling in "Los Muertos" (93-99). I recently had the opportunity to view Frank Romero's work at the Icaro Gallery in Long Beach, California, and was thrilled by his rich use of color, and his sense of humor, both aspects which are well illustrated on pages 108 through 117.

The layout of the this book is excellent, and the color reproduction superb; on thick glossy pages, the work comes alive, excites and inspires, and will not be forgotten. This is work that will stand the test of time, and as Marin writes, the viewer is "...transported to a place both timeless and immediate, that provides the ultimate validation for this new movement in art."

Though not as extensive as "Contemporary Chicana and Chicano Art" from Bilingual Press, Cheech Marin's "Chicano Visions" is a vibrant, lusty and masterful introduction to Chicano art. If you're Chicano, you might recognize many of the faces and images represented here by such fine artists as John Valadez, Frank Romero, Ester Hernandez, and many others. If you're not a member of the Chicano community, you will nonetheless be dazzled by the powerful images and colors of the culture. The introductory essays by Max Benavidez, Constance Cortez and Tere Romo assist us in contextualizing the art that is often, but not always, steeped in the socio-political rumblings of el movimiento. Hats off to Cheech Marin for sharing these fine works with the world.

Rebeccasreads recommends CHICANO VISIONS as a glorious feast for the eyes, containing the inevitable hair-raising violence, pulsing cityscapes & sun bleached field labors, as well as the beauty that is before us. There are ethereal visions of heaven & hell, of blood hot nights as well as rich family life.

There are visions wrought in "primitive" styles, in sleek "photorealism" & in vibrant complex iconography -- giving us insights into the Chicano experience, both female & male.

We can spend hours discussing the merits of each painting: their composition, impact & style, whether they are "good art", however, as Cheech Marin writes in his Introduction "...it is the lone art lover standing in front of a great painting with his jaw dropped, transported to a place both timeless and immediate, that provides the ultimate validation..."

Worth every cent of the price of admission.

Cheech marin is known for his series of stoner movies, but he turned the proceeds from those (dumb) movies into one of the smartest collections of Chicano art in the U.S. The book Chicano Visions is the catalogue for that exhibit, which traveled the country in '03. It is the perfect antidote to the over-intellectualized, anesthetized art of our times, a reminder that art after all must be about the human experience. The only unfortunate thing about this volume is that it does not include any of the sculptural and inter-active exhibits in the collection. Plus, well, the text is entirely peripheral to the effect produced by the color plates.I predict this book will become very collectable: it's a shame that the original exhibit was overshadowed by other concerns, and one hopes there are plans to re-mount the whole exhibit in a permanent home.

I saw this exhibit in Albuquerque and have wanted this book ever since. I'm thrilled to have it as I think these are some of the best modern artists around. The descriptions about the paintings are extremely interesting as well.

I caught this exhibition at the Indiana State Museum while it was on a nationwide tour. It was so interesting that I took full advantage of my museum membership and came back and saw it several times while it was here in Indianapolis. I picked up the book as the exhibit was winding down but only recently read the well-written introductory essays that make up the first 35 pages or so of the book.

Cheech Marin has created a high-quality full color text of this travelling show which is mostly comprised of pieces from his own personal collection. Marin's taste tends to run towards political art, but there is plenty that speaks of life for artists who are both Chicano and American, as the exhibition title (also the book title) imply.

Artists that grabbed my attention include:

Carlos Almaraz - his car crash paintings were gigantic attention getters in the gallaries. His other works are great as well.

David Botello - his Monet-like style is fascinating.

One of the best paintings may well be "Janine at 39, Mother of Twins" by Margaret Garcia. Cheech Marin's comment on page 67 hits it on the head: "If there is a visual definition of the lushness, the strength, and the beauty of women, this painting is it."

Cesar Martinez's "Hombre que le Gustan las Mujeres (The Man who Loves Women)" is funny and a sadly realistic portrayal of the ways that men see women.

Patssi Valdez was the painter that stole the show in Indianapolis, at least from the comments I heard. Her pictures are so bright and have the power to mae the viewer feel as though he or she is being drawn in to the canvas, especially with works like "Room on the Verge." Another painting of hers graces the cover of the book.

I did not care for the works of a couple of established artists: Gronk and Mel Casas. The Casas pieces in this show seemed less like a work of art and more like very large, not very clever political cartoons. That being said, it was entirely appropriate to include their works considering their standing in the Chicano art movement.

I bought this book for my brother (artist) and he loved it! it had a great collection of chicano art throughout Los Angeles. Any 'Chicano artist' would like to take a look at other inspiring work.

Cheech Marin has collected some of the most amazing, enthralling pictures (paintings, drawings, etc.) by Chicano artists that I've come across! This book is such a rich collection to own because some of us can't afford to buy art, but we can look again & again at the copies he's put together. There are well-known artists, unknown artists, and people I'm thrilled to have found out about because their work is so brilliant. Some places where I've seen "Chicano" art collected before have stuck to one style, very pastely, very soft colors, a certain women's painting style that has its place but isn't representative. This book isn't like that. Marin has collected paintings of incredible scenes, showing car wreck victims, cholos, lovers embracing, a drive-by shooting in progress, a freeway accident, & a police shake down to name a few. The "realist" aspect of these pictures is so entertaining that it will provide owners of the book hours of transfixing study & discussion! Buy it!

Absolutely breathtaking. A great addition to my collection.