3 PM – A Conversation with Cheech Marin
Location: HFAF theater.

Primarily known as an actor, director, and performer, Cheech Marin has developed the finest private collection of Chicano art in this country. Much of it formed the core of his traveling exhibition Chicano Visions: American Painters on the Verge, which broke attendance records during its groundbreaking 15‐ city tour during 2001‐2007 to major art museums across the United States. He states, “Chicano art is American art. My goal is to bring the term ‘Chicano’ to the forefront of the art world.” This focus is what led to his touring exhibitions, The Chicano Collection/La Colección Chicana: Fine Art Prints by Modern Multiples and Papel Chicano: Works on Paper from the Collection of Cheech Marin. He has also produced exhibitions for LACMA (Angelenos/Chicano Painters of L.A. – June 15 through November 2, 2008) and the Art Museum of South Texas in Corpus Christi (Menudo: Chicano Art from the Cheech Marin Collection ‐ September 17, 2009 to January 3, 2010). His latest exhibition, Chicanitas: Small Paintings from the Cheech Marin Collection, is currently on view at the Museum of Monterey through April 1, 2012.

A third‐generation Mexican American, Cheech has received numerous awards for his work on behalf of Latinos, including the 2000 Creative Achievement Award from the Imagen Foundation and the 1999 ALMA Community Service Award from the National Council of La Raza and Kraft Foods. In 2007, he received an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts for his contributions to the creative arts from Otis College of Art & Design in Los Angeles, and received the inaugural Legacy Award for Arts Advocacy from the Smithsonian Latino Center. He serves on the boards of the Smithsonian Latino Center and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund.

As an actor, Cheech is familiar to many as one‐half of the hilarious duo Cheech and Chong; together, they made eight feature films. He has since appeared in more than 20 films, including Spy Kids, Tin Cup, and Once Upon A Time In Mexico. His television credits include co‐starring with Rob Schneider in the CBS show, Rob; participating in the Food Network’s Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off; co-starring with Don Johnson in the popular CBS drama, Nash Bridges, a recurring role on the hit series Lost, and a guest appearance on Grey’s Anatomy.

His latest films include The Perfect Game (Lions Gate Entertainment); Beverly Hills Chihuahua and Race to Witch Mountain (Walt Disney Pictures); and The Miracle of Dommatina (Hallmark Channel). In addition, in 2005, Cheech directed the Broadway production of Latinologues, a collection of comedic and poignant monologues revealing the Latino experience in America.