Category: Riverside

On the second anniversary of the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture, celebrated in June 2024, actor and comedian Cheech Marin unveiled the latest iteration of his renowned collection, “Shifting Perspectives.” The exhibition highlights new additions alongside works from Marin’s initial gift of 500 pieces, offering a vibrant exploration of Chicano art. The collaboration with the Riverside Art Museum (RAM) came about after Marin’s collection tour at the museum turned out to be their biggest show ever. When approached by the city manager about creating a permanent home for his collection, Marin initially misunderstood. “I thought they were asking me to purchase the museum. I said, ‘I’m not that rich!’ But then I realized it was an opportunity to create something lasting and more of a partnership,” he explained. The Cheech Marin Center, affectionately known as “The Cheech,” stands as a testament to Marin’s lifelong passion for Chicano art. The journey to establishing the museum began in 2017, sparked by a serendipitous discovery. “I was collecting art and conflicted about what to do next [in regard to partnering with RAM]. Then, while walking

Riverside Art Museum (RAM) presents “3425 Mission Inn Avenue: Foundation, Transition, and Innovation,” an exhibition that highlights the architectural significance of its Julia Morgan-designed YWCA building, showcases the iconic facility’s role in the cultural development of the city, and presents plans for its preservation and renovation. The collection of architectural plans, prints, drawings, and photographs are on display now through October 6, 2024. Since 1967, RAM has provided uninterrupted mission-driven exhibition and educational programming from this historic location at 3425 Mission Inn Avenue in Riverside, California. Adding to its cultural footprint, RAM opened The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art and Culture in June 2022, just one block away. To analyze how the Julia Morgan building should be preserved and renovated, RAM has retained the expertise of Page & Turnbull, the firm responsible for the successful preservation and renovation of the City of Riverside’s mid-century library building, now home to The Cheech. Renderings of the proposed $10 million plans are featured in the exhibition. “We are working to ensure these stories are not lost to time and that the building will be here for generations