'Chicano' exhibit opens in Indianapolis

"Chicano," the first exhibit of its kind ever to travel to the Midwest, opened Saturday at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis. The five-year, 15-city national tour will remain on exhibit in Indiana through May 5.\nJessica Di Santo, museum communications manager, said the Indiana State Museum was one of the few venues large enough to house both components of the exhibit -- "Chicano Visions: American Painters on the Verge," an art exhibit, and "Chicano Now: American Expressions," a multimedia interactive exhibit. \n"With such a growing number of Hispanics in the state, it's also a good way to educate visitors and residents about the Chicano lifestyle," Di Santo said. \nJorge Chapa, professor and director of the IU Latino Studies Program, said the term "Chicano" refers to U.S.-born people of Mexican descent who have a particular political orientation. \n"This orientation is one of resistance to many of the U.S. institutions that had discriminated against or mistreated the Chicanos," Chapa said. \nAlthough there has been a rapid growth of the Latino/Chicano population in the U.S., Chapa said important parts of their demographic picture are not changing. \n"The education, occupation and income of Chicanos and Latinos has stagnated," Chapa said. "They are not catching up with the rest of the American population."\nDi Santo said she sees the exhibit as a way of exposing the Latino community and building relationships between it and other communities and as a way to "build bridges with these new Hoosiers." It is also a chance for visitors to see art they aren't used to seeing normally. \nIn the "Chicano Visions" section, there are over 80 "rich, colorful, expressive paintings of contemporary artists," Di Santo said. While a majority of the paintings are from Cheech Marin's personal collection, over 25 other artists, including Carlos Almaraz, Frank Romero and Patssi Valdez are showcased. \nChapa said Marin, of "Cheech and Chong" movie fame, has become a cultural icon. Although originally, through his movies and comedy, he "epitomized the Chicano doper," Chapa said Marin has more recently played a number of roles reflecting his Chicano roots with dignity, respect and without drugs. \nThe "Chicano Now" section offers information to visitors about what it means to be Chicano, through the main themes of family, style, identity and work. Some of the hands-on exhibits include a low-rider car for children to sit in and a working jukebox.\n"Visitors can learn about culture and then go into the show with a better understanding of why Chicano artists paint what they do," Di Santo said. \nLillian Casillas, director of LaCasa and the IU Latino Cultural Center, organized a bus trip to see the exhibit last Saturday. There were 42 participants, and Casillas said it took them about three hours to see the whole exhibit. Although Marin was at the museum most of the weekend, Casillas said they unfortunately did not get to see him because his daughter got sick and he had to go back early.\nBesides serving as an advocacy office for Latinos, LaCasa also provides education for everyone to learn more about the Latino community. Casillas said in 2003, La Casa recorded almost 9,000 visitors, although there are only 800 Hispanics on the IU campus. \n"There is a growing Latino community, and whether people are ready for it or not, they're going to have interaction," Casillas said. "This exhibit gives folks insight about the segment of our community and creates understanding to help build relationships." \nThe Indiana State Museum is located at 650 W. Washington St. in downtown Indianapolis. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $7 for adults, $6.50 for senior citizens, $4 for children and free for members. \nChapa said, "This exhibit shows exciting and innovative art that expresses various aspects of the lives and cultures of a large and important part of the U.S. population." \n-- Contact staff writer Hannah Schroder at hschrode@indiana.edu.