“Sneak Peak” at Cheech Marin’s Vision of “Chicano Now: American Expressions”

Presented by Target and sponsored by Hewlett-Packard, Chicano Now completes its national tour in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE, WI–Chicano Now: American Expressions, an unprecedented interactive multimedia exhibition, presented by Target, sponsored by Hewlett-Packard Company and produced by Evergreen Exhibitions (formerly Clear Channel Exhibitions), will open to the public at the Milwaukee Public Museum on February 3, 2007 and run through May 28, 2007.
Members of the media will be able to get a “sneak peak” at “Chicano Now” on Thursday, February 1 from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m.  Museum officials and others affiliated with the exhibit will be on hand to answer questions. A complete listing of those scheduled to appear will be sent prior to the event.

The Milwaukee Public Museum will celebrate the opening of this highly-regarded exhibit on February 3 from 10AM to 2PM with performances by the dancers and musicians of Ballet Folklorico Nacional Mexica and the Latino Arts Mariachi Juvenil youth orchestra, as well as hands-on crafts and Discovery Hunts. Other themed program days will take place throughout the run of the exhibit.

Entry to the exhibit is included in Museum admission. Tickets to the museum are  $11.00 for adults (16-61), $8 for seniors (62-plus), and $6.00 for children ages 3-15. Admission is free to Milwaukee County residents every Monday. The Milwaukee Public Museum is located at 800 W. Wells Street in downtown Milwaukee and is open Monday to Saturday 9am – 5pm, and Sunday noon – 5pm . For more information, call (414) 278-2702 or visit www.mpm.edu.

Inspired by actor Cheech Marin’s vision to highlight expressions of his native Mexican-American culture, Chicano Now has traveled throughout the country on a national tour through major cities and museums, including the Smithsonian Institution. Its engagement at the Milwaukee Public Museum is the final stop on this tour.  The 5,000-square-foot interactive multimedia exhibition, which is designed for all ages and features bilingual labels and other elements, weaves tradition, history and humor into an expression of the lives and rich contributions of Chicanos.

“The Milwaukee Public Museum has always prided itself on its cultural exhibits,” said MPM President Daniel Finley. “Chicano Now offers an alternative, contemporary complement to our well-regarded collections of artifacts and dioramas from Latin America and the Southwest, and helps foster understanding in our wonderfully diverse community.”

Chicano Now first opened in November 2001 in San Antonio, Texas and has traveled through various cities in the United States, including Washington, D.C., El Paso, Texas, Indianapolis, Ind., San Diego, Calif., Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn., St. Louis, Mo., and most recently San Francisco, Calif.

The exhibit not only captures the essence of the Chicano experience, but allows the public to see the world from a different perspective.  “The art work created within the exhibition presents our interpretation of the Mexican-American experience to American audiences in diverse parts of the nation and helps bring the term Chicano to the forefront of the art world,” said Marin.  “When you understand the many interpretations, whether social or political and even religious, you see a 360-degree view of the Chicano experience.”

Chicano Now: American Expressions is an interactive multi-media exhibition that offers expressions of Chicano cultural style through the eyes of the nation’s premiere Chicano performing and independent film artists including Cultural Clash, Guillermo Gómez-Peña, Lourdes Portillo, and Gustavo Vazquez.  The exhibit aims to spotlight Chicano culture through the main themes of work, family, style and identity.  Visitors to Chicano Now can select a song on the jukebox, try salsa dancing, get behind the wheel of a lowrider and learn more about the many contributions Chicanos have made to society.

About the Milwaukee Public Museum
The Milwaukee Public Museum (MPM) is a natural and human history museum located in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The museum was chartered in 1882 and opened to the public in 1884. MPM has three floors of exhibits that encompass life-size dioramas, walk-through villages, world cultures, dinosaurs, a rain forest, and a live butterfly garden, as well as an IMAX theater, and the Daniel M. Soref Planetarium. The museum houses more than 4.5 millions objects, and hosts nearly three quarters of a million visitors each year.

About Target
“Target values the spirit of Chicano art and is proud to support the work of these vibrant artists that help us gain a better understanding of diverse points of views, an appreciation of different cultures and traditions,” said Laysha Ward, vice president, community relations, Target. “It is through the support of this exhibit and our work around the arts that we strive to give back to the communities we serve.”
Minneapolis-based Target serves guests at 1,494 stores in 47 states nationwide by delivering today’s best retail trends at affordable prices. Target is committed to providing guests with great design through innovative products, in-store experiences and community partnerships. Whether visiting a Target store or shopping online at Target.com, guests enjoy a fun and convenient shopping experience with access to thousands of unique and highly differentiated items. Target (NYSE:TGT) gives back more than $2 million a week to its local communities through grants and special programs. Since opening its first store in 1962, Target has partnered with nonprofit organizations, guests and team members to help meet community needs.

About Hewlett-Packard Company
“The social, cultural and political impact of Chicano life has been a mainstay in America since the birth of our country, and this wonderful exhibit provides a real up-close look at the lives and contributions of Chicanos,” said Jeff Blough, consumer marketing communications manager for HP’s Imaging and Printing Group.  “HP is delighted to play a role in helping the public celebrate a slice of American life.”
HP is a technology solutions provider to consumers, businesses and institutions globally. The company’s offerings span IT infrastructure, global services, business and home computing, and imaging and printing. For the four fiscal quarters ended April 30, 2005, HP revenue totaled $83.3 billion. More information about HP (NYSE, Nasdaq: HPQ) is available atwww.hp.com.

About Evergreen Exhibitions (formerly Clear Channel Exhibitions)
Evergreen Exhibitions is based in San Antonio, Texas.  Evergreen is a world leader in providing high quality, state-of-the-art educational family experiences, and produces exhibits in collaboration with more than 200 leading museums and research institutions.

Local Support
Major local support provided by HUSCO International, Wisconsin Energy Corporation Foundation, American Transmission Company and M&I.  Additional support provided by Manpower, UMOS, El Conquistador, and Dr. Gerardo Caballero.
800 W. Wells St., Milwaukee, WI 53233-1478    414/278-2700    Fax: 414/278-6100

For additional information on this Chicano article, please contact:

Mike Kempf
(210) 599-0045
Mike@evergreenexhibitions.com

Source: Evergreen Exhibitions
http://www.mikekempf.wpengine.com