The Old Orange County Courthouse has opened its doors to a significant slice of cultural history with The Chicano Collection/La Colección Chicana art exhibit. Featuring digital reproductions from the treasure trove of celebrated Chicano artists, this exhibit paints a broad stroke across the canvas of the Chicano experience spanning from 1969 to 2001.

The showcase rolls out a spectrum of limited-edition giclées from the private collection of none other than actor and comedian Cheech Marin. While juggling fame and humor, Marin has managed to assemble an impressive collection, now foundational to The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture of the Riverside Art Museum. The textures of urban life and the Chicano journey leap off each piece, emanating from the works of 26 artists, each a master in their own right.

According to the Orange County Government, the project was born out of a collaboration between Marin, the later Richard S. Duardo of Modern Multiples Fine Art Editions, and Melissa Richardson Banks of CauseConnect. The exhibit's added flair? A 25-minute documentary detailing the Chicano art movement and linocut portraits of the showcased artists by Artemio Rodriguez, which escort visitors through the gallery.

"Preserving the cultural heritage within our diverse and historic communities is so important, including depictions of the story and struggle of Mexican Americans and Latinos in the Southwest. I wanted to help bring this exhibit here, since many of our residents do not have the opportunity to visit the museum in Riverside and because Orange County has played a vital role in the Chicano movement," Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento expressed as the heartbeat behind the exhibit's local unveiling. The exhibit also serves as a thematic hub for celebrating Chicano Heritage Month.

Rooted in decades of leadership and activism by figures like Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, the movement's artistic expressions have found a solid ally in Marin, who has cultivated his collection diligently for over 40 years. The Chicano Collection doesn't merely hang on the walls; it elevates Chicano art to the greater echelons of American art, making it more accessible and understandable to public audiences. Without a price tag, the exhibit is about as welcoming as it gets, emphasizing engagement with the cultural richness it represents. Operating hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., waiting for anyone willing to explore the depth of the Chicano narrative enclosed within the historic Courthouse walls.