de Young Museum open free of charge today

Bay City News Service

July 22, 2006

San Francisco's de Young Museum reports it will be open free of charge today from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in celebration of opening festivities for new exhibitions inspired and created by comedian and actor Cheech Marin.

The museum reports that along with opening of several "Chicano'' exhibitions based on Marin's vision to highlight expressions of his native Mexican-American culture, a full day of cultural programs are planned including live music, performances and an interactive mural project.

"Chicano Visions: American Painters on the Verge'' features works by a wide range of the country's leading Chicano artists, largely based on Marin's private collections. "Chicano Now: American Expressions'' is a 5,000-square-foot interactive multimedia exhibit for families and "Chicano Encounters: Local Places and Global Communities'' features some 60 prints and posters that places Chicano history in both a global and local context.

The series of "Chicano'' exhibitions will continue through Oct. 22.

The de Young museum reopened in 2005 in a new facility designed by Swiss architecture firm Herzog and de Meuron and Fong and Chan Architects in San Francisco. It features collections of American art from the 17th through the 20th centuries; modern and contemporary art; art from Central and South America, the Pacific and Africa; and a diverse collection of textiles.

Copyright © 2006 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.

####