Los Tejanos: Chicano Art from the Cheech Marin Collection will be at the Art Museum of South Texas from Jan. 12-April 29. Natalia Contreras/Caller-Times
Cheech Marin has advice for all aspiring artists — get another job.
"We're Chicanos we have to have three jobs at all times. That's what we have to do," he joked. "But never stop painting.
"You work, but you paint every day. That's the way it gets done and when (artists) come to that realization is a moment of empowerment," Marin said.
Marin, best known for founding the comedy duo "Cheech & Chong," spoke to the media Thursday about his latest exhibit, "Los Tejanos: Chicano Art" from the Cheech Marin Collection at the Art Museum of South Texas.
The comedian, actor, writer, and art collector said he hopes his collection will inspire artists in South Texas.
"There's nothing I like better than for artists to discover other artists and other works while they're at the museum," Marin said. "And it let's (artists) know that it could happen for them, too.
"They can also be in a big gallery and they can travel in museums. That has happened so it gives them encouragement to continue," he said.
Marin said he first discover Tejano art at a gallery in San Antonio.
The collection will present about 39 works of art by 14 Texas artists including Jari "Werc" Alvarez, Melesio 'Mel' Casas, Carlos Donjuán, Gaspar Enríquez, Jacinto Guevara, Adán Hernández, Benito Huerta, César A. Martínez, Joe Peña, Alex Rubio, Ricardo Ruiz, Marta Sánchez, Vincent Valdez, and Andy A. Villarreal.
"LA artists and Texas artists are related, almost like cousins. LA is more urban and Texas more rural art but it's the same DNA," he said. "There's a 'school of artists' building here in Texas and it's much bigger and much better than any others I've seen."
The exhibit will run from Friday, Jan. 12 to April 29.
Marin's collection highlights the Chicano movement’s contributions to the art world.
Karol Stewart, the museum's coordinator of community services, said although Marin has shown his collection at the museum three times, this time is more special.
"This is the first exhibition that we've had that focuses solely on Tejano, Chicano artists," Stewart said. "It is solely about Texas and it really places Texas in the international art history stage.
"This is contemporary art and it shows what people are going through in their lives now, so you don't have to know about art to relate to this collection," she said.
Marin has amassed an art collection of over 700 works of Chicano art, making it the largest Chicano art collection in the United States, officials said.
In 2017, "Art News" recognized Marin among the top 200 art collectors globally.
"I want to give artists a venue where they feel they belong," Marin said. "Talent has to be nurtured. You build it up over years and years and I want to encourage artists in every step with this platform."
The last time Marin was in Corpus Christi was in 2015.
Melissa Richardson Banks, an art manager who works with Marin, is a Corpus Christi native.
She said it's important for everyone in the community to be exposed to art and to support it.
"(This collection) is not just relevant to Latinos, this is art for Texas," Richardson Banks said. "This artwork embraces anyone who identifies as a Texan and we should be very proud of this art."
A lecture by Marin will begin at 12:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12. Cost: $10/members and $20/nonmembers.
