-- Exhibition runs November 19, 2015 to May 20, 2016 with free public reception November 19 --
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 13, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Mexican Museum, the premier West Coast museum of Mexican, Mexican-American, Chicano, Latin American, and Latino art, culture and heritage, and affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is marking its 40th Anniversary with a special art exhibition, Vida, Cultura y Color: The Art of Peter Rodriguez, which will showcase the works of the Museum’s world-renowned founder.
Still painting at age 89, Rodriguez will be attending the Grand Opening Reception for the exhibition of his work, which will take place at The Mexican Museum on Thursday, November 19th from 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. The reception is open to the public and free of charge, with tickets available here. The Mexican Museum is located at 2 Marina Boulevard, Building D, at the Fort Mason Center. Free parking is available in the Marina Green. Media are welcome.
Vida, Cultura y Color: The Art of Peter Rodriguez, which will run from November 19, 2015 to May 20, 2016, will highlight the Mexican-American artist’s important works, enabling Museum guests to witness Rodriguez’ unique creative style and learn about his invaluable contributions to Latino cultural promotion and awareness. Rodriguez is known for inspiring a Mexican “cultural reclamation” movement in the 1950’s, a period of American art history driven by a highly-restrictive artistic environment. This ultimately led to his founding of The Mexican Museum in 1975, the first museum in the United States to present and preserve the art of Mexico and Mexican Americans.
“It is with great pleasure and heartfelt gratitude that we present this historic exhibition of Peter’s work. There is no greater way to honor him and the world-class museum he founded 40 years ago,” said Andrew M. Kluger, Chairman of The Mexican Museum Board of Trustees. “Since 1975, Peter’s vision for the Museum has grown to encompass the art, culture, and heritage of the Mexican, Chicano, Latino and Latin American experience. The Mexican Museum stands today as proof that one man’s vision can open the whole world to diversity in all of its rich, artistic forms.”
Along with the generous financial support of numerous individual donors, Vida, Cultura y Color: The Art of Peter Rodriguez is sponsored in large part by the San Francisco Foundation, a leading agent of Bay Area philanthropy and the source of the grant that finally allowed Rodriguez to open The Mexican Museum four decades ago.
The San Francisco Foundation is an incubator for community investment, original ideas, and passionate leadership. Since 1948, they have been bringing together networks of philanthropists and civic leaders to support and build on the strengths of the community and make the Bay Area the best place it can be. Ranking among the nation’s largest community foundations in grant making and assets, they give millions of dollars a year to foster strong communities, respond to local needs, and elevate public awareness.
Curators of the Vida, Cultura y Color: The Art of Peter Rodriguez exhibition include Bea Carrillo Hocker, Lupe Kindel, Nora Wagner, and Adriana Williams.
About The Mexican Museum:
Founded by the well-known San Francisco artist Peter Rodriguez in 1975 in the heart of the Mission District, The Mexican Museum is located at Fort Mason Center. It is the realization of his vision to present the aesthetic expression of the Mexican and Mexican American people. Today, the museum’s vision has expanded to include the full scope of the Mexican, Chicano and Latino experience – including the arts, history and heritage of their respective cultures
In 2012, The Mexican Museum became an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, the world’s largest museum and research complex. The Museum joins over 200 organizations in 45 states, Puerto Rico and Panama that are in association with the Smithsonian. The Mexican Museum currently has a permanent collection of more than 16,500 objects reflecting Pre-Hispanic, Colonial, Popular, Modern and Contemporary Mexican, Mexican-American, Latin American, Latino, and Chicano art.
The Mexican Museum is open Thursday - Sunday from noon to 4 p.m., located at the Fort Mason Center, Building D, Marina Boulevard and Buchanan Street, in San Francisco. Admission is FREE. The Museum offers a wide variety of programs, including Family Sundays, exhibitions, special events, lectures, and public programming throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. For more information, please visit: http://www.mexicanmuseum.org or call (415) 202-9700.
The Mexican Museum is currently preparing for the construction of its permanent home, which is expected to open in 2019. People are encouraged to support The Mexican Museum by becoming new members, or by joining the Builder’s Society online or by mailing a check to: The Mexican Museum, Fort Mason Center, 2 Marina Boulevard, Building D, San Francisco, CA 94123. For more information on the Builder’s Society, please contact Adriana Lopez at (415) 202-9700.