Cheech Marin wants to educate through art

MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- Hollywood comedian Cheech Marin's extensive collection of paintings by Mexican-American artists is at the center of a Minneapolis Chicano art exhibition.

The exhibit opens Saturday and runs through Jan. 2 at Weisman Art Museum at the University of Minnesota at Minneapolis, with an interactive production featuring Chicano music, fashion and dance open Saturday through December at the Minnesota Museum of American Art in St. Paul, Minn., the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported Friday.

"I'm a Chicano ATM machine," Marin said, adding he has supported Chicano artists for years by buying and commissioning pieces that have traveled around the United States since 2001.

The Chicano extravaganza is a way to celebrate and educate others about the Chicano heritage, Marin said.

"You can't love or hate Chicano art unless you see it. Ninety-nine percent of the country doesn't know what a Chicano is, much less what their art looks like. That is the purpose of this tour," Marin said.