by Patricia Frischer
Collidoscope: de la Torre Brothers Retro-Perspective
Exhibition until January 22, 2023
I understand the kudos that is transferred to a work of art
that is displayed in a museum. The clean walls, the good lighting, the careful
labels all instill a stamp of approval. I also recognize that there is good art
made everyway by all sorts of artists who are not recognized. I always admired
art made by Chicanos and appreciated the Latino experience being communicated
in these works. I was especially glad to be introduced to a number of artists
in the Cheech
Collects ground floor exhibition space of the new Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art &
Culture of the Riverside Art Museum.
And I can’t believe I am going to write this, but I wish
the works had been less removed from their environment. I would have loved to
be looking while drinking shots of tequila, maybe get a contact high from a
bong, having small children selling me sticks of gum, smelling fresh street food
and seeing the world passing while the arts was embraced as an everyday occurrence,
integral to our lives like breathing.
That is how I feel about the work of Einar and Jamex de la
Torre. When you go upstairs to see Collidoscope:
de la Torre Brothers Retro-Perspective you are amazed with the sheer quantity
of out put on display. You feel you have almost entered another world, but not
quite. It is still clean and maybe a bit too neatly displayed. They seem to
still want to make sure you know this is an important exhibition in a museum.
But that is not how I know the brothers. They are warm, relaxed and authentic.
The de la Torre Brothers are bi-national and bi-cultural and we readily accept
that they make cross border art which is a mix of both sides. (Please note the Brothers were recipients of the San Diego Visual Arts Network SD Art
Prize in 2010 now a dozen years ago). They take all the history of
Mexico, ancient culture, politics, wars, religion and mesh it up with
contemporary slang, symbolism, sex and rock and roll. This is easy to see in
the lenticular works that change as you move. They shift in time and in
viewpoints. As the title points out, the view is backwards (retro) but it is
also through their perspective. And the past collides with the present, and even
the future, making a kaleidoscopic of images, i.e. a Collidoscope. This exhibition does represent about 40 years of work, so it is a true retrospective as well.
The works are not just blown glass, they are a mix of molded
plastic resin, found objects in all sorts of materials, metal structures, videos
and sound art. The space ship with astronaut above is a giant ancient head (maybe Aztec) with all seeing eyes and propelled by a circle of fire. There are many figures and many mandala shapes with repeating
patterns. The giant moving Ferris wheel takes those meditative religious shield
shapes from the past and makes it into a fun fair blood bath.
Cheech Collects showing
until June 18, 2023, with 120 works from Marin’s generous gift of over 500 works
to the Riverside Art Museum as well as from his personal collection reflects a
40-year span of art production.
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| Frank Romero |
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| Joe Pena |
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| Joe Pena |
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| Joe Pena |
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| Carlos Almaraz |
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| John M. Valadez |
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| Adan Hernandez |
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| Adan Hernandez |
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| John M. Valadez |
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| Carlos Donjuan |
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| Eloy Torrez |
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| Judithe Hernandez |
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| Alfredo du Batuc |
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| Benito Huerta (please note, painting on left on black velvet, on right lead panel) |
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| Candelario Aguilar, Jr. |
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| Glugio "Gronk" Nicrandro |
The
Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture of the Riverside Art Museum
3581 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside, CA, 92501
Wednesday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Admission is timed and capacity is limited.
Adult: $15.95
Senior (65+)/Educator/College Student: $10.95 (ID will be required at check
in.)
Children 13-17 years of age: $10.95
Children 12 and under: Free
Military personnel (active and retired): Free (Accompanying adults and children
are also free; ID will be required at check in.)
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