​Group exhibition of Chicano artists runs March 7 – April 4

(Santa Ana, CA)—Santa Ana College (SAC ) will host “Chicano Heroes de Aztlán” Legacy and Heritage starting Saturday, March 7 through April 4 with an opening reception on March 7 at 7 p.m. to kick off the exhibition at the SAC ARTS Gallery at the Santora Building in Downtown Santa Ana at 207 N. Broadway, Suite Q. Admission for both the reception and exhibit are free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Fridays 12 noon to 4 p.m. and First Saturday Art Walk each month 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., and by appointment.

Curated by Southern California-based  artist muralist Abram Moya, Jr., the group exhibition features the work of 13 Chicano artists including pieces by the late Emigdio Vasquez, the famed international muralist who has been called the godfather of Chicano art. The show includes works done in oils, watercolors, charcoal, and some sculptures by Southern California-based artists Guillermo Avalos, Carlos Callejo, Armando Cepeda, Henry Godines, Ignacio Gomez, Jose Loza, Abram Moya, Jr., Matt Southgate, Gregg Stone, Rosemary Vasquez-Tuthill, Ben and Jesse Valenzuela, and Vasquez. The show’s title pays homage to Aztlán, the legendary ancestral home of the Aztec people.

For Moya, a long-time Chicano activist and member of the Orange County art community, the gathering is significant. “This exhibit acknowledges the common heroes of our community,” says Moya. “From mothers, to fathers, to workers, and community, the art honors the Chicano spirit.”

According to SAC ARTS Gallery Director Phil Marquez, the show marks a milestone. “This is a first for Santa Ana College,” says Marquez. “Typically, these kinds of exhibits are found in larger universities, if not museums, so we’re very pleased to be able to host this kind of exhibit.”

For more information, or to make an appointment, call (714) 564-5615.

About Santa Ana College
Santa Ana College (SAC), which is turning 100 years old in 2015, serves about 18,000 students each semester at its main campus in Santa Ana. The college prepares students for transfer to four-year institutions, provides invaluable workforce training, and customized training for business and industry. In addition, another 11,000 students are served through the college’s School of Continuing Education located at Centennial Education Center. Ranked as one of the nation’s top two-year colleges awarding associate degrees to Latino and Asian students, the college is also recognized throughout the state for its comprehensive workforce training programs for nurses, firefighters, law enforcement and other medical personnel. SAC is one of two comprehensive colleges under the auspices of the Rancho Santiago Community College District. Visit www.sac.edu to learn more. For information about Santa Ana College’s Centennial, please visit www.sac.edu/100.