On Saturday, April 30th, 2011, the CALIFORNIA HERITAGE MUSEUM hosted a unique and festive award ceremony & fundraising gala at The Victorian in Santa Monica.
Each year the museum pays tribute to individuals who have contributed to the arts, music and culture in our community. This year, honorees and presenters included CHEECH MARIN, JOHN RIVERA SEDLAR, FRANK ROMERO and GERALDINE GILLILAND The event coincided with the closing of the museum exhibition, “Buena Vista – California Artists’ Views of Mexico, 1920-1960†, a watercolor retrospective of Mexico’s colorful and exciting past.
During the event, 250 guests enjoyed lively entertainment with the spectacular sounds of LOS FABULOCOS, tequila tasting, LULA Signature Margaritas, fine cuisine and a silent auction. Exclusively for the event, Frank Romero donated signed, numbered, limited-edition giclée prints entitled “Cheech’s Downtown†presented to event guests.
Prior Heritage Award recipients include: Actors Diane Keaton, Angelica Houston and Edward James Olmos; Photographers William Claxton, Tim Street Porter and Julius Shulman; Artists Ed Moses, Robert Graham, Michael C. McMillan, Tony Berlant, Laddie John Dill, Guy Dill; and Chefs Susan Feniger, Mary Sue Milliken, Nobu Matsuhisa, Wolfgang Puck, Joachim Splichal and Roy Yamaguchi.
2011 AWARD RECIPIENTS & PRESENTERS:
CHEECH MARIN is a third-generation Mexican American from East Los Angeles. An avid art collector, he holds one of the largest private collections of Chicano art in the United States. A renowned comedian, film actor, director, writer and musician, Cheech gained recognition as part of the comedy act Cheech and Chong, participating in eight comedy albums – his 1997 release “My Name is Cheech, the School Bus Driver” was the #1 selling children’s album in the country. His films include most notably Born in East L.A., Tin Cup, Desperado and Once Upon a Time in Mexico. Cheech also voiced characters in several Disney movies, including The Lion King and Car. His TV credits include Lost, Judging Amy, and Nash Bridges. An impassioned art advocate, Cheech strives to advance the recognition of Chicano art to the forefront of the art world and continues to bring together painters, sculptors, writers, actors & musicians.
FRANK ROMERO is an internationally acclaimed artist and throughout his 40 year career he has remained a dedicated constituent of the LA arts community. As a member of the 1970s Chicano art collective, “Los Four†, Frank and artists Carlos Almaraz, Beto de la Rocha and Gilbert Lujan, helped define and promote awareness of La Raza through murals, publications and exhibitions. Frank has completed over 15 murals throughout the city and his work has been exhibited extensively in the US, Europe and Japan, featured in many permanent collections, including the National Museum of Art in Washington D.C. and the LA County Museum of Art.
GERALDINE GILLILAND was named “-one of the top six chefs in the United States†by Bon Appétit Magazine. Passionate about Mexican culture, her restaurants have showcased the work of such renowned artists as George Yepes, Carlos Almaraz and, indeed, fellow honoree Frank Romero. Geraldine’s restaurant, LULA, in close proximity to the museum, is a bold, bright and colorful cantina famous for its original murals painted by Eloy Torrez. An advocate on behalf of the protection and rehabilitation of abused and abandoned animals, Geraldine hosts annual charity fundraisers at her beautiful home, Rancho Chiquita, which she shares with a multitude of rescued dogs.
Presenter, JOHN RIVERA SEDLAR is a renowned chef and restaurateur who has known Gilliland for over 25 years and presented her award. Author of several award-winning cookbooks, he has made frequent appearances on television and his latest restaurant, RIVERA, in Los Angeles, opened to rave reviews.
Event donors included LULA COCINA MEXICANA, JOSE CUERVO TEQUILA & CABO WABO TEQUILA.
The CALIFORNIA HERITAGE MUSEUM is a multi-cultural facility presenting exhibitions, lectures, publications and workshops to promote the diversity and richness of California’s history, culture and art.
For more information on the museum:
http://web.mac.com/calmuseum/Site/Home.html
