Photo Courtesy of Kimball Art Center

Cheech Marin, perhaps most famous for his adventures with Tommy Chong and the duo’s infamous search for “the perfect joint,” has built himself a different kind of reputation in his golden years as a philanthropic patron of Chicano art. Amassing one of the finest collections of Latino art in the world, Marin has advocated for the appreciation of Chicano art for well over a decade.

“Chicano art is American art,” Marin has said. “My goal is to bring the term ‘Chicano’ to the forefront of the art world.”

As part of its Arte Latino movement, the Kimball Art Center will present, “Papel Chicano: Works in Paper from the Collection of Cheech Marin” to celebrate the comedian’s contributions to Latino art and culture. The Kimball will host an opening reception this Saturday at 6 p.m., featuring Marin, Ruby Chacon (founder of the Mestizo Institute of Culture and Arts), and other renowned Chicano arts. Marin’s collection will run though May 3.