Mesa Arts Center will celebrate a major milestone in 2015-16: the tenth season of entertainment and education at One East Main Street in Downtown Mesa. Everyone is invited to join the celebration at a free Season Kickoff Festival on Friday, September 11, 6-11 p.m.

The festival will take on the atmosphere of a Latin street party, with an outdoor performance by American Chicano rock power trio Los Lonely Boys, lessons in Latin social dance from New York-based Latino dance organization Ballet Hispanico with music provided by Marcos Crego, and new exhibitions in Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum, including three that will showcase works from actor Cheech Marin’s collection of Chicano art.

Festival goers will see custom low-rider cars and motorcycles on display. Watch Efrain “Bugs” Gonzales doing live pin stripping. Artist Kyllan Maney will engage festival attendees to help in the creation of Mola Style patterns.  Cyphers The Center for Urban Art will be showcasing  talented street artists who will be creating paintings on site.  They will also be hosting a street style dance competition and performances throughout the evening. There will be a food court offering a variety of snacks and treats and Modelo Especial will be our featured beverage of the evening.

Five exhibitions will open in Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum on Friday, September 11. Take Ten: The Past Decade of Collecting by Cheech Marin will draw from the renowned private collection of entertainer and arts advocate Cheech Marin, who has amassed one of the world’s largest and most comprehensive collections of Chicano art. Curatorial Spotlight: Ricardo Ruizwill feature highlights of the curious paintings of Texas artist Ricardo Ruiz from Cheech Marin’s collection. 10 pick 10 will showcase the work of ten pivotal Chicano artists, whose work has become the cornerstone of Marin’s collection, and ten works by emerging artists at a juncture in their career. Yonder Peasant…The Photography of Pedro E. Guerrero will showcase iconic artist portraits and architectural photographs by the celebrated Arizona photographer Pedro Guerrero. And Chicano State of Mind will feature eight Arizona artists whose work explores the idea that being Chicano is a state of mind that goes beyond a restrictive classification.

Mesa Arts Center is located at One East Main Street in downtown Mesa. There is no charge to attend the Season Kickoff Festival or the Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum’s opening, and parking is free. More information can be found at MesaArtsCenter.com or by calling 480-644-6500.