SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - La Raza Galeria Posada (LRPG) announced a six-month regional celebration titled “InFormation” in honor of the Royal Chicano Air Force (RCAF), a seminal collective of artists and activists founded in 1970 by Sacramento State art professors José Montoya and Esteban Villa, their students and other community artists. 

Now through June 16, art and literary organizations (including museums, galleries, libraries and cultural centers in Sacramento, Roseville, Davis and Woodland) will present Rebel Chicano Art Front related exhibitions, artist panels, symposia, workshops, poetry readings and film screenings.

The name “InFormation” was chosen because it reflects the Rebel Chicano Art Front’s military humor and persona and also references alignment and coordination along with communication and knowledge, which embodies the regional initiative.

“This historic and dynamic collaboration showcases the impact of the RCAF collective's ‘artist wing’ on Chicana/o art and U.S. art history along with the cultural and political contributions of its activist members and community organizations,” said La Raza Galeria Posada’s Terezita Romo. “Featuring a cross-section of organizations and media, it will also bring attention to our region's cultural vibrancy and the RCAF's enduring spirit of art, activism and community.”

The “InFormation: A Celebration of the Royal Chicano Air Force” grassroots initiative was organized by members of La Raza Galeria Posada, a former Royal Chicano Air Force organization that was revived in 2024 by Royal Chicano Air Force artists, their descendants and community supporters (note: it has no relationship to the Latino Center of Art and Culture). 

The mission of the initiative is to conduct and promote research on the Royal Chicano Air Force and its legacy as well as create Chicana/o and Latina/o cultural, artistic and scholarly activities for and with the community. La Raza Galeria Posada also supports the annual Dia de los Muertos observance at St. Mary’s Cemetery, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025.

La Raza Galeria Posada’s partnership in Royal Chicano Air Force exhibitions and programming at the Sacramento History Museum, Crocker Art Museum and California State University, Sacramento Library Gallery provided the catalyst for inviting other organizations to present their own Royal Chicano Air Force-related programming.

Now through April 5, the Sacramento History Museum is hosting the “RCAF in Mictlán: 50th Anniversary of Dia de los Muertos” exhibit, featuring photographs, videos, ephemera and artwork.

The exhibition documents the Royal Chicano Air Force’s Dia de los Muertos five-decade observance within Chicana/o history and its impact as the oldest in the Sacramento region. Curated by guest curator, Terezita Romo.

From 2 to 3:30 p.m. on March 28, the museum will host a Dia de los Muertos Founders Panel. More information is available at sachistorymuseum.org/rcaf-in-mictlan. Sacramento History Museum is located at 101 I St.

Now through June 28, the California State Library is presenting “Viva La Lucha: Art and Work of the Royal Chicano Air Force,” a speaker series of interviews on their YouTube channel featuring Royal Chicano Air Force artists, Juan Carrillo, Rudy Cuellar, Luis González, Irma Lerma Barbosa and Juanishi Orosco.  

Visit youtube.com/@CSLmultimedia for more information. California State Library is located at 900 N St. in Sacramento.

Verge Center for the Arts 

Now through March 22, the Verge Center for the Arts is presenting the “R.C.A.F. Mid-Flight: The Artwork and Influence of the Royal Chicano Air Force,” exhibit. 

The exhibition celebrates the groundbreaking contributions of the Royal Chicano Air Force and their blend of media, culture, performance, humor and activism that championed Chicano pride, social justice and community empowerment. 

The center will also host two panel discussions, one from 6 to 8 p.m. on Feb. 18 for a Royal Chicano Air Force Artists Panel Discussion and from 6 to 8 p.m. March 18, featuring an Affiliated Artists Panel Discussion. 

More information is available at vergecontemporary.org/gallery/upcoming-exhibitions. The Verge Center for the Arts is located at 625 S St. 

Now through April 1, the SMUD Art Gallery is hosting “Face To Face: Portraits and Sketches by Esteban Villa & Juan Carrillo,” exhibit. SMUD Art Gallery is located at 6301 S St. This exhibition spotlights the personal work of two Royal Chicano Air Force founding members Esteban Villa and Juan Carrillo who helped define the collective's aesthetic, political and community-centered practice. 

From 4:30 to 6 p.m. April 1, the SMUD Art Gallery will be the closing reception and presenting the “The Sons of Villa and Carrillo: The RCAF Family Point of View,” exhibit. 

Now through May 2, the California State University, Sacramento Library Gallery is hosting the “Painting la Comuniversidad: Three Murals of the Royal Chicano Air Force,” exhibit. 

The exhibition features large-scale reproductions of Royal Chicano Air Force murals and individual artworks, including posters and ceramics, from the university’s collections. Curated by Janina Lopez, it will also highlight the history of the Barrio Art Program and its on-going community engagement as well as audio from new oral histories with Royal Chicano Air Force artists and digital guide.

The library is located on the California State University, Sacramento campus at 6000 Jed Smith Drive. More details can be found at csus.edu/university-galleries/library-galleries. 

From Feb. 22 to June 28, the Crocker Art Museum will present the “Rebels With La Causa: Royal Chicano Air Force Art and Activism, 1970-1990,” exhibit.

This new exhibition is the largest ever of the Royal Chicano Air Force and explores Sacramento's groundbreaking artist collective that began at Sacramento State in 1970 and revolutionized graphic arts as a political tool. The exhibition features 95 vibrant posters alongside an immersive recreated print studio where visitors can explore the screen-printing process. 

Curated by guest curator Terezita Romo, the exhibition documents how Royal Chicano Air Force artists used bold bicultural aesthetics and subversive humor to fuel activism, from supporting the United Farm Workers to launching community programs like La Raza Bookstore and Breakfast for Niños.

Throughout March, Crocker Art Museum will host a film screening and artist gallery talks all at 2 p.m. On March 14, the museum will show the film “Pilots of Aztlan: Flights of the Royal Chicano Air Force” (1994) with filmmaker, Steve LaRosa. On March 15, there will be an Artist Gallery Talk with Luis C. González and there will be an Artist Gallery Talk with Rudy O. Cuellar on March 22.

The Crocker Art Museum is located at 216 O St. More information is available at crockerart.org/art/exhibitions.

During spring, KVIE Channel 6 will be presenting a broadcast of its “Royal Chicano Air Force: Art and Activism” (Steve LaRosa and Toby Momtaz, 2021). Check programming listings for dates and times of film airings at kvie.org. 

For more information about the “InFormation: A Celebration of the Royal Chicano Air Force” initiative and a continually updated listing of events and activations, visit: LRGP.org.