James McClung and Marcus Mercado Exhibit at Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art

Artists James McClung and Marcus Mercado are showcasing “Our Empire,” an exhibition of 29 acrylic, mixed media paintings and drawings at the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art’s Altura Credit Union Community Gallery. Running through October 23, 2026, the work recontextualizes the Inland Empire’s industrial landscapes as vital landmarks of community memory.

For too long, the Inland Empire has been viewed through a narrow lens. To the casual observer, It’s often reduced to a collection of stereotypes: endless suburban sprawl, oppressive industrial corridors, or a mere transit hub for those moving between the coast and the desert. But for those who were raised within its borders, these spaces are not voids. They are archives.

The problem is one of visibility. When a region is “overlooked” or “misunderstood,” the physical markers of its history—the decaying signage, the dilapidated warehouses, the weathered storefronts—are seen as eyesores rather than assets. This erasure of visual narrative creates a disconnect between the community’s lived experience and the external perception of their home.

What we have is where the intervention of art becomes a civic necessity. By elevating the “gritty patina” of the urban landscape into high art, McClung and Mercado are performing a act of reclamation. They are arguing that the spaces we pass over every day are the very things that define us.

The Beauty of the Overlooked

The exhibition focuses on the intersection of culture, identity, and community. It doesn’t shy away from the harshness of the environment. Instead, it leans into it. Parking lots, street corners, and neighborhoods are not treated as background elements; they are the central figures of the story.

The artists, both raised in Redlands, California, bring contrasting visual languages to the gallery. This creates a dialogue—not just between the two creators, but between the viewer and the physical reality of the region. Their work explores a diverse landscape that includes:

• Industrial corridors that drive the regional economy.
• Suburban sprawl that defines the residential experience.
• Historic downtowns that hold the ghosts of previous eras.
• Desert edges and mountain backdrops that frame the valley.

When these environments are neglected, they often fall into disrepair. For many residents, this decay is a source of frustration, leading to a reliance on urban planning consultants to revitalize failing districts without stripping away their soul.

“A lot of people that grew up in these communities see some of these locations and they’re very relatable to their upbringing,” says James McClung. “Things have transformed this area as well.”

Monuments of Transit and Memory

One of the most poignant examples of this “landmark of memory” is the San Bernardino Santa Fe smokestack. Standing 189 feet tall, this structure from the 1920s once fueled the nearby railway power plant until 1994. To a stranger, it is a relic of obsolete industry. To McClung, it is a monument.

McClung’s connection to the tower is deeply personal, rooted in his childhood of drawing comic book strips with his brother. The smokestack represents the concept of being “in transit,” situated near the San Bernardino Santa Fe Depot that links the city to the rest of Southern California. It is a visual anchor in a city that is constantly moving.

This tension between permanence and transition is a recurring theme in the Inland Empire. As the region evolves, the risk of losing these tactile connections to the past increases. This is why many community leaders are now turning to historic preservation specialists to ensure that the “gritty patina” of the 20th century isn’t entirely paved over by 21st-century development.

A Vision for Regional Uplift

The exhibition is hosted at the Altura Credit Union Community Gallery, a space specifically designed to provide opportunities for Southern California artists. The goal is not merely to display art, but to uplift the people and places of the region.

Valerie Found, the interim executive director of the Riverside Art Museum, emphasizes that the artists’ deep local roots are essential to the project’s success.

“James and Marcus’ artistic excellence, deep local roots and passion to tell the stories of their neighborhoods aligns with the vision of the Altura Credit Union Community Gallery — a space dedicated to providing opportunities for SoCal artists to showcase their work and uplift the people and places of our region,” Found stated.

This alignment between artistic expression and institutional support is critical. For local artists to thrive, they need more than just talent; they need the infrastructure of arts grants consultants and dedicated gallery spaces like those found at the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture.

The exhibit serves as a reminder that the “industrial landscape” is not a wasteland, but a living record of labor, migration, and survival.

The Long-Term Impact of Visual Reclamation

By presenting 29 acrylic and mixed media works, “Our Empire” does more than decorate a gallery; it challenges the viewer to see the Inland Empire with renewed attention. It asks us to linger on the things we usually drive past at 65 miles per hour on the freeway.

This shift in perception is the first step toward regional pride. When a community stops seeing its environment as something to be escaped and starts seeing it as something to be documented, the economic and social trajectory of that region changes. It fosters a sense of ownership and an appetite for sustainable growth that respects local identity.

The exhibition remains on view until October 23, 2026, providing a window for the public to engage with these narratives. It is a celebration of the “unassuming entities” that make the region whole.

The transformation of a landscape is inevitable, but the erasure of its memory is a choice. As the Inland Empire continues to shift, the work of McClung and Mercado ensures that the grit and the glory of the region are preserved in pigment and ink. For those looking to protect the cultural and physical landmarks of their own communities, finding verified community development firms is the most effective way to turn a fading memory into a permanent landmark. The World Today News Directory remains the primary resource for connecting civic-minded citizens with the professionals capable of preserving our shared history.