Charles and Ray Eames: Designers of more than just chairs That’s not the title of the documentary being shown on Tuesday at the Crest Theatre, but it very well could be. “Eames: The architect and the painter” will be screened at 7:30pm (doors open at 6:30pm) in a special event to benefit the Eames exhibit at the California Museum. The director of the film, Jason Cohn, will attend the screening and the evening is sponsored by Hot Italian, Sactown Magazine, Lumens, and The Bridge District. I think it’s probably fair to say that for most people who are familiar with the work of Charles and Ray Eames, the primary examples of the prolific partnership that come to mind are their iconic chair d

Limos filled with celebrities lined J Street for the 2011 California Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony at the Memorial Auditorium Thursday. The first ceremony in Sacramento was in 2006. The prestigious event was established by former California first lady Maria Shriver. The event was created to honor legendary people in California who encapsulate California’s “innovative” spirit. Many of the inductees were no stranger to the limelight. Rob Lowe, Lucy Liu and previous inductee Clint Eastwood, among others, graced the red carpet this year. The crowd cheered for the diverse group of inductees as they made their way down the red carpet. The 2011 inductees were astronaut Buzz Aldrin, The Beach Bo

The California Museum’s biggest fundraiser – The California Hall of Fame induction ceremony – is moving from its small setting in the museum auditorium to Memorial Auditorium, increasing seating almost tenfold. “The museum auditorium doesn’t allow for very many people to attend,” said museum spokeswoman Brenna Hamilton. “We’re now able to have a substantially larger audience so we can invite more people, including 500 museum members, which has never been done before.” Beginning in 2006, and until last year, the ceremony was held in the museum, where it could seat roughly 260 people. Memorial Auditorium will allow 3,000 attendees. Memorial Auditorium is especially fitting for this year,

Walking through a museum there is an expectation of seeing art, ancient artifacts and other historical memorabilia. The California Museum is switching up the idea of what a typical museum holds by introducing California to an important part of its history with a story that is not often told. Behold the colors, wheels, art, big names, shapes and sizes. Riding Concrete: Skateboarding In California, is the new exhibit showing from July 2 through March 24, giving an up-close look at the California-created sport. Located on 1020 O St. downtown, the exhibit is curated by the legendary skateboarder and surfer Nathan Pratt, who also co-stared in the “Dogtown and Z-Boys” documentary back in 2002

UC Davis law professor Anupam Chander spoke to a large crowd at the California Museum on Tuesday, April 19th about the role social media has played in the recent uprisings around the globe, and how it could be a key player in making the world better. Just prior to the professor taking the stage, a wonderful meet-and-greet was held in the lobby of the museum. Politicos, business leaders, media experts, teachers and others chatted over mouth-watering hors’doeuvres provided by Blue Prynt and wine provided by Grace Patriot Wines. Professor Chander was there to discuss a new paper that he had recently published called Googling Freedom. His presentation came in three parts: (1) is social media

In the past several years, social media has played an ever growing role in calling for, organizing, and executing social uprisings and upheaval around the globe. Increasingly, these uprisings are bringing about significant social change in not only their country of origin but amongst those involved via social media channels.  In contrast, some countries are dealing with unrest and the threat of uprisings by locking down Internet access and jailing citizens for sharing certain information online. The Social Media Club of Sacramento (SMCSac) makes a monthly habit of examining the various ways social media is impacting our everyday interactions, culture, and society at large. The club has pa

The California Museum in Sacramento is unveiling an exhibit titled "California Indians: Making A Difference" to the public Thursday. The exhibit will use more than 400 artifacts, photos, art, documents and multimedia presentations to document the culture and contributions of California's first people. Some artifacts from private collections have never been seen by the public before. Curator P. Christiaan Klieger, an accomplished anthropologist affiliated with the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, California Museum Deputy Director of Exhibitions and Programs Amanda Meeker and other members of the museum's curatorial staff spent two years doing research for the exhibit. The

Rare artifacts will be unveiled this month in a new exhibit documenting the culture and contributions of California's first people at the California Museum in Sacramento. A huge stuffed condor from the Smithsonian, Modoc chief Captain Jack's buckskin jacket and a cape and arrowhead that belonged to Ishi, reputedly the last Native American to live a primitive life in California, will be showcased in "California Indians: Making A Difference," which opens March 31. "We have some objects that have never been on exhibit before," said curator P. Christiaan Klieger, an anthropologist affiliated with the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. "It's not your typical sort of basket exhib

As Harriet Tubman once said, “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” On September 11th, as over 200 Sacramento community members gathered at the California Museum to celebrate the 30 years that Lilliput Children's Services has been serving the state's most vulnerable children and their families, Lilliput was humbled to remember exactly who they are helping and why.   Founded in 1980, Lilliput is committed to building families and making dreams come true, and has completed over 4,500 adoptions for California foster children.  Throughout the evening, guests enjoye

The California Museum launched its third annual Poppies, Butterflies and Bears Oh My! weekly summer program Wednesday. The museum hosts an event offering hands-on art activities for children from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Wednesday. The program will run through Aug. 18 and is free with admission to the museum. “Each week we do a different craft or activity related to the state symbols,” said Erin Crump, museum education and programs associate. “This week we're panning for gold, relating to the Gold Rush and history but gold is also our state mineral.” Visiting children use pans to search for gold flakes from a container filled with water and sediment. “It offers parents and children an e

The California Museum will present "The Purse and the Person: A Century of Women's Purses," an exhibit dedicated to revealing the change of women's roles throughout history by the use and contents of purses. Beginning Saturday and running through Sept. 26, "The Person and the Person" will be giving another look into the history of women. “Purses provide a peek into history. This exhibit tells the story of what we took with us and why,” said Amanda Meeker, deputy director of The California Museum, located at 1020 O St. This exhibit looks at purses from the contents inside to the outside design of the purses, connecting day-to-day life to the hidden artifacts women keep in their purses, a

Mayor Kevin Johnson proposed his green initiative plans to the public during a press conference Tuesday afternoon at the California Museum. The long-term goal of the plan is to make Sacramento known as the national green leader in economic and environmentally friendly usages. His vision: to transform the region into "Emerald Valley." "(California is) a state where dreams are made," Johnson said. "I strongly believe Sacramento can be the national leader in the green movement." Around 300 attendees packed the conference room and were from all walks of life, varying from media to general public. The majority of those in attendance were supportive of the plan. "I am a very economically caut

The California Museum and the Harvey B. Milk Foundation came together to host "Harvey Milk - A Celebration!" Wednesday night. The event was an early celebration for California's inaugural Harvey Milk Day, May 22. More than 500 people gathered at the museum at 7 p.m. for hors d'oeuvres, an open bar, music and special speakers including Milk's nephew and foundation founder, Stuart Milk. Two hundred of the guests attended a VIP reception and a private tribute in the museum's auditorium prior to the public celebration. "We have, in California, amazing elected officials who clearly stand on the shoulders of Harvey, who follow his legacy and his dream for a new tomorrow," Milk said. "Many of t

The Harvey B. Milk Foundation and Founder, Stuart Milk, invites you to the Harvey Milk-A Celebration! on May 12th, 2010 at The California Museum. Sacramento will host an event to launch the new Harvey B. Milk Foundation and to celebrate the first ever “Harvey Milk Day” – thanks to the California State Legislature and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s enactment of SB 572 last year, which declares every May 22nd Harvey Milk Day. "The mission of the Harvey B. Milk Foundation, a not-for profit charitable organization, is to provide opportunities that lift up the LGBT community along with other marginalized communities. The foundation will preserve, promote and apply the legacy and universal v

On Thursday, March 4th, California First Lady Maria Shriver and The Women’s Conference are partnering with The California Museum to celebrate National Women’s History Month with an extraordinary all-day free event – Day at The Museum. The California Museum will be open for a free day of education, inspiration and empowerment. Plus, we'll have a number of special guests including astronaut Sally Ride, environmental activist Erin Brockovich, and Iron Chef Cat Cora. It's going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. (This is a great opportunity for all those who have been unable to make it to The Women's Conference in Long Beach. Tickets sell out fast, the trip is a bit of a committment from

Suspended from a wall, a Chinese dragon's red eyes peer into mine. Its multicolored head sways playfully, side to side, up and down, mechanical tongue wagging while dancing with glimmering sequins. To the left of the 5-foot dragon head, a small circular Chinese Moon Gate welcomes me into a new exhibit I've been invited to tour several days before opening. I vaguely remember viewing similar scenery my first time outside of California. My mind wanders back to 1990, age 5, learning the lion dance in the streets of southern China. I complain to Mother how I'm the only Chinese American Jew in all of China. I miss my Californian friends of many different races. I walk past a rope, a ladder an

Halloween came to Sacramento early Wednesday morning as a group of six local science fiction lovers marched downtown dressed in Klingon, Death Star Trooper and Sith Lord costumes. Dozens of children and sci-fi fans flocked to take photographs and speak with the costumed characters. Others gawked, laughed and one child even cried as they meandered from the California Museum down K Street and past the Capitol to Cesar Chavez Plaza. The march was organized to promote The California Museum's new sci-fi exhibit "Out of this World: Extraordinary Costumes from Film and Television," which will run from Oct. 3 to Jan. 10. It will feature more than 50 props and costumes from some of Hollywood's mo

Due to the immense popularity of The California Museum's With Malice Toward None: Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Exhibit, visiting hours will be extended to 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from the original 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The extended hours apply to the last 10 days of the exhibit, from Aug. 13 to Aug. 23. When museum staff observed the high turnout, they wanted to give potential visitors more opportunity, so the extended hours and the extra day of Aug. 23 were added. "No one's complained about lines or overcrowding—we just noticed that crowds were gathering at 9:30 a.m. to get in, and people have stayed in the museum right up until we close the door at 5 p.m," said California Museum Communication Man

What did the nation's 16th beloved president have in his pockets the night he was assassinated at Ford's Theatre in April 1865? Starting Wednesday, a visit to the California Museum will provide the public with a rare opportunity to see such artifacts with a naked eye. After its premiere in Washington, DC beginning February 12, the Library of Congress art exhibit With Malice Toward None: The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Exhibition was scheduled to show in five locations on its national tour, with the California Museum being the only stop on the West Coast. The exhibition marks the bicentennial birth of the 16th president, its focus expanding beyond Lincoln’s presidency, capturing the year

An exhibition of 37 California state duck stamps opens Monday at the California Museum in downtown Sacramento. California has used original artwork for its duck stamp program since 1971—beginning with the artwork of Paul Johnson—when it developed the first state duck program in the nation, said deputy museum director Amanda Meeker. Hunters are required to buy the stamps and put them on their licenses, and the resulting funds are used for conservation of wetlands and geese and duck habitats, explained Meeker. She said that the program has raised $22 million since its inception. Between 1971 and 1977, and 1995 to 2008, the Department of Fish and Game commissioned artwork for the stamps, a