Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "museum"

Experience Sacramento Museum Day this Saturday

2012-02-02T00:17:59Z

Want to check out some of Sacramento’s wonderful museums but have not yet had the time or budget to do so? Mark your calendars for this Saturday and head out to the 14th Annual Sacramento Museum Day.

A record 28 museums are participating this year, including newcomers the Center for Contemporary Art and the Sacramento Children’s Museum. 26 participating museums are offering free admission all day (10am-5pm; last admission at 4pm), and the Sacramento Zoo and Fairytale Town are offering half-price admission in order to offset parking control and security costs.

Sacramento has a wide variety of Museums featuring everything from art, science, and history to children’s exhibits, wildlife, and more.

If you’re having a difficult time narrowing down the options, take these suggestions into consideration:

In order to have sufficient time at each spot, it is recommended to visit no more than two or three Museums for the day
Many of the Museums are within walking distance of one another so, if you plan accordingly, you can park only once and still make your way to two or three spots. Check out the map.
If you will be taking your car, be sure to read over the Parking Suggestions to make sure your day goes smoothly and you avoid any tickets or fines.
If you don’t want to drive, but don’t live within walking distance, consider taking Regional Transit! A great way to avoid the hassle of parking on a crowded day.
Keep in mind that Sacramento Museum Day is a very popular event and that, due to safety reasons, some museums need to limit the number of admissions.
Consider attending Museums that are less well known to avoid crowds at some of the more popular spots (such as the Sacramento Zoo, Railroad Museum, and Fairytale Town) and to check out something you may not otherwise have gone to see!

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Find more detail on this event along with many more at Sacramento365.com, the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Disclosure: Rachael Lankford is the Managing Calendar Editor for Sacramento365.com, the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Crocker Presents Lecture on Saint Sebastian & LGBT Culture on January 26

2012-01-20T00:21:20Z

The Crocker Art Museum will welcome William U. Eiland, director of the Georgia Museum of Art, for a lecture on the imagery of Saint Sebastian and its cultural meanings for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender viewers on Thursday, Jan. 26, at 7 p.m. The lecture will be held in conjunction with the exhibition “Florence and the Baroque: Paintings from the Haukohl Family Collection,” an exhibition of paintings and sculptures from the largest privately-held collection of the period in the United States. Tickets are $6 for Museum members and $12 for nonmembers.

Eiland’s lecture, titled “Slings and Arrows of Outrageous Fortune: Queering Saint Sebastian,” will focus on two paintings in the exhibition, differing images of Saint Sebastian by Felice Ficherelli and Onorio Marinari. Eiland will discuss the facts and legend surrounding Sebastian's life and how the Roman soldier eventually became a revered saint whose agony has been appropriated and even eroticized.

The recipient of the James Short Award from the Southeastern Museums Conference and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Georgia Association of Museums and Galleries, Eiland is a trustee of the International Council of Museums and has held various posts with the American Association of Museums and the National Endowment for the Arts.

The Eiland lecture is being supported by Sir Mark Fehrs Haukohl under whose auspices the exhibition has been generously lent to the Crocker Art Museum. Haukohl is a co-founder of the Medici Archive Project, which is a charitable foundation in Florence, Italy cataloging and researching over 300 years of original documents surrounding the Medici family in Europe. He is also President of The Vero Group of Houston, Texas.

Regarding the topic of St. Sebastian, Sir Mark commented, “The history and study of St. Sebastian has been of serious interest, research and an ongoing scholarly pursuit of mine for over 30 years. The evolution of St. Sebastian in today's popular culture—as evidenced in works by Damien Hirst, Pierre and Gilles, and many others—is an important redrawing of how the Saint's images come forward and are perceived as being relevant to numerous audiences, not just the ecclesiastical world."

Tickets for the lecture are available for purchase at crockerartmuseum.org, the Museum Admission Desk, or by calling (916) 808-1182. Open Art is part of the program series Thursdays ‘til 9.

The Crocker Art Museum was one of the first art museums in the U.S. and is now one of the leading art museums in California. Established in 1885, the Museum features one of the country’s finest collections of Californian art, exceptional holdings of master drawings, a comprehensive collection of international ceramics, as well as European, Asian, African, and Oceanic art. The Crocker is located at 216 O Street in Downtown Sacramento. Museum hours are 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Tuesday–Sunday; 10 a.m.–9 p.m., Thursdays. For more information, call (916) 808-7000 or visit crockerartmuseum.org.

Disclosure: Kathleen Richards has been a fan of the Crocker Art Museum since her very first visit in fourth grade, and she now serves as the Crocker's Marketing Coordinator.

Classic “Sunset Boulevard” to Screen at the Crocker on January 5

2012-01-04T19:25:10Z

The Crocker Art Museum will screen the Academy-Award-winning classic “Sunset Boulevard” on Thursday, Jan. 5, at 6:30 p.m. One of the greatest movies about Hollywood ever made, this film is at once film noir, dark comedy, high melodrama, and scathing satire. Tickets are $5 for Museum members and $10 for nonmembers, not including Museum admission.

One of the most successful films of its era, “Time” described it as a story of "Hollywood at its worst told by Hollywood at its best." Gloria Swanson stars as a faded silent screen goddess who dreams of a box-office comeback. William Holden is Joe Gillis, a cynical small-time writer who becomes entangled in her deluded world.

Film scholar Kristen Anderson Wagner will introduce the film and provide a sneak peek of Film Frame features to come in 2012.

Director Billy Wilder’s “Sunset Boulevard,” an ideal example of the Baroque aesthetic on the big screen, is presented in conjunction with the exhibition “Florence and the Baroque: Paintings from the Haukohl Family Collection.” The exhibition features Italian painting and sculpture from the 16th through 18th centuries to Northern California. On view at the Crocker through February 12, 2012, this exhibition is drawn from the largest private American collection of Florentine Baroque painting and features works by key artists such as Cesare Dandini, Jacopo da Empoli, and Francesco Furini.

This screening is part of the Museum’s monthly film series, Film Frame, which occurs every first Thursday evening of the month. Presented in collaboration with local festivals and organizations, films relate to the Crocker’s exhibitions and collections as well as relevant issues in film, art, and society. Screenings are accompanied by commentary from film makers, enthusiasts, scholars, artists, and local arts partners. Watch trailers and learn more about upcoming films at crockerartmuseum.org.

The Crocker Art Museum was the first art museum in the Western U.S. and is now one of the leading art museums in California. Established in 1885, the Museum features one of the country’s finest collections of Californian art, exceptional holdings of master drawings, a comprehensive collection of international ceramics, as well as European, Asian, African, and Oceanic art. The Crocker is located at 216 O Street in Downtown Sacramento. Museum hours are 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Tuesday–Sunday; 10 a.m.–9 p.m., Thursdays. Every Third Sunday of the month is “Pay What You Wish Sunday.” For more information, call (916) 808-7000 or visit crockerartmuseum.org.

Disclosure: Kathleen Richards has been a fan of the Crocker Art Museum since her very first visit in fourth grade, and she now serves as the Crocker's Marketing Coordinator.

Autumn Sky to Perform at the Crocker on December 15

2011-12-13T00:58:28Z

The Crocker Art Museum will host local indie darling Autumn Sky for a night of original folk and pop on Thursday, Dec. 15. Sky is an award-winning, multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter from Sacramento. She will play songs from past releases and her soon-to-launch sophomore album, "The Hallelujah Chorus.” The concert will take place in the Museum’s Setzer Foundation Auditorium at 7 p.m.

At 23 years old, Sky has been playing for Sacramento crowds for over six years and has garnered much local acclaim for her lively and engaging shows. Her unique style mixes pitch-perfect and deeply emotive vocals with indie and pop sensibilities. She released “Diminutive, Petite EP” in 2007, followed by her debut album “All Which Isn't Singing” in 2008. Sky has performed at the California State Fair, Downtown Sacramento’s Concert in the Park series, and the Crest Theatre. Most recently, she received the Outstanding Singer-Songwriter and Readers’ Choice Artist of the Year awards at the 2010 and 2011 Sammie Block Party and Music Awards.

Tickets are $6 for Museum members and $12 for nonmembers. Tickets can be purchased at crockerartmuseum.org, the Museum Admission Desk, or by calling (916) 808-1182.

The Crocker Cafe will offer a themed drink special that evening in honor of the concert. The “Sky Crock-tail,” a Skyy Vodka dirty martini, will be available for $7 from 5 to 8:30 p.m.

Playlist is part of the Museum’s Thursdays ‘til 9 program series. The Crocker is open every Thursday until 9 p.m. for film screenings, social gatherings, concerts, and art happenings presented in collaboration with regional art groups. For more information, call (916) 808-7000 or visit crockerartmuseum.org.

Disclosure: Kathleen Richards has been a fan of the Crocker Art Museum since her very first visit in fourth grade, and she now serves as the Crocker's Marketing Coordinator.

Crocker Explores the Artful Side of Water on December 8

2011-12-07T01:26:18Z

The Crocker Art Museum will present a multi-media exploration of water on Thursday, Dec 8, from 5 to 9 p.m. Inspired by the community exhibition “Liquid Assets,” Art Mix: Flow in Flux will feature a mini-film festival curated by the Sundance Film Festival's associate programmer Mike Plante, special water-based tours led by artists Enid Baxter Blader, Jenny Stark, and Nicole Antebi, a performance by the Spillit Quikkers, a local old-time string band, and interactive water-themed art with iPads.

“Liquid Assets” is a unique installation exploring one of California’s most vital resources. Inspired by art from the Crocker's permanent collection, this exhibit features 21 works laid out as a spatial dictionary offering perspectives on how water defines life in the region. The community exhibit will be on view through January 12, 2012, and is presented in collaboration with the Water, CA project.

Art Mix is part of the Museum’s Thursdays ‘til 9 program series. The Crocker is open every Thursday until 9 p.m. for film screenings, social gatherings, concerts, and art happenings presented in collaboration with regional art groups. Tickets are available for purchase at crockerartmuseum.org, the Museum Admission Desk, or by calling (916) 808-1182.

The Crocker Art Museum was the first art museum in the Western U.S. and is now one of the leading art museums in California. Established in 1885, the Museum features one of the country’s finest collections of Californian art, exceptional holdings of master drawings, a comprehensive collection of international ceramics, as well as European, Asian, African, and Oceanic art. The Crocker is located at 216 O Street in Downtown Sacramento. Museum hours are 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Tuesday–Sunday; 10 a.m.–9 p.m., Thursdays. Every Third Sunday of the month is “Pay What You Wish Sunday” sponsored by Bank of America. For more information, call (916) 808-7000 or visit crockerartmuseum.org.

Disclosure: Kathleen Richards has been a fan of the Crocker Art Museum since her very first visit in fourth grade, and she now serves as the Crocker's Marketing Coordinator.

Crocker Art Museum Presents Evening of Inspiring Artistic Cinema with Kurosawa’s “Dreams”

2011-11-29T23:43:35Z

The Crocker Art Museum will present “Dreams,” the visually stunning film from Academy Award-winning director Akira Kurosawa, on Thursday, Dec. 1 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets include Museum admission and are $6 for museum members and $12 for nonmembers.

Comprised of eight separate vignettes inspired from actual dreams of the world-renowned filmmaker, “Dreams” is a collection of fantastic and evocative stories, separate in narrative, but intertwined with themes of nature and spirituality, life and death, and peace and war.

Born in early-20th-century Japan, Kurosawa made his international directorial debut in 1950 and went on to receive numerous accolades throughout Asia and the U.S., including an Academy Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1990. Kurosawa has worked in a wide range of genres and influenced countless filmmakers and artists, including director Oliver Stone, who calls the film “haunting, symbolic, and drenched with whimsy and foreknowledge of death.”

Don Roth, executive director of the Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, UC Davis, will introduce the film and lead a post-screening Q & A session. The film screening is presented in collaboration with the Mondavi Center, which will feature a screening of Oliver Stone's classic “Platoon” on January 9 and a speaking engagement with Oliver Stone on February 3 More information on these related events is available at mondaviarts.org.

Film Frame is part of the Museum’s Thursdays ‘til 9 program series. The Crocker is open every Thursday until 9 p.m. for film screenings, social gatherings, concerts, and art happenings presented in collaboration with regional art groups. Tickets can be purchased at crockerartmuseum.org, the Museum Admission Desk, or by calling (916) 808-1182.

The Crocker Art Museum was the first art museum in the Western U.S. and remains one of the leading art museums in California. Established in 1885, the Museum features one of the country’s finest collections of Californian art, exceptional holdings of master drawings, a comprehensive collection of international ceramics, as well as European, Asian, African, and Oceanic art. The Crocker is located at 216 O Street in Downtown Sacramento. Museum hours are 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Tuesday–Sunday; 10 a.m.–9 p.m., Thursdays. Every Third Sunday of the month is “Pay What You Wish Sunday” sponsored by Bank of America. For more information, call (916) 808-7000 or visit crockerartmuseum.org.

Disclosure: Kathleen Richards has been a fan of the Crocker Art Museum since her very first visit in fourth grade, and she now serves as the Crocker's Marketing Coordinator.

Small Train Holiday

2011-11-26T03:05:01Z

There’s something about toy trains that captures the imagination of adults and children alike. This year’s “Small Train Holiday” at the California State Railroad Museum is drawing a steady stream of wide-eyed admirers to its special displays of toy and model trains over Thanksgiving weekend.

Grown-ups and kids clustered around the working train displays run by avid toy train operators. Joe Montgomery’s train layout includes treasured trains from his youth. When he was a boy, his father traded several bushels of corn to a store-owner so that his son could have a pre-1950s Marx electric train. Montgomery played with the set for years until called into the armed services, and now he comes every year to the Small Train Holiday to share his love of trains.

Eight-year-old Nathan is a budding engineer, with a very practical bent. He constructed an entire Santa’s village out of Legos, complete with working trains, Santa’s workshop and a lunchroom and bathroom for the elves. Nathan, his grandma and mother were happy to point out the set’s features and to challenge folks to find the 15 Santas hidden in the layouts hosted by the Sacramento Lego Fan Club.

David Thomsen of the Toy Train Operating Society added movement to his village scene with sledders, skiers and a chugging train filled with miniature gift boxes. Another operator’s layout mesmerized children as they watched conveyor belts unload barrels of broccoli and brussels sprouts and load up on logs.

The event also included storytelling with Mrs. Claus, handcar rides, photos with Santa, a 1957 short film set to instrumental music titled “Toccata for Toy Trains” and a scavenger hunt.

Museum director Paul Hammond says the museum has been offering Small Train Holiday for about 15 years. This year’s event runs through Saturday.

Annual Holiday Art & Craft Festival November 25-27

2011-11-21T22:32:51Z

Nearly 100 regional artists and craftspeople will offer their unique creations during this year’s annual Holiday Art & Craft Festival. Presented by the Crocker Art Museum and the Creative Arts League of Sacramento, the festival is held at the Scottish Rite Center, located across from the main entrance of California State University, Sacramento, at 6151 H Street.

This year’s offerings will include jewelry, ceramics, paintings, gourmet food, holiday items and more. Impress your friends and family with local handmade gifts while supporting local artisans and the Crocker’s exhibitions and education programs.

Attendees can also enjoy delicious treats by Ambrosia Catering. For those who want to capture the holiday spirit, there will be a Victorian Santa Claus available for a vintage photo opportunity.

The three-day festival begins November 25, the day following Thanksgiving. Festival hours are 12 to 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 25, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 26, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 27. Admission is free for Museum members, $6 nonmembers, and $3 for students and seniors. Parking is free of charge.

Disclosure: Kathleen Richards has been a fan of the Crocker Art Museum since her very first visit in fourth grade, and she now serves as the Crocker's Marketing Coordinator.

Crocker Art Museum Presents Art Mix: Funk Lab on November 10

2011-11-07T19:57:57Z

The fantastical world of Clayton Bailey will transform the Crocker Art Museum for Art Mix: Funk Lab on Thursday, November 10, from 5 to 9 p.m. Inspired by Bailey’s robot sculptures and pop ray guns fashioned from discarded aluminum, the evening features a pop ray gun shooting range, dancing to sci-fi film soundtracks, a series of live-action trailers by Scavenger Theatre, and robotic inventions from the University of California, Davis, including iMobot.

“Clayton Bailey’s World of Wonders,” the first career-spanning retrospective featuring the work of the ceramist, sculptor, and self-proclaimed “mad scientist,” is currently on view at the Museum through January 15, 2012.

Tickets for Funk Lab are free to Museum members and free with admission for nonmembers. Tickets are available for purchase at crockerartmuseum.org, the Museum Admission Desk, or by calling (916) 808-1182. Funk Lab is co-sponsored by UC Davis’ K-14 Outreach Center for Computing and STEM Education.

The Crocker Art Museum was one of the first art museums in the U.S. and is now one of the leading art institutions in California. Established in 1885, the Museum features one of the country’s finest collections of Californian art, exceptional holdings of master drawings, a comprehensive collection of international ceramics, as well as European, Asian, African, and Oceanic art. The Crocker is located at 216 O Street in Downtown Sacramento. Museum hours are 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Tuesday–Sunday; 10 a.m.–9 p.m., Thursdays. Every Third Sunday of the month is “Pay What You Wish Sunday” sponsored by Bank of America. For more information, call (916) 808-7000 or visit crockerartmuseum.org.

Disclosure: Kathleen Richards has been a fan of the Crocker Art Museum since her very first visit in fourth grade, and she now serves as the Crocker's Marketing Coordinator.

Never-before-seen-in-public Florentine Baroque art exhibition at the Crocker Art Museum

2011-11-05T07:03:29Z

Two never-before-seen-in-public Florentine Baroque paintings will be on exhibit at the Crocker Art Museum Saturday through Feb. 12: "Saint Sebastian" by Onorio Marinari and "Penitent Magdalene" by Cesare Dandini – as part of "Florence and the Baroque: Paintings from the Haukohl Family Collection" exhibit.

The exhibit features Italian paintings and a sculpture from the 16th through the 18th centuries by artists such as Cesare Dandini, Jacopo da Empoli and Francesco Furini.

"This is the first exhibition that is all of Italian painting that we've had in many decades," Curator William Breazeale said. "There is one from the Crest collection in 1933, there have been a few in between, but it’s been a long time for the Crocker."

He said that having this collection is a wonderful opportunity in bringing a new world to the Sacramento public since the museum's permanent collection is focused on other areas, such as Central Europe, Germany and Austria.

The Baroque style developed because there was a period in the 16th century when artists were looking at other artists' work more than they were looking at nature, and because of that, there was a new look at the human body, at clarity of storytelling, and there was a new look at emotion, Breazeale said.

"They deal both with the realistic depiction of the human body, but also emotion, as in, you'll have a statue with flowing drapery that sort of (adds) drama into it," Breazeale said, describing Baroque art.

He said through Baroque's clear storytelling style of art, somebody can look at it without bringing out the Bible and recognize, for example, the image of the Madonna and Child or Saint Sebastian.

"We have a few Baroque paintings but not from Florence," Breazeale said of the museum's permanent collection.

The Baroque in Florence, while still in-keeping with the Baroque style, has its heritage from artists such as Leonardo, Michaelangelo, Raphael to Bartolomeo, said Breazeale.

The dimly lit exhibit room features 16 paintings and one sculpture of Florentine Baroque art from the Haukohl family collection loan to the museum by Sir Mark Hers Haukohl, a collector and patron of the arts who lives in Houston, Texas. It is the largest private collection of Florentine Baroque painting in the U.S., and the ones on display are selections from that, said Breazeale.

The "Allegory of Musical Fame" by Cesare Dandini shows a winged woman, bearing a star above her head, holding a trumpet on one hand with a loosely entwined banner with the inscription "per ora virum" and on her other hand a viola.

"Per ora virum" translates to "through the mouths of men, " according to Breazeale. He explained that this can have a double meaning because it can both refer to singing, but can also deal with fame, because it is a herald's trumpet, or it can mean both.

He said that the exhibition is very unique because Cesare Dandini is the first of a dynasty of painters in Florence, and that the exhibition has represented four members of that family.

"It's something that very seldom happens even in exhibitions in Europe," he added.

"I like Baroque art in general. It's exciting, it's active, a lot of action going on in the pictures," said Brian Bates, an American River College humanities professor.

He said that in his modern humanities class he teaches Baroque art, and his students would benefit in seeing the exhibit to get a better understanding of the art.

The exhibition is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Thursdays from 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Lectures and presentations related to the exhibit will be available from Saturday through Jan. 26. at the museum. Pricing and schedules for these programs are available at the Crocker Art Museum website.

Crocker Art Museum Presents a Mashup of Horror Short Films this Thursday

2011-10-25T21:57:28Z

The Crocker Art Museum will embrace the eerie and capture the creepy with a specially curated night of retro horror short films inspired by the humorous and sometimes grotesque creations in “Clayton Bailey’s World of Wonders.” Presented in collaboration with the Sacramento Horror Film Festival, Open Art: Monster Mashup will take place on Thursday, October 27, at 7 p.m.

Horror fans will delight in unique shorts, such as “Night of the Hell Hampster,” “The Sleuth Incident,” “Cannibal Flesh Riot,” “Chainsaw Maid” and more. Festival founder and director Tim Meunier will introduce the films and lead a post-screening Q & A session.

“Clayton Bailey’s World of Wonders” is the first career-spanning retrospective featuring the work of the ceramicist, sculptor, and self-proclaimed “mad scientist.” Featuring 180 works and ephemera spanning Bailey's 50-year career, the exhibit is on view through January 15, 2012.

Tickets are $6 for Museum members and $12 for nonmembers. Tickets are available for purchase at crockerartmuseum.org, the Museum Admission Desk, or by calling (916) 808-1182.

Open Art is part of the Museum’s Thursdays ‘til 9 program series, sponsored by Bank of America. The Crocker is open every Thursday until 9 p.m. for film screenings, social gatherings, concerts, and art happenings presented in collaboration with regional art groups.

Disclosure: Kathleen Richards has been a fan of the Crocker Art Museum since her very first visit in fourth grade, and she now serves as the Crocker's Marketing Coordinator.

Crocker Art Museum Hosts Esteemed Brubeck Institute Jazz Quintet

2011-10-19T20:30:53Z

The Brubeck Institute Jazz Quintet will bring their award-winning sound to the Crocker Art Museum on Thursday, Oct. 20. The Quintet will perform select works inspired by the exhibition “Gardens and Grandeur: Porcelains and Paintings by Franz A. Bischoff,” on view through October 23. The concert will take place in the Museum’s Setzer Foundation Auditorium at 7 p.m.

The Quintet—comprised of Alec Watson, piano; Rane Roatta, tenor sax; Malachi Whitson, drums; Tree Palmedo, trumpet; and Bill Vonderhaar, bass—is the winner of numerous DownBeat awards, including the 2007, 2009, 2010, and 2011 awards for best collegiate jazz group in the country. The group has performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival, Playboy Jazz Festival, Brubeck Festival, Detroit International Jazz Festival, and at jazz clubs such as Yoshi’s in Oakland, Herb Alpert’s club Vibrato in Los Angeles, and the Jamboree Jazz Club in Barcelona, Spain.

The Brubeck Institute was established by the University of the Pacific in 2000. Named in honor of the acclaimed American jazz pianist and University of the Pacific alumnus, the Institute’s mission is to promote creativity, education, and dedication to music, as well as advance important social issues. The members of the Brubeck Institute Jazz Quintet are in the Institute's Fellowship Program for recent high school graduates.

Tickets are $6 for Museum members and $12 for nonmembers. Tickets can be purchased at crockerartmuseum.org, the Museum Admission Desk, or by calling (916) 808-1182.

Playlist is part of the Museum’s Thursdays ‘til 9 program series, sponsored by Bank of America. The Crocker is open every Thursday until 9 p.m. for film screenings, social gatherings, concerts, and art happenings presented in collaboration with regional art groups.

For more information, call (916) 808-7000 or visit crockerartmuseum.org.

The Crocker Art Museum was one of the first art museums in the U.S. and is now one of the leading art institutions in California. Established in 1885, the Museum features one of the country’s finest collections of Californian art, exceptional holdings of master drawings, a comprehensive collection of international ceramics, as well as European, Asian, African, and Oceanic art. The Crocker is located at 216 O Street in Downtown Sacramento. Museum hours are 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Tuesday–Wednesday; 10 a.m.–9 p.m., Thursdays; 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Friday–Sunday. Every Third Sunday of the month is “Pay What You Wish Sunday” sponsored by Bank of America.

Wunderbar, WUNDERCARS!

2011-10-05T21:09:11Z

This past weekend, the California Automobile Museum in Sacramento kicked off its WUNDERCARS! exhibit with sporty style as it featured Porsche as the first of four rotating exhibits. The WUNDERCARS! exhibit officially began on October 1 and will run through May 11, 2011.

After Porsche, WUNDERCARS! goes on to feature BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen with the overall intent to illustrate the story of the German automobile industry's impact in the U.S.

The Porsche rotating exhibit was quite impressive and representative of the historical engineering concepts pioneered by the company founder, Ferdinand Porsche.

After working for several automotive companies in Austria and Germany, in 1931 Ferdinand branched out to create his own automotive consulting company. The company received contracts from the German government to design the "peoples' car," resulting in the Volkswagen Beetle.

Ferdinand also pioneered design concepts with a "less is more" engineering philosophy during the 1920’s. This led to the creation of powerful racing cars with smaller, more efficient engines and likewise, efficiently trimmed mass. Such concepts are still evident in the design of Porsche SE automobiles today. Ferdinand's son Ferry steered the Porsche SE company toward the launch of the first car bearing the Porsche name in 1948, the Porsche 356.

The exhibit had a substantial collection of many different Porsche models in addition to the collection of German automobiles that will be on permanent display though the duration of the WUNDERCARS! exhibit. Many of the display models have been donated to the museum's collection by local residents of the greater Sacramento area.

Beyond the WUNDERCARS! exhibit, the California Automobile Museum's permanent collection gives visitors a greater appreciation for the impact the automobile has had on our society over the past century.

The featured exhibit kicked off Friday night with a members-only preview, complete with potato salad and sausage from Sam's Hof Brau and various German beers from Sudwerk Brewery.

The WUNDERCARS! Exhibit Committee is to thank for pulling together such a wonderful collection. One of the museum docents, Bill Van Gundy, initially had the idea of an exhibit solely for Porsche cars. This idea sparked what became the four-part WUNDERCARS! exhibit series. The Porsche collection will be on display until November 28, when the display will rotate to feature BMW.

Niello Auto Group and Von Housen Mercedes were thanked for their sponsorship of the exhibit and FUEL Creative Group was to thank for the exhibit artwork.

Local artist, Brent Rector, created the limited edition print posters for the WUNDERCARS! exhibit. The Porsche poster features a 550 Spider on the artwork.

For anyone with a passion and appreciation for all things automotive, the WUNDERCARS! exhibit at the California Automobile Museum is exquisitely done and definitely not to be passed by!

Crocker Art Museum Partners with SIGLFF to Screen Audience-Favorite Shorts on October 6

2011-10-03T19:13:19Z

The Crocker Art Museum and the Sacramento International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival will co-present a screening of audience-favorite short films from past festivals at the Museum on Thursday, Oct. 6. The program will start at 7 p.m. and includes the following films:

“Little Black Boot” (2003, USA, 17 min) by director Colette Burson – A modern Cinderella tale in which a high school girl dresses up as a boy for the prom and finds mutual attraction with the prom queen.
“Ryan's Life” (2004, USA, 24 min) by director Nick Wauters – Complications arise for high school student Ryan as he begins to wonder if he might be gay.
“Gódir Gestir,” or “Family Reunion,” (2006, Iceland, English subtitles) by director Isold Uggadottir – A modern-day coming out story about a young Icelandic woman living two lives.
“Groucho” (2006, Spain, English subtitles) by directors Angel Almazan and Medardo Amor – David, a sixteen year-old teenager, approaches his neighbor in the elevator, pretending to want to help him, while it is he who is looking for help, advice, and excitement.
“Babysitting Andy” (2007, Canada, 11 min) by director Pat Mills – What do you do if you're nine and nobody will tell you what fellatio means?
“Six” by director Amy Neil – A diverse collection of LGBTQ individuals telling their stories in six words.

Before the screening, there will be spotlight gallery talks on works by LGBTQ artists.

The program is $6 Museum members and $12 nonmembers. Tickets are available for purchase at crockerartmuseum.org, the Museum Admission Desk, or by calling (916) 808-1182.

Film Frame is part of the Museum’s Thursdays ‘til 9 program series, sponsored by Bank of America. The Crocker is open every Thursday until 9 p.m. for film screenings, social gatherings, concerts, and art happenings presented in collaboration with regional art groups.

Disclosure: Kathleen Richards has been a fan of the Crocker Art Museum since her very first visit in fourth grade, and she now serves as the Crocker's Marketing Coordinator.

Rock and Radio Redux - New Space and Extra Dates to Visit Your Rock-n-Local Past

2011-09-30T05:20:30Z

As you enter, to the left is the cornerstone collection of Crabshaw Corners and Oasis Ballroom artwork from Roger Shepherd, Jim Carrico, and Jim Ford. Rock enthusiasts may marvel over the nearly complete collection of psychedelia from the Sound Factory. And any native Sacramentan over a certain age will wax nostalgic at the wall of Tower calendar posters on display.

Dennis Newhall, founder and curator of the Sacramento Rock and Radio Museum, has assembled and showcased a myriad of rock and radio memorabilia dating back to 1957.

Newhall started listening to rock and roll when he was six years old and Hounddog was at the top of the charts.

Every inch of his West Sacramento bedroom was covered with posters, but when he took them all down to study radio at CSUS, he stored them carefully away in a watertight box (a fact that would be surprising to no one who knows Dennis and his fastidious ways), and set them aside for a reason then unclear.

Dennis is still covering the walls with rock memorabilia, but thanks to support from Tucker Media, he has a lot more space to pursue his passion.

What is now the museum began as more of a memorial to local rock and roll.

Newhall, who had spent his radio career at, among other places, legendary rock station KZAP and KROY, was working at Nakamoto Productions. The studios happened to be located in the building that had once housed Crabshaw Corners, and later The Oasis Ballroom, site of countless concerts throughout the ‘60s, ‘70s and early ‘80s.

On a whim, Newhall and his friend Jeff Hughson began picking up promotional memorabilia from the old venues and hanging it in the studios. The idea caught on.

“Ray [Nakamoto] said, ‘If you keep finding them, I’ll keep framing them’,” Newhall recalls.

It wasn’t long until Dennis had covered a new set of walls. A few years later, in 2003, the collection had grown substantially, and they began opening for Second Saturday.

“We were right in the epicenter, here on 20th Street,” says Newhall of the former location between the 20th Street Gallery and Lush salon, “And people seemed to appreciate looking at the artwork and remembering the concerts they’d been to.”

Primarily through word of mouth, and Second Saturdays, word of the museum’s offerings and Dennis’s dedication to preserving local rock culture have spread.

After Mayor Kevin Johnson took a turn down Memory Lane, he commissioned Newhall to put together a small private collection for him.

This Saturday, Newhall has been asked to present the Jazz/Funk award at the Sammies, also a nod to his ongoing work as a jazz announcer at KXJZ. The museum will also be open from 5-9pm to take advantage of crossover fans from the Sammies Block Party.

Due to some changes in management, and with support from Tucker Marketing Group, the museum recently moved to a new home—next door to the old one, at 911 20th Street.

Newhall calls it a vast improvement.

“Being in the old Oasis Ballroom was a terrific inspiration for getting the museum started,” he concedes, “But this is a much better viewing space.”

Bill Tucker loved the idea of giving space to the newly formed non-profit.

“It’s a great environment to work in,” he smiles, gesturing around what is surely one of the coolest “lobbies” in town. “And it really puts the clients at ease.”

Having recently achieved non-profit status as a 501(c)3, the Rock and Radio Museum can now actively fundraise, which is an exciting prospect. Not only does the artwork cost money—although some of it, including those well-preserved childhood posters, has been donated—but the days of thumb-tacking things to the wall are over.

“Framing alone is a considerable expense,” says Newhall.

Currently, the museum is open only for Second Saturdays, April through October, or for occasional special events, like this weekend’s block party. They are considering making the space available for select fundraising events, and viewing is available by appointment.

You can also see some of the collection or make a donation at sacrockmuseum.org

Crocker Hosts Discussion on Licensing in the Digital Age on September 22

2011-09-19T18:12:05Z

The Crocker Art Museum and California Lawyers for the Arts will present “Licensing in the Digital Age” on Thursday, Sept. 22, at 7 p.m. Robert G. Pimm, chief learning officer and director of legal services at California Lawyers for the Arts, will discuss digital licensing and how intellectual property rights can be sold, retained, and optioned.

A publishing industry specialist, Pimm has taught educational workshops for creative artists throughout California. He is the author of numerous books, chapters, and articles regarding the legal and business aspects of the creative arts, including articles regarding emerging technologies and digital industries. Pimm has earned degrees from Columbia University, The London School of Economics and Political Science, Cambridge University, and the University of San Francisco School of Law.

Seating is limited and advance tickets are encouraged. Tickets are $10 Museum members, $15 nonmembers in advance, $20 nonmembers at the door, and $10 students at the door. Tickets can be purchased at crockerartmuseum.org, the Museum Admission Desk, or by calling (916) 808-1182.

Disclosure: Kathleen Richards has been a fan of the Crocker Art Museum since her very first visit in fourth grade, and she now serves as the Crocker's Marketing Coordinator.

Crocker Art Museum Hosts French Impressionist-Style Garden Party on September 8

2011-09-06T22:12:00Z

The Crocker Art Museum will present a French Impressionist-style Garden Party on Thursday, Sept. 8, from 5 to 9 p.m. Inspired by the exhibition “Landscapes from the Age of Impressionism,” the evening will feature Impressionist music, art activities, and more in the Museum’s picturesque E. Kendell Davis Courtyard.

Guests can try their hand at “pétanque,” an outdoor game similar to horseshoes, or drawing “plein-air” style on studio easels. Artist Sarma Karsiere will lead drawing sessions and demonstrate Impressionist pastel techniques.

Members of the Alliance Française de Sacramento, who are co-presenting the Garden Party, will also showcase poetry from the Impressionist era as well as original compositions during readings in the Courtyard and in the exhibition galleries.

The Madroñia Trio, comprised of principal musicians from the Sacramento Philharmonic, will perform vivid selections by great Impressionist musicians, including French composers Maurice Ravel and Claude Debussy. The trio includes Mathew Krejci, flute; Emily Onderdonk, viola; and Anna Maria Mendieta, harp.

“Landscapes from the Age of Impressionism,” on view through September 18, features 40 Impressionist works on loan from the Brooklyn Museum, including paintings by Gustave Courbet, Claude Monet, Childe Hassam, and John Singer Sargent.

Art Mix is part of the Museum’s Thursdays ‘til 9 program series, sponsored by Bank of America. The Crocker is open every Thursday until 9 p.m. for film screenings, social gatherings, concerts, and art happenings presented in collaboration with regional art groups. Tickets are available for purchase at crockerartmuseum.org, the Museum Admission Desk, or by calling (916) 808-1182.

Disclosure: Kathleen Richards has been a fan of the Crocker Art Museum since her very first visit in fourth grade, and she now serves as the Crocker's Marketing Coordinator.

Crocker Art Museum Hosts Hip Hop Extravaganza on September 1

2011-08-30T18:43:34Z

The Crocker Art Museum will host a screening of “Inventos: Hip Hop Cubano” on Thursday, Sept. 1, at 7 p.m. This documentary provides insight into the realities and politics of contemporary Cuba by following some of the pioneers of Cuban hip hop to their homes, the stage, and as they travel abroad for the first time. From 5:30-6:30 p.m., one of the film’s subjects, DJ Leydis, will perform live in Friedman Court. Tickets are $6 for Museum members and $12 for nonmembers.

Presented in collaboration with Sol Collective, the film will be introduced by director Eli Jacobs-Fantauzzi, a graduate of Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, and will be followed by a Q & A.

The screening is part of the Museum’s Thursdays ‘til 9 program series, sponsored by Bank of America. The Crocker is open every Thursday until 9 p.m. for film screenings, social gatherings, concerts, and art happenings presented in collaboration with regional art groups.

Tickets are available for purchase at crockerartmuseum.org, the Museum Admission Desk, or by calling (916) 808-1182.

Disclosure: Kathleen Richards has been a fan of the Crocker Art Museum since her very first visit in fourth grade, and she now serves as the Crocker's Marketing Coordinator.

Crocker hosts screening of “Sickert vs. Sargent” documentary on August 25

2011-08-22T19:18:52Z

The Crocker Art Museum will host a screening of “Sickert vs. Sargent: Britain’s Masters of Modern Art,” on Thursday, Aug. 25, at 6 p.m. A documentary profiling Walter Sickert and John Singer Sargent, this film details the fierce competition that raged between the artists and the legendary work that was created as a result of the rivalry. The film is free with Museum admission.

“Sickert vs. Sargent” was written and directed by renowned British art critic Waldemar Januszczak. The film takes viewers on a journey through the life and art of two of the most influential artists in Britain, highlighting inspirational locations, and featuring their working studios. “Sickert vs. Sargent” also features commentary by artists Frank Auerbach, Leon Kossoff, Paula Rego, and Lucien Freud.

Tickets are available for purchase at crockerartmuseum.org, the Museum Admission Desk, or by calling (916) 808-1182.

Disclosure: Kathleen Richards has been a fan of the Crocker Art Museum since her very first visit in fourth grade, and she now serves as the Crocker's Marketing Coordinator.

“One Book” Project Comes to the Crocker Art Museum

2011-08-18T17:29:58Z

Since 1998 “One Book” projects have connected people through literature by encouraging an entire community to read one book and share the experience through public readings and discussions. The Crocker Art Museum is expanding the idea by adding art to the mix. The Museum has selected “Strapless: John Singer Sargent and the Fall of Madame X” by Deborah Davis as the focal point of the Museum’s “One Book/Many Perspectives” project taking place this summer in conjunction with the Museum’s exhibition series “The Summer of Impressionism.”

“Strapless” is the story behind John Singer Sargent’s infamous portrait of “Madame X,” in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Works by Sargent are currently featured at the Crocker in the exhibition “Landscapes from the Age of Impressionism.“

The “One Book/Many Perspectives” program will include a salon-style book discussion on September 1 and will finish with a special lecture and book signing with the author on September 24. For those interested in learning more about Sargent, the art of portraiture, and the influence of art on literature, the Museum will host gallery tours, studio art and writing workshops, and a screening of the documentary “Sickert vs. Sargent.”

Deborah Davis is also the author of “Party of the Century: The Fabulous Story of Truman Capote and his Black and White Ball;” “The Secret Lives of Frames: One Hundred Years of Art and Artistry;” and, “Gilded: How Newport Became America’s Richest Resort.”

The “One Book” series is presented in collaboration with the California Lecture Series and the Sacramento Public Library. Copies of the book are available for purchase in the Crocker’s Museum Store.

The Crocker Art Museum was one of the first art museums in the U.S. and is now one of the leading art institutions in California. Established in 1885, the Museum features one of the country’s finest collections of Californian art, exceptional holdings of master drawings, a comprehensive collection of international ceramics, as well as European, Asian, African, and Oceanic art. The Crocker is located at 216 O Street in Downtown Sacramento. Museum hours are 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Tuesday–Wednesday; 10 a.m.–9 p.m., Thursdays; 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Friday–Sunday. Every Third Sunday of the month is “Pay What You Wish Sunday” sponsored by Bank of America. For more information, call (916) 808-7000 or visit crockerartmuseum.org.

Disclosure: Kathleen Richards has been a fan of the Crocker Art Museum since her very first visit in fourth grade, and she now serves as the Crocker's Marketing Coordinator.

Powerhouse Science Center breaks ground

2011-08-11T22:37:11Z

The Powerhouse Science Center project officially broke ground this morning, commemorating its push forward with the unfurling of a large 30 x 10 foot banner, which adorned the front of the former PG&E power station building. In attendance were some 60 citizens, dignitaries, funding partners, Powerhouse Science Center staff and City staff. Speakers at the event included Mayor Kevin Johnson, Congressmember Doris Matsui, Senator Darrell Steinberg's District Director, Susan McKee, and Michele Wong, the Interim Executive Director for the project.

A $7 million check was presented to the project, generated by Proposition 84's "Nature Education Facilities" grant. The funds will be used to partially spur construction, which is anticipated to start this fall. With an expected completion date of 2013, the project will include a number of amenities, including a large domed planetarium, science exhibits, gift shops and cafe, and an open park area.

More information can be found at the Powerhouse Science Center website.

Disclosure: Carlos Eliason is a photographer/videographer and designer working in the Sacramento area. He is also a creative media intern for the City of Sacramento.

Crocker Hosts Outdoor Screening of “The Wizard of Oz” on August 4

2011-08-03T21:19:05Z

The Crocker Art Museum will host an outdoor screening of “The Wizard of Oz” on Thursday, Aug. 4, starting at 8 p.m. The film is $6 for Museum members and $12 for nonmembers and includes admission to the Museum. The screening will take place in the Museum’s E. Kendell Davis Courtyard, and visitors are welcome to bring lawn chairs.

Filmed in Technicolor, a process known for high levels of saturated color, “The Wizard of Oz” brilliantly captured the technical and imaginative qualities of color in film in the 20th century.

Tickets for the film are available for purchase at crockerartmuseum.org, the Museum Admission Desk, or by calling (916) 808-1182. The screening is presented in part by Creative Projection Services.

Disclosure: Kathleen Richards has been a fan of the Crocker Art Museum since her very first visit in fourth grade, and she now serves as the Crocker's Marketing Coordinator.

Meet Artist Daniel Douke at the Crocker on July 14

2011-07-14T00:25:45Z

Artist Daniel Douke, whose paintings of computer boxes are so realistic they cause visitors to do double-takes, will give a talk at the Crocker Art Museum at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 14.

More than 20 of the artist’s paintings are on display in “Daniel Douke: Bytes of Reality,” which is on view at the Museum through July 17.

Douke’s work involves the photorealistic depiction of manufactured packaging—merging painting with sculpture and challenging our assumptions about reality and artifice. By making these discarded boxes art, he gives them permanence and value. At first glance, Douke’s boxes appear to be simply found objects. A closer look reveals that these are paintings rendered in exquisite detail, with text, packaging tape, smudges, and dents all carefully observed and painted. Even the canvas is stretched and shaped to perfection. The backs of these paintings offer clear evidence that this is very traditional work—with wooden stretchers, canvas, and gesso all exposed.

Born in 1943, Douke received his bachelor’s and master’s from California State University in Los Angeles. His photorealistic renderings of Southern California swimming pools first brought him notoriety in the mid-1970s, but it was at this moment that his concerns shifted from pictorial composition and the application of paint to volume and form. He made his first cardboard--box paintings in 1977, referencing a variety of goods ranging from automotive products to foodstuffs. In the 1990s, he returned to contemporary products and found quintessential subject matter in the brand-new packaging and slick graphics of computer boxes. The iMac, especially, had become a colorful high-tech fashion statement. Its packaging and promotion fascinated Douke, communicating a truth about reality, which he felt seemed to epitomize our era and “its promise of a technological utopian dream come true.”

Disclosure: Kathleen Richards has been a fan of the Crocker Art Museum since her very first visit in fourth grade, and she now serves as the Crocker's Marketing Coordinator.

Free Family Fun Day at the Crocker on June 19

2011-06-17T19:19:39Z

This Father’s Day take the whole family to the Crocker Art Museum’s "Free Family Fun Day.” On Sunday, June 19, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., enjoy a Museum-wide celebration of Impressionism and summertime with a host of family programs, including hands-on art making, interactive tours, dance and music performances, and much more.

“Free Family Fun Day” is a unique opportunity to sample the Crocker’s family programs, such as Drop, Yak, Splat!, studio art workshops, and family-friendly art tours. Visitors can try their hands at creating landscapes, sculpting with clay, or crafting portraits of their favorite heroes.

Artist Sarma Karsiere will lead a draw-along session focusing on landscapes. Classic children’s musician Mister Cooper will perform at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. while Mistura Brasileira, a local Brazilian dance troupe, will take the stage at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.

“Free Family Fun Day” is sponsored by a grant from the James Irvine Foundation. Sunday, July 19, is also “Pay What You Wish” Sunday, sponsored by Bank of America.

For more information, visit crockerartmuseum.org or call (916) 808-7000.

The Crocker is located at 216 O Street in Downtown Sacramento. Museum hours are 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Tuesday–Wednesday; 10 a.m.–9 p.m., Thursdays; 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Friday–Sunday. Every Third Sunday of the month is “Pay What You Wish Sunday” sponsored by Bank of America.

Crocker exhibit tracks French, American Impressionism

2011-06-11T00:48:26Z

The Crocker Art Museum brought three art collections together for a “Summer of Impressionism” display that will go through Sept. 25 and traces the Impressionist movement’s beginnings in France through its American and ultimately Californian works.

“It’s a rare opportunity to see so many different incarnations of Impressionism all at the same time,” said Associate Director and Chief Curator Scott Shields. “It shows many of the famous Impressionist painters as well as their influences.”

The three related exhibits take up three separate rooms on two floors of the Crocker’s new wing.

The first exhibit, “Transcending Vision: American Impressionism, 1870-1940,” shows how the works of the French Impressionists influenced American painters. Almost 100 works are on display in the exhibit.

“Landscapes from the Age of Impressionism” is an exhibit from the Brooklyn Museum and includes 40 landscapes from the mid-19th century and early 20th century, including works by French Impressionists Claude Monet and Camille Pissarro and American Impressionist John Singer Sargent.

Finally, “Gardens and Grandeur: Porcelains and Paintings by Franz A. Bischoff” will include 40 pieces and is organized by the Pasadena Museum of California Art. Bischoff was a native Bavarian who moved to California in 1906 after spending more than 20 years in America.

The first two exhibits are currently open, and the Bischoff exhibit will open June 25.

In the “American Impressionism” exhibit, Shields said visitors can trace the progression of the painting style – characterized by thin and visible brush strokes, an emphasis on light, and unusual visual angles – as it progressed in the United States.

Despite travel being more difficult in the era before international air routes, Shields said the Impressionist painters traveled frequently, often learning their craft in France and then traveling across the United States as they painted.

The broad landscapes that characterized the Hudson River School of painting are at the beginning of the chronological exhibit, and it progresses through later styles, including Tonalism, which is like Impressionism, but with darker colors. The focus is on American Impressionist painters, including Childe Hassam, Lilla Cabot Perry and John Enneking.

The “Landscapes” exhibit is dominated by three Monets that serve as focal points in the two rooms it fills.

Curator William Breazeale said the first painting a visitor sees upon entering, Monet’s “Rising Tide at Pourville,” painted in 1882, “epitomizes what the French Impressionists were about.”

The loose brushwork and the “cropped” image in which only part of a coastal cottage is shown, were common themes in the art movement.

Around the painting are hung works by the artists who influenced Monet, and the rest of the Impressionist painters. Lights in the exhibit room are low to bring out the colors Impressionism is famous for.

On the back wall of the second room are two other Monet’s, including an unfinished work that Breazeale said is an interesting piece to see.

“(He’s) taking large strokes to sort of fill things in before creating a surface on top, so the surface for this painting might have been similar to the surface (of the one next to it),” he said. “Of course, there’s this enormous bit of untouched canvas at the top.”

He said it is good insight to the artistic process of the Impressionists.

Nearby American paintings demonstrate the different sensibilities they brought, with one of the key differences being subject matter, Brezeale said, describing a painting by Willard Leroy Metcalf, “Early Spring Afternoon, Central Park,” painted in 1911.

“(It was) made from the window of his apartment,” Brezeale said. “The colors are modified from what they would necessarily be: brighter greens, more purple shadows.”

Americans brought a focus on urban subjects, as opposed to the French, who tended to focus on country and natural scenes.

In the video below, Breazeale explains the “Landscapes in Impressionism” exhibit.

Crocker Art Museum's Summer of Impressionism from Brandon Darnell on Vimeo.

The third exhibit, which focuses on Bischoff, will include about 40 works ranging from oil paintings to ceramics.

Breazeale said Bischoff was enamored by roses, and his eventual move to Pasadena, home of the Rose Parade, was no accident.

Despite his German birth, he is considered an American artist, he added. His paintings included landscapes of cliffs in Utah, the Monterey seascape and the Sierra Nevadas.

The Crocker Art Museum has a permanent collection of Impressionist paintings – including one of the largest collections of California Impressionists – on display, Shields said.

The museum is located at 216 O St.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

Crocker Art Museum’s Outdoor Jazz Concert Series Kicks Off Today

2011-05-19T21:49:35Z

From May through September, the Crocker Art Museum’s Thursdays ‘til 9 concert series Playlist heads outdoors to the shady comfort of the E. Kendell Davis Courtyard for a full season of jazz. From Cajun and Brazilian to smooth tunes, this summer’s concerts will offer up the best of the Museum’s former Third Thursday Jazz series and new Playlist music series.

Concerts will start at 6 p.m. and tickets are $6 for Museum members and $12 for nonmembers. Tickets are available for purchase online at crockerartmuseum.org, at the Museum Admission Desk, or by calling (916) 808-1182.

Alfresco dining and beverage specials will be available throughout the evening, and Museum spotlight talks will be offered during intermission.

Tom Rigney and Flambeau will offer up fiery Cajun and zydeco two-steps, low-down blues, and funky New Orleans grooves on May 19.

On June 16, Sandy Cressman and Homenagem Brasileira will perform original arrangements of music by the great composers of Brazilian jazz such as Dori Caymmi, Milton Nascimento, Joao Donato, Jobim and many others.

Ecuadorian born guitarist Iván Nájera will present an explosive show encompassing a multitude of Spanish, Latin, and jazz flavored rhythms on July 21.

On August 18, jazz keyboard master Roger Smith will perform with special guests. A producer and composer, Smith is one of the most prolific artists in contemporary jazz, and he has played with legends such as Jeff Beck, Gladys Knight, Willie Nelson, and Leon Russell.

On September 15, Little Charlie Caravan will close out the outdoor jazz series in a swinging concert of gypsy jazz. Charlie Baty, otherwise known as “Little Charlie,” has a unique guitar voice influenced by the music of Django Reinhardt, blues, and swing. Other members of the band include Jason Vanderford, Bob Armstrong, and Keith Cary.

Thursdays ‘til 9 is sponsored by Bank of America with media support provided by Capital Public Radio and Sac Cultural Hub.

The Crocker Art Museum was one of the first art museums in the U.S. and is now one of the leading art institutions in California. Established in 1885, the Museum features one of the country’s finest collections of Californian art, exceptional holdings of master drawings, a comprehensive collection of international ceramics, as well as European, Asian, African, and Oceanic art. The Crocker is located at 216 O Street in Downtown Sacramento. Museum hours are 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Tuesday–Wednesday; 10 a.m.–9 p.m., Thursdays; 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Friday–Sunday. Every Third Sunday of the month is “Pay What You Wish Sunday” sponsored by Bank of America. For more information, call (916) 808-7000 or visit crockerartmuseum.org.

Railroad museum seeks volunteers

2011-05-19T01:08:19Z

The California State Railroad Museum and Historic Park is calling all volunteers to enter its 50th volunteer academy – volunteers who, according to officials, are the museum’s backbone.

“We couldn’t run the museum without our docents. They are everything,” said Theresa Gonsolis, a guide and volunteer coordinator.

She added that the museum – founded in 1981 – is considered the premiere indoor railroad museum in the country.

Applications for the volunteer docent class are online and are being accepted through May 31, though Gonsolis said there is some “wiggle room” in the deadline.

“Our philosophy is: the more the merrier,” she said.

Docents are only required to work seven hours per month, which can be split up between two days or done in one day, she said, adding that many docents prefer to work more often – some several days per week.

Chip Fong became a volunteer docent nine years ago shortly after retiring from the California Highway Patrol.

“I like to tell people about the history,” he said. “Sacramento is ground zero for California history.”

Fong said working in the dining car in the museum is his favorite because it’s one of the best examples of an original dining car from an era when rail travel was far more common.

He has also worked on the active Sacramento Southern Railroad operated by the museum and other positions.

“It’s a great social life if you like to talk about the history of the railroad and what it did for America – it was the glue that held us together,” Fong said.

To be a docent, previous knowledge of the railroad is not required, Gonsolis said.

The volunteer course, which starts June 25, runs for four weeks and includes three-hour classes Monday and Wednesday evenings as well as seven-and-a-half-hour classes Saturdays.

After graduation, docents can go to work in one of several areas – the museum, the car shop (where train cars are cleaned and maintained), the signals group (which operates train signals), the model train exhibits on the second floor and others.

“We recommend shadowing other experienced docents for a little bit first,” Gonsols said. “They can learn even more from their wealth of knowledge.”

That knowledge is shared with the approximately 500,000 people who pass through the attraction every year.

School groups are common visitors, and 10-year-old fifth grader Cecilia Estrada of Berkeley said Wednesday that the docents were very helpful.

“I enjoyed the trains,” she said. “(The docents) told us really interesting stories about them.”

Cecilia said she thought the refrigeration car was interesting.

Gonsolis added that refrigeration cars allowed California produce to be transported all over the nation, making it the state’s “true gold” as part of the economy.

For more information about applying and an online application, click here.

“This is really a museum where the interaction we have with the public who come and visit is important,” Gosolis said. “(The volunteer docents) are what make our visitors so in awe of this museum.”

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

Is Social Media Making the World a Better Place?

2011-05-16T16:37:02Z

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 even related to the uprisings or is it just hype; (2) the two possible futures of the internet; and (3) the responsibilities of internet-based companies moving as they expand.

A writer at Mother Jones once said, “Twitter bears about as much responsibility for the Egyptian uprising as George Soros, Mrs. O’leary’s cow, and the flying spaghetti monster.” However, Martin Luther was able to fully vet his concerns on a singular piece of parchment, subsequently creating an entire religion with the use of the printing press (an early communications technology). And when there have been rumors of rebellion, dictators have commonly flipped the internet “kill switch” in the hopes of quelling their peoples. Now there are a multitude of options undermining the efficacy of “kill switches,” and social media platforms can still reach the rest of the world despite these efforts. Just the idea that the internet is one of the first things targeted at the beginning of a rebellion should be indication enough that it plays a key role in removing a dictator from power.

As Professor Chander sees it, there are two potential ways this internet expansion can go: the perfection of a “surveillance state” or the perfection of a “global sphere of rational discourse.” The first option, while possible, is looking more and more unlikely. Social media is pushing the world toward option two, where everyone everywhere has access to real-time on-the-ground information from around the world. This has been the case in several instances in the recent past, and hopefully will continue and expand as we move forward.

As the companies who run these websites move forward, what should be the guiding principle of their business strategies? In the past, it has been the maximization of shareholder wealth. Companies are increasingly worried about their public image in an age of increased transparency, and so the at-all-costs method of increasing wealth may not work for much longer. Now companies are more likely to be moralistic in their decision-making, and make efforts to be seen as improving the communities in which they operate. Not to worry, shareholders – you’re still number one, but society will now come in at a much closer second place.

Professor Chander closed with some Q&A, and then, as is the tradition of the Sacramento Social Media Club, a door prize raffle was held. Door prizes are donated by local businesses and organizations and the prizes included free California Museum annual memberships and Jiffylube gift certificates.

The Social Media Club will be hosting their next event this Tuesday, May 17th at The Urban Hive beginning at 6:30 pm. "Social Media ROI: Is it Measurable?" will feature a panel of social media experts who will weigh in on best practices and new methods of measurement. For more information or to register for this event, click here.

About Sacramento Social Media Club
The Sacramento chapter of the Social Media Club is part of an international organization of more than 100 active chapters around the globe hosting conversations that explore key issues facing our society as technologies transform the way we connect, communicate, collaborate and relate to each other. Founded in April of 2009, Sacramento Social Media Club (SMCSac) has become the centerpiece for regional gatherings surrounding the subject of social media. SMCSac is devoted to expanding media literacy, sharing lessons among social media practitioners, encouraging adoption of industry standards and promoting ethical practices though discussion and actions. Additional information about the Sacramento Chapter and upcoming events is available at http://www.facebook.com/SMCSAC.

Crocker Art Museum

2011-04-26T08:51:50Z

If ask somebody from Sacramento to suggest a museum to visit, you would hear the Crocker Art Museum get brought up quite a bit.

A major reason why the museum is so popular in the region is because of the rich history the musuem has had in sacramento.

The Crocker Art Museum is also considered as one of the leading institutions in California. The museums longevity, architecture, and wide variety of arts bring the museum much notoriety.

Built in 1871, talented architect Seth Babson, (1820-1908),renovated a home into a mansion. The museum has been one of the longest continously opera ted museums in the west.

The museum has a collection of about 1,500 master drawings, the collection of art ranges from Californian art, to European paintings.The ceramics collection in the museum is one of the most comprehensive in all of the U.S.

The museum is named after Judge E. B. Crocker, (1818-1875), and his wife Margaret Crocker, (1822-1901). The Crockers were a prominent Sacramento family with Judge having studied law and serving on the state Supreme Court.

That museum has gone under a couple of renovations, with the most recent coming in 2010. The Teel Pavilion opened on Oct. 10 of 2010.

The museum has long been considered one of the cultural gems of the West Coast, so whether if your a resident or a tourist, the Crocker Art Museum is worth checking out.

Photo essay: Tequila Museo Mayahuel; soft opening Friday

2011-03-30T05:06:49Z

Monday night, a huge Dia de los Muertos caricature welcomed guests to Tequila Museo Mayahuel on 12th and K streets.

Inside, sugar skulls, candles and marigolds transformed the new tequila museum and restaurant into a Dia de Los Muertos party, called “Subterraneo” put on by Jose Cuervo Tradicional tequila.

The party was a sneak preview of the not-yet-open Tequila Museo Mayahuel. Only those in the restaurant and bar industry were invited.

Jose Cuervo Tradicional is touring cities around the country with the Dia de los Muertos party and selected Sacramento to host Monday’s event.

According to Gina Castillo, tequila ambassador for Jose Cuervo and Don Julio Northern California, Tequila Museo Mayahuel was chosen because Sacramento is an important tequila market and it’s a brand new restaurant that has a tequila museum in it.

This is the first time Jose Cuervo Tradicional has hosted an event in Sacramento.

“(Mayahuel is) a place that’s going to stick to Mexican culture and since Dia de los Muertos is such a Mexican holiday, we wanted to make sure that we had it in a place that made sense,” Castillo said.

Some of Sacramento’s restaurateurs came to check out the new K Street restaurant and bar, including Ali Mackani, owner of Lounge on 20; Billy Ngo, owner of Kru and Red Lotus Kitchen & Bar; and Andrea Martin, who owns Bulls.

TJ Bruce, who owns Badlands and Hot Rods, was also there and said he was enjoying the party.

“It is very rustic. The food is wonderful,” he said. “It’s very clubby. I think a restaurant would do well (having) a club” atmosphere while it was serving food.

“I have a feeling it’s going to be a lot more low-key” normally, he added.

Small bites, or bocadillos, were served from the menu, including

Bruchetas de Rajas con Crema (french bread slices topped with strips of poblano chiles marinated in sour cream);
Dobladitas de Camaron y Queso Manchego (tortillas stuffed with shrimp and ricotta cheese sautéed with onions);
Molletitos de Chorizo y Queso Monterrey (baguette with black refried beans and chorizo and crumbled cheese);
Brochetas de Pollo y Nopal al Guajillo (chicken with cactus, Guajillo chile and mushrooms);
Tostaditas de Chile Ancho y Nopales (tostadas with Ancho chiles, guacamole and cactus);
Tostaditas de Tinga de Pollo (shredded chicken breast cooked in chipotle sauce, served on a tostada);
Panuchos de Cochinita Pibil (pulled pork that’s been cooked in Ancho chiles and citrus sauce on a soft tortilla with refried black beans).

For dessert, they served Mosaico de Flan de Chile Ancho (flan with pasillo peppers) and a mango mousse cake.

Nate Radabaugh, David Tyler and George Boeger came all the way from Chico to see Tequila Museo Mayahuel.

Radabaugh and Tyler said they do security for Chico’s Normal Street Bar, which Boeger owns.

“This is my first time in Sacramento,” Radabaugh said. “It’s a great city – a walking city – I didn’t know what to expect. I like the celebration.”

On display behind the bar were hand-painted Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia tequila boxes.

“Each box is different – different artist, different art,” Mayahuel owner Ernesto Delgado said. “They hired a Mexican artist to paint their box, and each year, they select a new artist to paint the box, and now it’s a series.”

The tequila boxes are the current display for the “museo” (museum) part of the restaurant. The history and culture of tequila will continue to be reflected in the rotating exhibits planned for Mayahuel.

“The idea is that the whole place is going to function and work like a museum,” Delgado said. “(The) one (behind the bar) is obviously the main exhibit, but throughout the entire restaurant we’ll have different exhibits on different walls that will coordinate with events, programs, venues (and) tastings.”

The exhibits will rotate every three months or so, he said.

Bartenders stayed busy serving specialty drinks, which included Trad Fresco, made of Tradicional Silver, simple syrup, grapefruit juice, muddled cucumber and mint leaves; Paloma Mayahuel, which mixed Tradicional Silver, grapefruit juice, agave syrup, lime juice, seltzer water and a pinch of salt; El Beso Ardiente, made of Tradicional Silver, agave syrup, lime juice, Serrano pepper and muddled pepper wheels; and others.

El Beso Ardiente means "the fiery kiss," according to Castillo.

Nicole Novoa, an analyst for the California Department of Consumer Affairs, said she came Monday because she is friends with the restaurant’s manager, Javier Valdez.

When asked what she thought of Mayahuel, she said, “It’s different from what I’ve seen. It doesn’t compare.... It’s culturally diverse. It has a really good ambiance.”

More than 200 people took part in the celebration throughout the night, according to Delgado.

DJ Alex Trujillo and DJ Will Rodriguez played music all night, getting the Day of the Dead caricatures on the dance floor along with many painted faces in the crowd.

Delgado said Tuesday that he was very pleased with the event.

“I personally loved it. It was a great reflection of what I’m trying to showcase – the culture.... Dia de los Muertos is a day of appreciating the past with the present – the people that have been here – their life and history. In Mexico, we celebrate our past by celebrating the deaths of people that were close to us,” he said.

The grand opening of Tequila Museo Mayahuel is scheduled for the weekend of Cinco de Mayo. However, the restaurant and bar will be open well before that, with a soft opening at 3 p.m. Friday. Delgado said they will serve small plates and a limited cocktail menu.

Tequila Museo Mayahuel is located at 1200 K St. For more information, read Suzanne Hurt’s recent article here or Brandon Darnell’s original article here.

Photos by Chris Brune and Colleen Belcher.

Crocker Art Museum Open on President's Day

2011-02-18T01:23:06Z

The Crocker Art Museum will open its doors on Monday, Feb. 21 for President’s Day. Open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., visitors can hear the Sacramento Youth Symphony perform patriotic songs at 2 p.m. and discover works of art celebrating the history of the United States on a “Patriotic Tour” at 10:15 a.m., noon, and 2 p.m. From noon to 3 p.m., art-making activities for children will explore the meaning of our nation’s symbols.

President’s Day is one of five Monday holidays on which the Crocker will be open this year. The Museum was open on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in January and will be open on Memorial Day and Labor Day in the fall, and The Monday after Christmas in the winter.

The Crocker Art Museum is one of the leading art institutions in California. Established in 1885, the Museum offers a diverse spectrum of special exhibitions, events, and programs to augment its collections of Californian, European, Asian, African, and Oceanic artworks.
The Crocker is located at 216 O Street in Downtown Sacramento. Museum hours are 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Tuesday–Wednesday; 10 a.m.–9 p.m., Thursdays; 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Friday–Sunday. Every Third Sunday of the month is “Pay What You Wish Sunday” sponsored by Bank of America.

For more information, call (916) 808-7000 or visit crockerartmuseum.org.

Museums free on Saturday

2011-02-04T02:09:21Z

Sacramentans will have the opportunity to be tourists in their own city Saturday as 26 area museums waive their admission fees.

The 13th annual free museum day will take place from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday.

“It reminds people who live here what great museums we have in this city,” said Mike Testa, spokesman for the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau. “The ultimate goal is to get more visitors in the museums.”

Event organizers offered tips on getting the most out of the experience:

“We encourage people not to try to hit 26 museums in a day,” said Delta Pick Mello, spokeswoman for the Sacramento Association of Museums. “We encourage people to pick out two or maybe three museums they really want to visit.”

She added that seeing some of the smaller museums is a good idea, since the larger ones are typically more crowded.

“I’ve always liked the Museum of Medical History,” Testa said. “It has all the tools they used way back when. Seeing all the tools of the doctor really makes you appreciate how good we have it today, even though no one likes to go to the doctor.”

The free entrance day is an idea going back more than a decade and is designed by the Sacramento Association of Museums to promote the museums to the public, who might not otherwise get to know them all.

“The Sacramento Association of Museums formed with the idea of promoting the museums we have right in our own backyard,” Mello said. “We wanted people to know they don’t have to leave the area to see great museums.”

The event has seen its success grow each year, and last year’s Museum Day saw 85,000 visitors come through the doors.

This year, a free shuttle service is being offered for many of the museums in the area, Mello said.

“We have free shuttle buses from the California Museum at 10th and O (streets),” she said. “Five routes take them to various locations in the city.”

Most museums stop allowing entrance at 4 p.m. and close at 5. Shuttles run until then, and Mello said they will ensure visitors get back to where they started.

According to the Sacramento Association of Museums, participating museums are:

Aerospace Museum of California
California Automobile Museum
The California Museum
California State Military Museum
California State Capitol Museum
California State Indian Museum
California State Railroad Museum
Crocker Art Museum
Discovery Museum Science and Space Center
The Don and June Salvatori California Pharmacy Museum
Fairytale Town
Folsom History Museum
Governor’s Mansion State Historic Park
Heidrick Ag History Center (Woodland)
Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park
Museum of Medical History
Old Sacramento Schoolhouse Museum
Old Sacramento State Historic Park
Sacramento Zoo
Sacramento Historic City Cemetery
Sacramento History Museum
Sojourner Truth Multicultural Arts Museum
Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park
Wells Fargo History Museum (Old Sacramento and downtown locations).

The California Foundry History Museum is located at 5301 Price Ave., North Highlands.

Tequila Museo Mayahuel set for March opening

2011-02-03T02:00:58Z

The electric whines of drills and saws coming from the corner of 12th and K streets Wednesday indicated the opening of Tequila Museo Mayahuel is still a short way off.

The sounds escaped from open doors papered in bright green with the words "Coming Soon to K Street." The restaurant and tequila bar had been expected to open by the end of 2010, and then by Feb. 1.

However, the need for electrical changes and other construction delays, as well as permitting issues, have postponed the opening to March, owner Ernesto Delgado said.

He hopes to imbue the 5,300-square-foot restaurant, bar and gift shop with a museum-like quality that highlights Mexico's culture through tequila. Born in the Mexican state of Michoacán, Delgado is using an idea inspired by the wineries around his childhood home in Napa Valley to create a unique restaurant.

"The way they showcase the wine culture is the same way I'm trying to showcase the tequila culture," the Sacramento resident said.

The restaurant is named for the Aztec goddess of the agave plant and fertility, Mayahuel. Agave is used to make tequila. A statue of a jimador – or agave plant farmer – will sit outside the entrance.

Inside, tequila bottles, art and information will be exhibited everywhere, from T-shirts and menus to the restaurant itself.

"On the ceilings, on the floors, on the walls, on the menus, on the staff," Delgado said. "When you walk in, it will feel like a museum."

He's hired most of the 40 to 50 people who will staff the establishment. Delgado will create educational programs to teach the staff about tequila and its history. To ensure they can talk knowledgeably with customers, everyone who works there will have to write essays about tequila and its culture before they can start work, he added.

Tequila Museo Mayahuel is being built at 1200 K St., on the ground floor of a parking garage leased by the Hyatt Regency Sacramento. Delgado has converted three spaces that previously held an eye wear store, Chinese restaurant and a vacant storefront into one big space.

Interior construction is complete. The urban contemporary look is set off with bold colors of terracotta, green and black.

A large U-shaped bar wraps into the main dining room and the Coa Room, named for the shovel used to harvest agave. The room has a separate entrance and can be reserved for private parties. In back, a chef's bar will seat about 12 and serve as an exhibition kitchen. The menu will offer traditional Mexican dishes featuring fresh ingredients.

On Wednesday, tradespeople were busy finishing trim work – installing solid walnut doors, light fixtures, signs and more. Cabinetry is being hand-made on-site. Three people were restaining chairs while another man built wooden tequila lockers. Customers can use those to store expensive or rare bottles of tequila for a small fee.

Two large, garage-door-like windows will open onto a large patio. Delgado is in the process of getting permits for the 20-foot by 40-foot sidewalk cafe and adjacent lounge, which may feature an outdoor bar and fireplace, and for a small gift shop that will sell tequila.

The establishment's liquor license is expected to be finalized in late February. A new exterior façade, patio and gift shop are expected to open in a second phase after plans are approved, he said.

The management team includes Delgado, chef Ramiro Alarcon, Manager Javier Valdez and Kitchen Manager Mario Favila. The contractor, Charles Espinoza, has overseen construction.

The hours will be 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 11 a.m. - 3 a.m. Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. - 3 a.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. for Sunday brunch.

Tequila Museo Mayahuel will emphasize "sipping and enjoying" tequilas and artisan cocktails.

Delgado said he initially wanted to serve 50 to 100 tequilas. But he's decided to offer fewer tequilas – both on a drink menu and at the gift shop – to help build an understanding and appreciation on a quintessentially Mexican product.

"I'd really like to focus on tequila families that have created the history and culture of tequila," he said.

Art Mix: Playing with color at Crocker

2011-01-15T23:03:39Z

Crocker Art Museum presented a diverse palette of art and music Thursday night as part of its monthly exhibit and performance series Art Mix. January’s theme, titled “I Hear Color,” celebrated the vibrant watercolor explorations of world-renowned abstract expressionist Paul Jenkins, the sunny, melodic music of San Francisco’s Jake Mann and the Upper Hand, and also featured a playful prism of colorful crafts -- kaleidoscope creation, T-shirt painting, a swatch and color theory tour, and a professional photo booth.

The evening exuded a “choose your own adventure” environment where guests could wander at their own leisure throughout the new modern structure of the museum, pockets of color and light penetrating corners and hallways.

The Color of Light

Jenkins’ exhibit “The Color of Light”, which is shown in the spacious second floor gallery through February 20, represents the spirit of post World War II American abstraction and Pollock-era abstract expressionism. The collection honors the painter’s sensuous and elusive watercolors and selected work on canvas, including 29 watercolors pertaining to the artist’s dance-drama, “Shaman to the Prism Seen,” performed at the Paris Opera in 1987, as well as his recent large-scale watercolor, “Phenomena Wind Arch” from 2009.

The artist's enduring exploration of Eastern philosophy and inward reflection were made evident especially through two of the Jenkins' major projects, “Phenomena Peking Prism,” from 1988, a watercolor triptyque that relates to his experience painting on silk in Beijing, China, and “Phenomena Meditation Tower,” five watercolors inspired by monumental stained glass windows.

At the exhibit, three art students from Sacramento City College studied Jenkins' unique use of color and unconventional paint application, which includes controlled paint pouring on a primed canvas.

The students pointed to some of their favorite works, which included an oil and enamel on canvas titled “Cherokee Strip”.

“The textures are just really cool in it,” said Sonia Antilla. “I like it because it’s not all primary colors like the other ones.”

Sam Lyman then led us to “Last Phenomena of the 75s.”

“I like it because it’s focusing on purple. It’s my favorite color! But also, I like just the form of it. There are sharp lines but also blurred lines, and I like the way the blue and purple bleeds together.”

Jenkins explains his fluid, ethereal approach to color in his book “Conjunctions and Annexes,” which can be found at the Crocker gift store.

"Color is like water that has to sink down in the silt below and then be directed to rise to the surface as if of its own will and, like a river current, find its estuary," Jenkins wrote.

Arts & Crafts

Below in the historical room, artistic energy radiated as children and adults alike had the chance to play with color and create kaleidoscopes and various accessories. Vibrant scarves, swatches, bustles, retro hair bows and T-shirts painted the drawing tables as artists fastened glittering shapes on their wares.

A young boy wrote his name in paint on his small white T-shirt. He spelled out “Ryan,” smiling with satisfaction as he adds abstract shapes around the letters. When asked what he was drawing, the 5-year-old shrugged and said, “I don’t know…just something from my imagination!”

“And what is your favorite color,” his mother, Shannon Shehadi asked her son. “Black,” he answered quite matter-of-factly. She explained that her son is a fan of the Raiders. “So, what about your second favorite color?” she asked. “Silver!” he said.

At the table next to Shehadi and her son, Maia Kazaks and Madaline Stone of Sacramento were making hair accessories out of colorful transparent filters. Once the hairpieces were in place, the two friends danced over to the main hall for a photo op in the Crocker photo booth.

Wesley Davis, owner of Beatnik Studios, made colorful portraits of the two women. Davis explained how he used a slow shutter speed to allow the colorful stage lights bleed through the photo and allow his subjects to create colorful abstractions as they move.

Hearing Color

Beside the photo booth, the sound of guitar, bass and drums further amplified the animated mood of the room, and the audience moved closer to the stage as a couple twirled to the upbeat melodies.

Jake Mann and the Upper Hand played several hits from their new album, “Parallel South,” set to officially release on January 18 by the local Davis record label Crossbill Records.

In keeping with the theme of light, Mann explained how the record focuses on thoughts of “travel, movement and sunshine.”

“My last album was a little darker,” he said. “We’re getting sunnier with this one.”

Mann said that the band was excited to be able to “relax and stretch out their music” for the longer performance at the museum.

As apposed to the usual 35-minute bar set, the band performed two 45-minute sets at Crocker, playing a mixture of old and new songs, including their newest single “Days Are Long,” the improvisational “Say It’s Fine,” and a cover of “Drive” by The Cars.

“I like playing alternate spaces like this," Mann said. "It takes the focus off of us, and we can contribute more to the event."

Jake Mann and The Upper Hand will play again on Saturday, Jan. 22 at Phono Select in Sacramento.

The Crocker Art Museum holds its Art Mix event on the first Thursday of every month. You can experience the next Art Mix titled, "Love & Lust" on Thursday, Feb. 10 from 5 - 9 p.m.

Photography by Julia Marino

2010 a landmark year for Crocker Art Museum

2010-12-22T23:07:20Z

With the opening of the Crocker Art Museum’s $100 million expansion and the celebration of it’s 125th anniversary, 2010 was a big year for the museum.

“I think it’s probably the most important year in the museum’s history,” Museum Director Lial Jones said.

The Oct. 10 opening of the Crocker’s new wing capped a decade of work that Jones said marks the beginning of the next phase in the Crocker’s history as the museum moves forward to ensure it continues to matter and stay relevant to Sacramento.

In May, The Sacramento Press reported on what the Crocker’s 125,000-square-foot expansion would entail and announced that the museum would be closed to the public from June 6 to Oct. 10.

On May 8, the museum celebrated its 125th birthday with a multi-tiered cake, cultural performances and people dressed in 1800s-style clothing.

Media tours of the new museum allowed The Sacramento Press to bring views of the ongoing progress from the initial bare exhibition halls to photographic virtual tours of the nearly completed structure by both Sacramento Press staff and community contributors.

The last of the funding for the massive project came at a gala fundraiser attended by Crocker supporters and the city’s elite.

Crocker members got a chance to see the museum Oct. 9, one day before the much-anticipated 10.10.10, when the museum finally opened to the public.

Jones said that of all the events over the past 12 months, Oct. 10 was, without a doubt, the most memorable.

“We opened the front doors and saw 18,000 people come through the building on 10.10.10,” she said. “It was a huge milestone in that it represented the culmination of a decade’s worth of work.”

Comments and articles from the community on The Sacramento Press uniformly praised the new museum, driving one writer to post an article entitled, “Neo Crocker: Believe it or not.”

Despite all the success and accolades, Jones cautioned that a building does not make a museum great.

“A building is a tool to fulfill a museum’s goal,” she said. “The next year is about solidifying our position with programs and exhibitions and collections on the walls that matter.”

One of those programs is Art Mix, which offers museum-goers a different experience in addition to the traditional museum visit. For an example of a recent part of that program, click here to read about “art after dark.”

“One-hundred twenty-five years is a pretty phenomenal milestone,” Jones said. “We’re one of the oldest businesses in the region, and the fact that we’re a cultural art nonprofit should be gratifying for the residents.”

Exterior photo of the Crocker on opening day by Kati Garner. Remaining photos by Brandon Darnell, a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Automobilia! Exhibit Sponsored by Ferrari of San Francisco

2010-11-06T03:59:04Z

The California Automobile Museum is proud to announce that Ferrari of San Francisco will be the title sponsor of its newest exhibit, Automobilia! Celebrating Italian Automotive Design.

"I thought this Automobilia! exhibit was the perfect fit for the area and an exciting opportunity to support the Ferrari brand by our presence in the community that has shown its love for Italian motor cars," said Greg Minor, general manager of Ferrari of San Francisco, who noted the growing number of Ferrari owners in the Sacramento area. The project is the most ambitious ever undertaken by the California Automobile Museum and the sponsorship by Ferrari of San Francisco marks the Museum's first support for a large exhibit from the Bay area.

Automobilia! Celebrating Italian Automotive Design opens November 13, 2010 and adds an international flair to the Museum's current exhibits by showcasing some of the auto industry's most exotic cars and men who have become legends for creating them. The project includes construction of a piazza-style exhibit complete with murals that reflect Italian art and architecture to showcase the cars. Featured marques in this long-term exhibition include Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, Fiat, Lancia and Alfa. The exhibit will also give viewers a glimpse into the lives of men whose names have become synonymous with their cars, such as Enzo Ferrari and Ferruccio Lamborghini, and others such as De Tomaso, Pininfarina, Bertone and Bizzarrini, whose creativity and passion for performance made these cars among the most elite in the world for their speed, handling and styling.

"With Automobilia! we want to do more than simply display beautiful cars," explains Karen McClaflin, Executive Director of the California Automobile Museum. "We want people to see the Italian culture that influenced the creation of these cars and for them to get to know the men whose styling and engineering are reflected in them, in much the same way that people want to know more about the artist when they admire a painting or a piece of sculpture," added McClaflin. "We think the exhibit will be a unique experience for everyone."

A wide variety of cars and special events are planned throughout the run of Automobilia!. The cars expected in the piazza on opening day include:

• a Ferrari 275 and Ferrari Testarosa
• an Alfa 1750 Spyder
• a Pantera De Tomaso
• a Lamborghini Diablo
• a 1973 Moto Guzzi scooter

For more information, call (916) 442-6802 or visit www.CalAutoMuseum.org.

Kaela Nelson is the Marketing and Education Coordinator for the California Automobile Museum

Neo Crocker: believe it or not

2010-10-19T01:46:08Z

"Can you believe this is Sacramento?"

Saturday night, at Neo-Crocker 2010, I heard many variations on this theme, but the first time I heard it stands out.

The awestruck reveler voicing the sentiment? None other than Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson.

It was easy to understand his, and others’, disbelief. At first blush, Neo-Crocker certainly seemed to be a party more suited to New York or Los Angeles than our own fair hamlet, yet here it was, at Third and O, not on Fifth Avenue or Rodeo Drive.

But this was better.

It was like a New York party, but without the pretension.

It was like an L.A. party, but without the disingenuousness.

This was a party for a Sacramento all dressed up and wearing its big-boy pants.

It was certainly a feather in the cap for the "Sacramento as a world-class city" crowd.

Ultimately, the museum itself was the star, as well it should have been. I could have very easily spent the entire evening wandering the upper floors, perusing the art and enjoying the various strategically placed performers. As it was I spent close to two hours meandering through the myriad galleries, and I feel like I only scratched the surface.

The second floor, which celebrates the Art of Wayne Thiebaud, "Sacramento's most famous artist," featured Poetry Machine, by the Sacramento Poetry Center. Imagine a deli, but instead of serving hoagies, they serve poems.

As I walked by, not sure what was going on, I was shanghaied with "what do you want a poem about?" I repeated the question, stammered a bit and then replied, belatedly, "existentialism?" (I thought we left the pretension in New York?)

In less time than it took me to answer his question, the dapper gentleman at the typewriter produced this tour de force "instamatic" poem:

"Sometimes its hard to ask for the poem you want ask for.

This is why we don't get what we don't want.

Is this a song?

Is this a story?

Not sure"

I'm not exaggerating when I say this is now one of my favorite poems.

Robert Burns, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Robert Frost – and that guy in the tux.

On the third floor, I fell in love with landscape artist Edwin Deakin, a British painter who immigrated to Chicago at the age of 18 in 1856. In 1870, he moved to San Francisco and began creating iconic images of the Sierra Nevada and Lake Tahoe Basin.

It seemed that every other painting that caught my eye was his work. I was admiring a particularly interesting piece of his, "Strawberry Creek," when I struck up a conversation with a statuesque blonde.

"This is so much better than it was before" said Autumn, referring to the museum. "This is great for Sacramento. I'm so impressed." She also said she'd just returned to Sacramento from New York and Milan, implying, I think, that she wasn't easily impressed.

In addition to art ranging from 16th-century Dutch masters to 21st-century modernist ceramics, there were several poets, musicians and "living sculptures" adding to the atmosphere.

Eventually I dragged myself away from the art upstairs to check out more of the action on the ground floor. On my way down I stopped by the drink check table (apparently they frown on carrying alcoholic beverages near the priceless artifacts) to mention how impressed I was to Jenny, one of the many volunteers on duty.

"I know, isn't it great? And it's here, in Sac. It's ours. I feel I have a certain ownership of it," she said, beaming like a proud parent.

Downstairs, the party was in full swing. On the main stage, where the Sacramento Ballet had performed earlier, fire dancers Vulcan Crew and Solar Flare were performing. The Main Stage was hosted by Taryn Thru-U, Mizz Monique Moore & Malhae, female impersonators extraordinaire.

In the Friedman Court, they were having a free-form fashion show by Miss Velvet Cream and Muse Salon. There were beautiful people, in beautiful clothes, with beautiful hair beautifully made-up, being beautiful. On pedestals.

In the E. Kendall Davis Courtyard there were all sorts of things going on – Body painting, Social Sculpture, a Wells Fargo Photo shoot, Style Inspired by Art presented by the Arden Fair Mall.

It was also the setting for my favorite musical act of the evening, Exquisite Corps, a three-piece jazz ensemble that closed out the evening.

As you went around the courtyard, counterclockwise, you could get your hair and makeup done, a professionally staged photo taken, your body painted and then made personalized pins or T-shirts...presumably with a stop at the cash bar between each station. Or maybe the smokers’ cage in the back (warning: please do not feed or taunt the smokers).

Throughout it all there were roaming performances by Santa Cruz's Nocturnal Sunshine. There is just something about stilt walkers. They add a wonderful level of surrealism to an event. And Sierra, Cindy and Karen, the girls from Nocturnal Sunshine, were great. I saw nary a stumble.

As if this weren't enough, there was also a live tattoo demo and life drawing taking place in the art studio. Alycia Harr of Leonardi Tattoo was putting her considerable talents on display, working on an arm sleeve for one person and a monumental back piece for another.

Right next door were a dozen or so easels set up around a small stage where various men and women modeled for revelers who drew them to the best of their ability. I must say, there were some supremely talented partygoers.

The headliner, RJD2, took the stage in Friedman Court at 11 p.m. to a decent crowd. He's a DJ and music producer out of Philadelphia and is well-known in hip-hop and electronica circles. You may know his track "A Beautiful Mine" as the theme song to the "Mad Men" TV series.

He started off with a lot of melodic and interesting instrumental tracks. He even dropped a caveat to the crowd early in his set. "If this is too damned artsy for you, and you just wanna dance, stick around. We'll get to that."

And he did, eventually, but I actually enjoyed his earlier stuff more than the straight dance stuff he played later. Although he was a bit more creative and eclectic in his mixes (I particularly liked his use of Desmond Decker’s "Shanty Town" and Talking Heads’ "Once in a Lifetime"), a lot of it felt like semi-generic club music. ("You got the best of my love," "She's a bad Mama Jamma" and "No Diggitty." Blackstreet? really?)

For the most part, the crowd seemed to enjoy the more elementary dance stuff, and there was a high-energy, if limited, dance floor. I guess that's what really matters. ( At one point, there was a little pushing and shoving, which looked like it was going to degenerate into a fight. Seriously, at a museum fund raiser? Who does that? Thankfully cooler heads prevailed, or this may have been a very different piece.)

Speaking of the crowd, I was struck by its heterogeneousness. It's hard to imagine a more eclectic group (at least for an event that cost nearly $100 at the door.) At one point, it may have been during "No Diggity," I was at the back of the dance floor next to two mostly naked and body-painted kids in their early 20s, when what must have been an 85-year-old woman came by with her walker, a huge smile on her face. Par for the course.

The outfits ranged from the snazzy to the absurd, black tie to sesame street. Many wore tuxes, one wore a jacket made of swatch watches. Our own editor in chief, David Watts Barton, was wearing a full red silk suit.

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the food, provided by Bobbin and Patrick Mulvaney, who will also be operating the new Crocker Cafe. An army of servers wandered the grounds with goat cheese bruschetta with porcini mushrooms, mini burgers (so good), small chinese takeout boxes filled with delectable noodles, trail mix, Yukon gold potatoes with white cheddar and bacon, and many other yummy goodies.

Overall, the party was outstanding. It was visually stunning, artistically moving, culinarily satiating and sonically satisfactory.

"Can you believe this is Sacramento?"

I can.

All of the images are the work of the lovely and talented Kati Garner

The much-anticipated Crocker opens

2010-10-11T18:38:49Z

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony for The Crocker Art Museum Sunday morning, Congresswoman Doris Matsui said what many were feeling: “It’s been a long time coming, but it’s surely worth it.”

The expansion to the Crocker has been in planning for more than 10 years and under construction for about three years. A few hundred people crowded together and listened to the speakers, ready to see what was held inside the modern white building of steel and glass that was about to be handed over to the public. More than 14,000 people took the free tour by the day’s end.

Citing the (nearly complete) $100 million campaign to fund the project, Mayor Kevin Johnson announced, “To anyone who says Sacramento is not valuing art, that simply is not true.”

The 125,000-square-foot expansion was designed by Gwathmey Siegel & Associates Architects and triples the size of the museum. The new space includes a cafe run by Mulvaney's, a large outdoor courtyard for live performances, studio art classrooms, an expanded library and an auditorium. Perhaps most notably, though, the expansion provides more space to display artwork that would have otherwise not come to Sacramento.

“There has been a perception of Sacramento as not the greatest cultural center,” Chief Curator Scott Shields said.

Shields said he hopes the new Crocker will be a game changer for Sacramento, a transition away from the “cow town” image to something more metropolitan. Progress has been good so far, he said – a lot of the new artwork on display came to the museum based on the “build it and they will come” principle.

“Before the expansion, there would have been nowhere to put it,” Shields said. “They would have said ‘We like your museum, but if you can’t display it, then we’ve got to go somewhere else.’ ”

The museum now dedicates 57,000 square feet to displaying artwork, which is the size a football field without end zones. The Crocker is known for its large collection of California art as well as one of the most comprehensive international ceramics collections in the country. It has a large collection of Dutch and Flemish paintings from the 16th and 17th centuries and many notable pieces originating from 19th century Central and Northern Europe. The African, Oceanic and Asian collections are all popular and also growing quickly.

Among the new collections, one of the most talked about is a retrospective featuring 50 paintings and drawings by Wayne Thiebaud. Thiebaud is now 89, and his artwork spans 70 years. Much of his work could fairly be labeled pop art. Solid blocks of bright color depicting still life and portraits can’t help but remind the viewer of Warhol, while Thiebaud’s California landscapes wield fantastical trappings reminiscent of Dr. Seuss as he plays with perspective and scale to great effect.

After looking at Thiebaud’s paintings of Sacramento farmscapes, Bobbin Mulvaney said, guests can visit her cafe downstairs and eat food that came from those same farms.

The menu at the cafe takes from the same philosophy that drives the Mulvaney couple’s restaurant: locally grown organic food and sustainable practices makes for a delicious meal. In addition to the cafe’s regular menu, groups of up to 40 people may schedule lunch at the museum for special events, requesting any menu they want.

“With all this expansion,” Patrick Mulvaney said, “(visiting the museum) becomes a day-long event.”

Just then, while standing in front of the cafe and almost as if on cue, Patrick got spotted by an excited fan who asked if she could take his picture.

“I’m going to be coming to the museum a lot more now that Mulvaney’s is doing the restaurant,” she said excitedly.

This is exactly what the museum wants. Visiting the old Crocker took an hour or two, but it wasn’t servicing the community as well as it could have, said Randy Roberts, deputy director.

The museum brought Roberts in about a year ago because she’s been in the business of growing museums for 31 years and she’s good at what she does. The new Crocker faces a difficult challenge by opening a large new space and simultaneously starting lots of new programs.

“It’s like your learning curve is happening at the same time you have to make a good impression on someone,” Roberts said.

From 10 a.m. - 10 p.m., there were performances, exhibits and activities to showcase the types of programs Sacramentans can expect to see come out of the museum in the future.

ArtCar Fest 2010 set up shop across the street while Chalk-It-Up! Sacramento led a street painting activity in front of the museum. The Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra performed throughout the day while the main stage in the courtyard featured 14 performances of dance and music from around the world. There were workshops for kids in the classrooms, gallery talks throughout the museum, multi-media presentations introducing the new building, a beer and wine gallery, a magic show and various musical performances throughout the day on a second stage. A laser light show ended the night.

Between these types of events and the art on display, the museum is an institution that brings a lot of pride, Roberts said.

“This is something we built,” she said. “And it becomes part of our identity. It becomes part of the identity of the area.”

One of the museum’s aims has been to enrich local education with what they call experiential learning. Yearly, 35,000 students engage in some activity associated with the museum, including 14,000 on-site. Stacey Shelnut-Hendrick, director of education, said they now expect to double the number of on-site children who participate in their programs.

Not originally from Sacramento, Hendrick said she believes the museum’s expansion is a response to Sacramento’s artistic streak.

“It’s a very creative community,” she said. “What they drive, what they wear, how they live...it’s a very soulful city. This museum might give people a sense of who they are.”

Photos by Kati Garner

California Automobile Museum Revs Up for 2011 Exhibitions

2010-10-09T21:07:15Z

The California Automobile Museum was once recognized for the Ford collection it housed, but since 1997, it has expanded the makes and models of the cars on exhibit and now is becoming known for its diversity in exhibitions. This diversity is part of the Museum’s mission to tell the history of the automobile. Currently the Museum is opening Lowriders: The Art of Low and Slow which will run through January 9 and will open Automobilia! Celebrating Italian Automotive Design on November 13. As the Museum continues to expand the types of cars represented at the Museum, it looks forward to the unique schedule of exhibits it will present in 2011.

Dropped and Chopped --- January 22 - March 27
Explore the classic years of traditional rods and customs between 1946-1960, including Sacramento's notable cars and legends such as Dick Bertolucci.

American Muscle --- April 9 - July 10
Explore the birth and evolution of American muscles cars from the 1960s to present day and the impact on popular culture and automotive technology.

4x4: Mud, Sweat, and Gears --- July 23 - September 25
Explore not only the conception of 4-wheel drive vehicles and how they became incorporated into industry, military and recreational use, but also the influence of these vehicles' technical advances on the automotive industry as a whole.

Sirens of Chrome: The Enduring Allure of Auto Show Models --- October 8 - January 9, 2012
Traveling photography exhibit from National Automotive History Collection and the Detroit Public Library based on the book Sirens of Chrome by Margery Krevsky.

This schedule was updated on October 7, 2010 and is subject to change. Before visiting the Museum call (916) 442-6802 or visit www.CalAutoMuseum.org to confirm an exhibition.

Submitted by Kaela Nelson, who is the Marketing and Education Coordinator for the California Automobile Museum.

Sneak peek at the new Crocker

2010-09-29T04:07:27Z

The Crocker Art Museum’s new space is a big deal for Sacramento.

That was evident Tuesday morning as the museum opened its new, 125,000-square-foot wing to the media, drawing a variety of established TV, radio and print media outlets from as far as Los Angeles.

The sneak peek at the new museum was given in advance of the general opening on Oct. 10 (10.10.10).

“It’s a great new treasure for the city and this region,” said Lial A. Jones, museum director.

In addition to a much-expanded gallery space, the Crocker now has dedicated educational space, which will allow for a much greater scope of activities, Jones said. Some of the educational space includes a viewing gallery on the first floor that will allow visitors to watch staff working on restoring art.

“We’ve never had an educational space before,” said Stacey Shelnut-Hendrick, director of education, who co-led one of the media tours Tuesday.

“Every collection area has a home,” said Chief Curator Scott Shields, who co-led the tour with Shelnut-Hendrick. Art collections that now have their own spaces include African art, Oceanic art, European art and the Crocker’s porcelain collection.

Though large, the building does not appear imposing from the outside – which was exactly what the Crocker designers planned.

“We wanted to create a space large in scale without feeling massive,” Shelnut-Hendrick said.

In showing off the second- and third-floor galleries, Shields was in his element, giving the history of the museum along with tidbits the average visitor will would likely never know.

Passing a painting by internationally known Sacramento artist Wayne Thiebaud, “Big Rock Mountain,” Shields related how the artist actually varnished the painting at the Crocker, as it wasn’t complete before coming to the museum.

In the Crocker’s prized California and American Art section on the third floor, Shields noted that the ceiling heights and wall colors are indicative of architectural and design trends from the eras in which the art was created.

For example, the art created during the Victorian era is housed in a room with a high ceiling emphasizing the vertical, and as the rooms progress to later works, the ceilings are lower – representing the bungalow-style homes that came into vogue, and the smaller paintings of that era.

The museum’s artwork is made up of the Crocker family’s collections, donated works and works the museum has purchased.

The California Impressionist collection, Shields said, came from a private donation, as it was acquired after the Crockers had stopped collecting but before the museum could start purchasing.

Much of the European art was collected by the Crockers, specifically the German artwork housed on the third floor.

Shields said the Crockers focused their collection on German work, as the Franco-Prussian War between France and Germany made travel within the continent difficult.

“Many of them haven’t been seen in decades,” Shields said.

Another of the museum’s treasures is its ceramics collection.

“We are in the top four or five in the country (for ceramics collections),” Shields said.

Also finally getting the breathing room it deserves is the museum’s Asian art collection, which contains some of the oldest pieces in the museum.

Some of the Asian art includes a Cambodian temple decoration, Japanese samurai armor and a section of Himalayan art.

Overlooking the new cafe is a cantilever balcony, where art from Africa and Oceania is displayed. It could also be used for cultural dance performances at times, Shelnut-Hendrick said.

According to General Contractor John Home, the building was constructed to be very robust, with the knowledge that some of the artwork can be very heavy.

The Crocker staff was also eager to show off the museum’s new cafe, which is run by Mulvaney’s B&L.

Currently, the cafe serves sandwiches, snacks, desserts and drinks. In January, beer and wine will also be available.

The public opening of The Crocker Art Museum is from 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. on Oct. 10 (10.10.10). Members will be allowed in a day earlier, and a gala event was held Saturday.

Admission to the new museum will be $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and college students, $5 for youths 7-17 and free for children 6 and under and Crocker members. The first floor of the Museum, including the cafe, theatre and gift shop, will be free at all times.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

CAM goes Italian with "Automobillia"

2010-09-13T04:41:01Z

Sacramento, CA | Automobillia opens at California Automobile Museum (CAM), November 13th.

The ears are greeted with that uniquely distinctive note of the finely tuned exhaust system, you can tell even from a distance with your eyes closed “That’s a Ferrari coming”. The clean fluid body lines inspired by the racing legends, it just screams high performance. That’s a Ferrari.

It was a rare opportunity to view some 15 of the finest examples of the famed Italian sports car which were on hand for the special preview event at the California Auto Museum in Sacramento. The event, which ran from 11am to 2pm was a kickoff celebration for the upcoming Automobilia “Celebrating Italian Automotive Design” car exhibit which will be at the museum opening November 13th, 2010. The exhibit, sponsored by Ferrari of San Francisco, featured the unveiling of the plan for the event which will be staged inside the museum. A special display from the Ferrari Club of North America helped round out the décor.

The exhibit will feature vehicles with “Italian Pedigree”. Various cars from private owners and collections are being rotated in and out of the exhibit for variety. Approximately 15 cars will be on display at any given time.

After some photo opportunities provided by MaverickPhotography.us, the drivers separated out of the crowd to their vehicles in anticipation of the upcoming cruise through the streets of Sacramento. The engines lit up to the delight of onlookers. A 1966 Ferrari 275 GTS and a 246 GTS Dino, which were on display in the museum, fired up their engines and headed out to join the caravan followed closely by a race prepped Ducati, a fine example of Italian performance on two wheels. A lonely vintage Vespa scooter was left to watch over the empty space.

People in attendance gathered outside to listen to the variety of wonderful sounds as the cars exited the parking lot and proceeded to get up to speed down Front Street. Their destination was Hot Italian Restaurant at 16th and Q, to continue the festivities.

The mission of the California Automobile Museum is to educate and entertain while preserving and promoting the automobile and its influence on our lives. The Museum is open daily from 10am - 6pm (last admission 5pm) and every 3rd Thursday until 9pm

Click here to see all
the photos from the
Automobillia Kickoff Event >>

Crocker to host gala museum opening fundraiser

2010-08-28T00:38:42Z

The Crocker Art Museum’s $100 million expansion will open for the first time at a gala celebration Sept. 25.

“We’re hoping to raise $1 million Sept. 25 through sponsorships and ticket sales, and those funds are going to operational costs for opening the new museum,” said Bobbe Brown, chairwoman of the gala.

The grand opening of the new Crocker museum will be Oct. 10.

The gala is a black-tie affair, with a cocktail reception, fine dining, dancing and live music from a string quartet.

The highlight of the night, however, will be at 9:30 when the full museum opens for the first time.

“It’s going to be absolutely amazing,” Brown said.

The Crocker Art Museum closed in June while the final stages of a three-year construction project were completed.

“We’re bringing the Crocker into the 21st century,” said Kathleen Richards marketing and communications coordinator for the museum.

The expansion adds 125,000 square feet of space to the museum, and it will allow the displayed portion of the collection to more than triple in size.

In the old space, only about 4 percent of the collection could be shown at any given time, Richards said. With the addition of the new space, about 15 percent of the collection will be on display.

“There were so many things we couldn’t show before,” said Scott Shields, the museum’s chief curator. “I think we’re able to showcase so much more of our collection and have larger shows now.”

When asked if the Crocker Art Museum – long known for its Gold Rush-era paintings – has an iconic or flagship piece, Shields said each of the gallery rooms will have one piece that serves as a focal point for the room.

In addition to showing more art, the expansion brings other amenities to the public.

In the past, the main entrance was up a flight of stairs, and Richards said the new entrance on the ground level makes the museum more accessible to people in wheelchairs, who previously had to enter through a more complex route at street level.

Also new to the Crocker is a cafe with both indoor and outdoor seating located on the ground floor, which is open to the public free of charge at all times and includes the new museum store.

Another highlight of the new space is the conservation lab with windows into the hallway, which Richards said will be a great way for visitors and especially students to see art as it is being restored and cared for.

A large temporary exhibit space is part of the new Crocker, and its first exhibit will be showing promised gifts to the museum, so visitors will be able to see pieces of art that will, in the future, be a part of the Crocker collection.

About 600 tickets to the Sept. 25 gala have been sold, and museum staff is expecting to have 700-750 people, Brown said.

Tickets are being sold for $1,000 and are available by calling 916-808-7843.

An event for those who donated $1,000 or more and their families will be held Oct. 8, and Crocker members will be able to go to the museum Oct. 9. The grand opening of the museum to the general public will be from 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. Oct. 10.

A final event held to coincide with the new Crocker opening will be from 8 p.m. Oct. 16 to 2 a.m. Oct. 17, which will showcase some of the museums new programs. It will feature live music, and ticket prices are $75 and can be bought here.

The museum’s hours are 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Thursday and 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday. The museum is closed on Mondays, but open from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. on holiday Mondays – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; Presidents Day; Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Admission to the museum will be $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and college students, $5 for youths 7-17 and free for children 6 and under and Crocker members.

Photos courtesy of Crocker Art Museum.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Neo-Crocker 2010: A Modern Culture Party Celebrates New Crocker on October 16

2010-08-16T17:10:36Z

Attendees to the Neo-Crocker 2010: A Modern Culture Party will celebrate the opening of the New Crocker with art experiences, DJs, dancing, performances and more. Presented by Bank of America, Neo-Crocker 2010 will be held in the new Teel Family Pavilion, existing Victorian buildings and exterior courtyards on Saturday, October 16, from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Acclaimed performer Rjd2 will make his first Sacramento appearance at Neo-Crocker 2010. His latest album, “The Colussus,” was released in January 2010. The artist is well known for his tracks for various films, commercials and television shows, including “Mad Men“ and “CSI.”

Additional dynamic activities planned for the event include: a performance by DJ Shaun Slaughter; living sculptures by the Sacramento Ballet; fire dancing by Vulcan Crew and Unmata along with acrobatic performances by Carpet Bag Brigade; body art at Niello’s Body Shop; photo shoot by Wells Fargo; video smashup plus surreal and deranged short films by Movies on a Big Screen; a free-form fashion show and more.

“Neo-Crocker 2010 is a great opportunity to celebrate the New Crocker,” said Lial A. Jones, the Mort and Marcy Friedman Director of the Crocker Art Museum. “The opening of the Teel Family Pavilion provides many new opportunities for the community to become engaged with the Museum.”

The first Neo-Crocker event was held in October 2007 and brought together 1,300 individuals to celebrate the start of construction of the Teel Family Pavilion, set to open on October 10, 2010.

Neo-Crocker 2010 is a fundraiser to support modern culture at the Crocker. The event is presented by Bank of America with additional support from The Niello Company and Wells Fargo Bank. Tickets are $75 per person in advance, $95 at the door if available. To purchase tickets, visit neocrocker.com.

The Crocker Art Museum was established in 1885 and is one of the leading art institutions in Northern California. The Museum offers a diverse spectrum of special exhibitions, events and programs to augment its collections of California, European, Asian, African and Oceanic artworks. The Museum is closed for renovation through October 9. On October 10, the Crocker will open the 125,000-square-foot Teel Family Pavilion. The Crocker is located at 216 O Street in Downtown Sacramento. Starting October 12, Museum hours will be 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Tuesday–Wednesday; 10 a.m.–9 p.m., Thursdays; 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Friday–Sunday. Every Third Sunday of the month is “Pay What You Wish Sunday” sponsored by Bank of America. For more information, call (916) 808-7000 or visit crockerartmuseum.org.

“Hot Moms and Cool Kids” strut their stuff at fashion show

2010-08-02T05:12:45Z

Moms and children strode in fashionable attire on a pink and white striped runway last Friday to raise funds for the Sacramento Children’s Museum.

A couple hundred people gathered at 33rd St. Bistro in Midtown to support the fundraiser for the museum that begins demolition today. Ten dollar tickets benefited the museum directly.

Sponsors Koukla Kids Boutique, M.E. Boutique, Firefly Salon and Boutique and 33rd St. Bistro began planning the event only three weeks ago. Kathryn O’Connell, co-owner of Koukla Kids, said they saw a need for a fundraiser to benefit a place that could be fun, safe and educational for children of the Sacramento area.

“All the other major metropolitan cities have a children’s museum, and we don’t. That’s,” she said. “what drove us to do an event.”

O’Connell said the turnout for the fashion show was far beyond what they expected.

“We oversold the event,” she said. “People were eager to participate. I think they saw the need for something so valuable for Sacramento.”

Moms and kids modeled clothing from the boutiques, starting their runway walk in the M.E. Boutique located next door to 33rd St Bistro. After strutting outside on a multicolored chalk-drawn floral runway, they ended their loop inside the bistro.

Ten mom models and their children participated, all chosen by the sponsors. All clothing modeled was available for purchase, with 20 percent of the proceeds going to the museum.

Alan Godlove, president of the board of directors for the children’s museum, served as emcee for the event. He announced raffle ticket winners, which were available for purchase at $1 per ticket.

He said the museum, which is expected to open in March 2011, will focus on children from ages 0 to 8.

“There are a lot of many wonderful museums in Sacramento, but the focus on that age group hasn’t existed in awhile,” Godlove said. “It gives young children a way to learn in an environment that parents can feel comfortable in.”

Godlove, who has young children himself, said parents can feel safe letting their young kids roam around the museum.

Natalie Truman, who handles fundraising development for the museum, said the Sacramento community will have the option of becoming a founding family. The family’s name will be memorialized in a tribute displayed in the museum.

“The founding families campaign is $500 or more and donor recognition on the wall to the first 500 families, with all proceeds going directly to construction,” she said.

The idea for the museum began six years ago when two school teachers got together after visiting a children’s museum in another city. Founding partners, The city of Rancho Cordova, the Junior League of Sacramento and Roebbelen Contracting, Inc. helped bring the project to a reality.

For more information on the Sacramento Children’s Museum, visit sackids.org.

Children's Citizenship Oath Ceremony

2010-07-02T01:02:30Z

We seem to take our citizenship for granted and we expect all the liberties and rights of our constitution. Today a group of 10 children were presented with certificates of U.S. citizenship. The event took place at the Old Sacramento Schoolhouse Museum. The Children’s Oath Ceremony included one child each from the countries of China, Vietnam, Singapore and Poland. Pakistan, Mexico and the Philippines each had two new citizens.

The small Schoolhouse Museum was packed with the new young citizens as well as family members and friends. The ceremony began at 10 a.m. and various members of the media were in attendance. The site of the event was chosen by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). It was chosen for its fun and historic setting and also in observance of the upcoming 4th of July holiday. I think this will be an especially more significant holiday for our new citizens and their families.

The ceremony started off with our national anthem sung by Jeremy. Kathryn Radtkey-Gaither, California’s Undersecretary of Education, started off the ceremony by welcoming the children and their families. Sharon Rummery, Regional Media Manager with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (U.S. Department of Homeland Security) indicated that they try to hold this type of special events two times a year for children younger than 14.

USCIS Sacramento Field Office Director Michael Biggs gave a brief speech about what it took for the children to receive citizenship. Mr. Biggs then led the children in an oath and called each by name to receive their certificates of citizenship. As each child went up to receive their certificate you could see how proud the parents and family friends were. Genuine happiness glowed from the children and everyone else in the room. In the back, Lydia Hastings, a volunteered organist for the event played in the background.

After the event I went outside with a cameraman/interviewer from Channel 19 (Univision) to interview 13 year old Bryant Guillermo Martinez Castañeda and 10 year old Christian Martinez Castañeda. Both brothers were born in Tijuana, Mexico. The family currently lives in Tracy, Christian is in the 5th grade while his older brother will be starting High School. Their mom, Maria Socorro Martinez is originally from Jalisco, Mexico and the dad Guillermo Martinez is from Mexicali, Mexico. In order for family members to become citizens at least one parent has to already be a citizen. In this case Mr. Martinez was a citizen first and now his children followed. Maria will become a citizen after her 3rd year of being a resident. Like many immigrant families that have followed a similar path one of the parents lived in the U.S. while the other remained in their native country.

The whole event was very educational. I’m glad Sharon Rummery was there to answer all questions. She seemed to thoroughly enjoy her job and was very willing to provide information about the citizenship process. Sacramento has an office located at 650 Capitol Mall where any questions about how to get the citizenship process started can be answered. They can provide interested parties with the proper documents and are available to help fill these out. Appointments can be set up, help is available with the background check process and are more than willing to guide anyone interested in becoming a citizen through the paperwork and other requirements.

One of the most fascinating facts that Sharon Rummery shared was that approximately 800 new citizens are sworn in on a monthly basis in Sacramento. San Francisco can swear in around 1,300 new citizens a month.

Photos:

1 - Schoolhouse, 2 - Jeremy, 3 - Michael Biggs, 4 - Kathryn Radtkey-Gaither

4 thru 8 - Young Citizens

9 - Lydia Hastings

10 - Christian, 11 - Bryant, 13 - Maria Socorro, Christian, Bryant, Guillermo Martinez

“Land of the Rising Sun” Featured in New Exhibit

2010-06-29T22:07:00Z

The newest exhibit at the California Automobile Museum (CAM) will highlight the success of Toyota, Japan’s largest car manufacturer, as a trendsetter in America since the days it sold the gas-sipping Toyopet on Hollywood Boulevard when the newest models in Southern California dealerships had massive tail fins.

The summer long exhibit, TOYOTA: Oh What A History!, sponsored by Elk Grove Toyota, opens on July 17 and will run through September 19. “Toyota was the first car manufacturer from the “Land of the Rising Sun” to sell cars in the United States and to challenge Detroit on many levels,” noted Karen McClaflin, Executive Director of the California Automobile Museum. “Over the last half century the company has left its mark as an industry leader, producing cars that were long on reliability and low on pollution. Its cars have also been high on the speed charts in every form of racing, from the Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR to exotic prototype sports cars and trucks in the desert.”

TOYOTA: Oh What A History! will showcase cars from Toyota’s early years to some of their current raciest machines from the track. The vehicles on exhibit offer something for environmentalists, racing fans and automotive historians alike. Among the vehicles in the exhibit:

A 1959 Toyopet Crown sedan, a gas-sipping, economical model that introduced American buyers to Toyota when all gas was still leaded and under $0.25 a gallon

A 1967 2000 GT; a long-nosed sleek coupe that began Toyota’s road racing history in the U.S., pre-dating the popular Nissan/Datsun “Z” cars

A 1998/99 Mark III GTP prototype sports car; powered by Toyota during that car’s domination of IMSA road racing, a series that featured one-of-a-kind machines with almost no technical limits on design

A gas/electric hybrid Prius that set a Land Speed Record over 200 mph for its class on the salt flats of Bonneville, showing that environmental responsibility and speed can be packaged in one car

An off-road race truck, typical of the machines that have won dozens of major races for Toyota Motorsports, such as the Baja 1000, sanctioned by SCORE

The TOYOTA: Oh What A History! exhibit will have an exhibition sneak peak and panel discussion on Friday, July 16 from 6pm – 9pm with guests from Toyota Motorsports, including Ivan “Ironman” Stewart, winner of numerous races and championships in the SCORE off-road series, and Scooter Patrick, a veteran road racer who piloted the GTP machine to victories in the IMSA series. The evening will also include a no host bar and light appetizers. This event is free for CAM Gearhead Members and $15 for the general public. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door.

On Saturday, July 17th the exhibit will officially open to the public. From 11am – 1pm, visitors can get autographs from Ivan “Ironman” Stewart and Scooter Patrick and from 11am – 3pm can test drive 2011 Toyotas, courtesy of Elk Grove Toyota. This event is free for CAM Gearhead Members and included with paid Museum admission for the general public.

Don’t miss the opportunity to experience first-hand Toyota’s undeniable mark on the world’s auto industry with its attention to detail, innovative technology and a commitment to designing and building the world’s most popular cars.

Public Invited to Hang at the Crocker

2010-06-23T18:32:21Z

Members of the public now have a rare opportunity to contribute to a community work of art that will be on display in the expanded Crocker Art Museum which opens October 10, 2010. The Hang at the Crocker community art project is one of the many ways the New Crocker will offer residents and friends of the Museum a way to participate and come together as a diverse and creative community.

The Crocker has commissioned Rachel Clarke to create a new media animated collage composed of four-by-six-inch, two-dimensional creations submitted by community members. Submissions can be a work of art, a photo of loved ones, a collage or other creation. The mosaic will be choreographed to music composed by Stephen Blumberg, projected on a wall in the Museum’s new Teel Family Pavilion and will become part of the Crocker’s collection.

Open to current and new Museum members, Hang at the Crocker is a way to demonstrate support for the New Crocker and hang a personal creation in the Museum. Existing members receive one free submission as a membership benefit and those who wish to join the Crocker can participate in Hang at the Crocker immediately. Membership rates start at $45. As the Museum is temporarily closed for renovation, new memberships will be extended through October 2011. An annual membership to the Crocker includes free general admission, discounts on classes and purchases in the Museum Store, invitations to members-only previews and much more.

The deadline to participate in Hang at the Crocker is July 20, 2010. For more information and to participate, visit hangatthecrocker.com or call the Crocker’s membership office at (916) 808-6730.

Watch a video simulation of the project

Artist Rachel Clarke combines digital and traditional media in drawings, video and new media installations. Originally from the United Kingdom, she is associate professor of electronic art at California State University, Sacramento. In October 2008, she was awarded Artist of the Year by the Arts and Business Council of Sacramento, awarded "For an artist...who has made a recent significant contribution to the cultural life of the Greater Sacramento Region."

Composer Stephen Blumberg is associate professor of composition and music theory at California State University, Sacramento and is artistic director of the CSUS Festival of New American Music. His music has been performed throughout the United States and abroad.

The Crocker Art Museum is located at 216 O Street in Downtown Sacramento. The Museum is closed for renovation through October 9, 2010. For more information, please call (916) 808-7000 or visit crockerartmuseum.org.

Companies team with Google for Smithsonian exhibit

2010-06-19T01:48:50Z

Ever wanted to create your own doodle on the Google homepage?

Three local companies — Digital Deployment, Fuel Creative Group and JM Design — teamed up to create two web-based kiosks enabling you to do just that. They’re located in the Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in New York City.

“Doodle 4 Google: If I Could Do Anything, I Would...” features the kiosks alongside 40 doodles from children whose art finishes the sentence, “If I could do anything, I would...” The winning drawing was featured on the Google homepage last month. The kiosks also debuted in the exhibit last month, allowing visitors to draw custom doodles and e-mail them to themselves or friends from the museum site, said Carol Davydova, Fuel’s business developer.

Google contacted Digital Deployment for help on the project because they had worked together before, said owner and CEO Mac Clemmens. Clemmens and his team of four sub-contracted a small design team from Fuel, which was led by Brent Rector, as well as Flash programmer Jason McWhorter of JM Design. Google also contracted a kiosk designer from the Bay Area.

“It was fast-paced and had a lot of unknowns that we had to solve,” Rector said. “Google let us do what we thought was best. We had feedback to make sure it was within their standard.”

Digital Deployment and Fuel had worked together on a number of web design projects such as WEAVE, Inc., and Make a Wish Foundation of Greater Los Angeles, but this was their first time working with McWhorter. Fuel also has a working relationship with The Sacramento Press, consulting on site design and creating marketing and promotional materials.

“I think Fuel has a reputation for outstanding design,” Clemmens said. “We specialize in web, and they specialize in design. We work together on a lot of stuff and we're like two parts of a whole. Anything that's web-based, we can put it together.”

Considering it was the team’s first attempt at such creating such a product, things didn’t all go to plan. The kiosk had a last minute change to be more Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant, and due to a change in monitor size, the team had to scramble. May 17, one day before the exhibit opened, Google sent Clemmens to fix the problem.

Clemmens had to reprogram the website to fit the screen as well as ensure the kiosk’s software was secure. He stayed up until 5 a.m., slept for a few hours, and returned for the grand opening. Along with the children and great fanfare came more problems.

“All these kids came pouring into the room and (the kiosk) started going really slow,” Clemmens said. “Google asked me to stay one more day, so they asked a bunch of contractors to drill more wires into the computer.”

Even the security guards were seen drawing on the kiosk.

“I just got a kick out of the whole thing,” McWhorter said. “Even though (Google) are institutional clients, (the kiosk) can show that a website can empower anything.”

The following are videos of the kiosk, taken by Clemmens:

Photographs:
1: Clemmens
2: Fuel’s design of the interface

A sneak peek at the new Crocker

2010-06-05T02:25:29Z

The Crocker Art Museum is about to undertake the logistical nightmare of moving artwork to and from its new expansion. But it will be worth it, museum officials say.

"It's about art, sure." said Lial Jones, director of the Crocker. "But the building is also really about a sense of place for Sacramento and a sense of trying to make sure Sacramento's future is that much stronger."

Jones and Gerald Gendreau, a Gwathmey Siegel & Associates Architect partner who has worked on the project since its inception nearly 10 years ago, led a media tour of the expansion wing Friday. Ten years ago, the museum was the 103rd largest in the nation. With the expansion, it is estimated to to be among the 70 largest, said Jones.

(Lial Jones)

The Crocker Art Museum will close Sunday and art will be moved from its original 50,000-square-foot building into the 125,000-square-foot expansion. After the old building is renovated, some art will be returned there, while the new wing will be filled with art from the old wing and the Crocker's eight storage areas.

And it all needs to be done before the Oct. 10 grand opening.

"We have a lot of work to do," said Jones. "It's a 175,000-square-foot building when we're done. If you're looking at a 1,700-square-foot house, it's the equivalent of moving your house 100 times in basically a couple of weeks."

One of the unique features of the new wing is its windows, which provide views of the city, Tower Bridge, courtyard and neo-classical design of the original Crocker building.

(The courtyard view from a window. It is piazza-style and features a waterfall sculpture on the right.)

The new design is the same height as the older portion of the museum and draws on subtle design cues such as skylights to match the historic structure.

(Gerald Gendreau)

"This courtyard and views of the river are reference points in the building," said Gendreau. "You won't ever be lost in this building. You'll always have peeks into the courtyard, and be able to locate yourself around the building. (The views) are also pauses in between an intense art experience."

(First floor open space with a view of the historic Crocker)

The new wing is a welcoming space. For instance, the first floor will be free to the public and feature Wi-Fi and a café.

(Auditorium)

The wing also houses an education center, reception area for more than 1,000 people, meeting rooms, a 260-seat auditorium and a store.

(Sorting, storage and conservation area)

An important addition is the second-floor storage and conservation area, adjacent to a loading dock and freight elevator. The Crocker's original storage area had a dirt floor.

(Vertical window with a view of the old courtyard)

The third floor, with its tall ceilings, is ideal for larger paintings and sculptures.

(Sculpture gallery with skylights)

Some third-floor gallery spaces feature Kalwall skylights that have "nano-gel insulation," according to Gendreau. Though the building was designed before Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certifications were required, it would qualify for the silver LEED certification, he said.

For more information on the new Crocker wing, visit this Sacramento Press article.

Photographs by Kati Garner.

Swing into summer with hot rods and live music this weekend

2010-05-26T20:25:02Z

This Sunday, May 30th kick of the summer season with the 2nd Annual Sacramento SwingTime event hosted by Fun Monkey Entertainment at the California Automobile Museum.

From 12pm - 10pm, enjoy a family-friendly, fun-filled day of music, food, drink, ice cream, vendors, a car show, and more! Also included, 8 musical acts inside the Museum headlined by Stompy Jones, Deke Dickerson & the Ecco-Fonics, and Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys and a Miss SwingTime Pin-Up Pageant. $18 admission includes full museum access as well as access to the event and a portion of the proceeds benefit the Museum. Kids 10 and under are free with paid adult admission and FREE event parking with paid admission. If you have a pre-1972 vehicle bring it out. The car show entry is free with your admission to SwingTime.

What goes better with swing music and pin-up girls than hot rods? While at the event make sure to check out the Museum's newest exhibit, Drive Fast, Take Chances: Birth of the Hot Rod. Sponsored by So-Cal Speed Shop, Sacramento this exhibit runs through July 5 and explores the hot rod culture that grew out of the dry lake beds of California in the post-World War II years. This new genre of car culture ultimately spread to drag strips and back roads, as well as burger drive-ins and street cruises, such as the annual car cruise hosted by the California Automobile Museum which will commence on the streets of Downtown Sacramento on July 31st.

Cars on exhibit include the legendary "Old Crow" belly tank racer owned by Bobby Green and featured in a Discovery Channel program on Bonneville racers as well as being prominently displayed in a recent Tommy Hilfiger advertisement.

Also on exhibit, examples of the style known as "highboys," '32 Ford "Deuce Coupes," as well as a disassembled '34 Ford that shows an up-close and detailed "how to" look at hot rod construction and the modifications that are more than skin deep.

For more information about the 2nd Annual Sacramento SwingTime vist www.sacramentoswingtime.com.

For more information about the Museum visit www.CalAutoMuseum.org.

Crocker Art Museum Celebrates 125th Birthday

2010-05-10T03:38:42Z

The Crocker Art Museum's birthday cake did not have any candles, but those gathered to celebrate the museum's 125th birthday didn't seem to mind as they sang "Happy Birthday."

Above: Birthday cake.

The birthday party took place from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and attracted 831 people for performances, exhibits and celebration.

Above: The Crocker Art Museum exterior.

For $1.25, attendees found period actors roaming the grounds, and activities in the courtyard, California Gallery, Cowell Gallery, Ballroom, J. Brown Maloney Room and in the rose garden.

Above: Period actors enjoying birthday cake.

Crocker’s courtyard hosted Folklorico Latino de Woodland’s performances at 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Cowboy trick roper and storyteller, James Barrera, performed at 1 p.m. Musician Gordy Ohliger, dubbed a “banjo-ologist,” performed at 2 p.m.

Above: Members of Folklorico Latino de Woodland performing.

“We wanted to tie it to the 1885 Floral Festival,” said Kathleen Richards, Crocker’s marketing communications coordinator, “and festivities of the time the museum originally opened, such as the banjo playing, the black paper doll collection and floral displays.”

Above: Members of Folklorico Latino de Woodland performing.

Above: Barrera roping.

Above: Barrera and Folklorico Latino de Woodland members.

Above: Barrera teaches children how to use the rope.

After singing “Happy Birthday” to the Crocker at 1:25 p.m., volunteers passed out cake to visitors in the courtyard.

Above: Birthday cake distributed to visitors.

The E. B. Crocker Art Gallery and collection were donated to Sacramento and the California Museum Association by Margaret Crocker in 1885. The gallery was named after her late husband, Judge Edwin B. Crocker, who had died 10 years prior.
“I would like people to know what an incredible gift Sacramento has been given by Margaret Crocker,” Richards said. “And what an incredible gift that Sacramento has had the Crocker Museum for 125 years.”

Above: Banjo-ologist and crowd.

Saturday’s performances and attractions were not only entertaining, but educational as well. Both Barrera and Ohliger spoke to the audience about the history of the item they were performing with.

Above: Banjo-ologist.

“So far, my favorite has been the banjo-ologist,” Lisa Conti, from Ione, said. “I liked his storytelling, along with his music. That was really cool. It wasn't just music, he was offering explanations of things.”

Above: Part of the Black paper doll collection of collector Arabella Grayson.

According to the museum’s website, the Crocker attracts 150,000 visitors each year and has 9,000 members.

Above: Part of the Black paper doll collection of collector Arabella Grayson.

“I'm excited that people are looking at art,” Manager of Experiential Learning, Emma Moore, said. “The attractions and all the performances are meant to enhance our visitors' experiences with the art. It brings me such joy to see people connecting with art because with it, we connect with who we are, our past, and maybe our future.”

Above: Poet Lawrence Dinkins and musician Ross Hammond.

Above: Building bouquets of paper flowers.

Above: The floral displays in the rose garden.

The Crocker will be closed June 7 in preparation for the opening of its expansion. The new Crocker will hold a public grand opening October 10.

Above: Walter Dong of the Effie Yeaw Nature Center teaches a boy about wildlife in the rose garden.

The Crocker Art Museum is located at 216 O St. Non-member tickets cost $6. Seniors (65 and over) get in for $4. Children (6 and under) visit for free. Admission is free from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.Sundays. (916) 808-7000.

Agnus-Dei Farrant is an intern for The Sacramento Press.

Crocker director explains expansion

2010-05-08T03:38:45Z

On June 6, the Crocker Art Museum will close its exhibits in preparation for an Oct. 10 reopening that will unveil a 125,000-foot expansion. During the four-month closure, new exhibits will be installed and many existing installations will be moved.

"We're closing all of our galleries, but we're still going to be open for programing like Third Thursday Jazz," said Lial Jones, museum director. "During the time we're closed, the first floor of the building gets renovated and turned into an education center. All of the artwork in this building has to be moved out for construction and then all of the collections will be rehung because pieces will not be where you've known them to be."

Jones explained the expansion process in a "Director's Preview" presentation Friday evening. The project was being discussed when Jones became director in 1999. At that time, the museum had two computers -- one with Internet access -- and no voicemail.

"For me, our expansion is about our service to the community," Jones said. "It's really about how we operate as an institution. Two major parts of design tenets behind the building: We wanted to improve operational efficiencies and the visitor experience."

She noted that with the expansion, the museum will move into the 21st century. There will be a new loading dock, storage facility, freight elevator and a conservation lab to take care of the collection.

Currently, less than 4 percent of the Crocker's collection is on display. The addition will nearly triple the size of the museum, enabling it to show 10 percent to 15 percent of its 15,000-object collection.

With 96 percent of the collection in eight storage facilities, no one from the museum has seen the entire collection nor have hundreds of items been photographed.

"One of the things we're doing when we move it to the new building is explore it," said Jones. "We need to go through all the materials, see what's there and determine the best work we can put out."

There also will be a new art studio, a library, courtyard, cafe, auditorium and the building will be wheelchair accessible. Gwathmey Siegel & Associates Architects, which renovated the Guggenheim Museum in New York, was chosen from a pool of 34 other architects to design the master plan in 2000.

Four exhibits will be featured at the reopening:

"Tomorrow's Legacies: Gifts Celebrating the Next 125 Years," 125 pieces that will become part of the Crocker's permanent collection. Through Jan. 9.

"Wayne Thiebaud: Homecoming," works from the internationally known Sacramento artist. Through Nov. 28.

"The Vase and Beyond: The Sidney Swidler Collection of Ceramics," international vessels. Closing date not established.

"A Pioneering Collection: Master Drawings from the Crocker Art Museum," 56 drawings. Through Feb. 2.

And there are post-reopening plans, Jones said, to make Crocker Park an outdoor sculpture area.

Photographs 1-3 credit the Crocker Art Museum.

Photographs 4-6 by Jonathan Mendick.

Drive Fast, Take Chances: Birth of the Hot Rod

2010-04-28T17:23:36Z

The California Automobile Museum’s newest exhibit features cars that were created in California but have been celebrated in movies, songs and popular culture across the country and around the world for a half-century.

The exhibit, Drive Fast, Take Chances: Birth of the Hot Rod is sponsored by So-Cal Speed Shop, Sacramento and runs now through July 5. It explores the hot rod culture that grew out of the dry lake beds of California in the post-World War II years and ultimately spread to drag strips and back roads, as well as burger drive-ins and street cruises, such as the annual car cruise hosted by the California Automobile Museum which will commence on the streets of Downtown Sacramento on July 31st.

“By definition, every hot rod is a unique expression of style or the owner’s desire for speed,” said Karen McClaflin, Executive Director of the California Automobile Museum. “But collectively, hot rods represent a common language of individuality and adventure that brings out a bit of rebel or free spirit in each of us.”

The idea of hot rods started in the early 1920s and ‘30s, as racers looking for more speed modified and hopped up Henry Ford’s Model Ts and As to find extra horsepower. But the phenomenon exploded after World War II as servicemen returned home and applied what they had learned about mechanics and technology in the military to the cars they were driving.

After the deprivation and hardship of the war years, hot rods were a way of expressing the pent-up demand for adventure and daring, and a way for racers to earn bragging rights for those who could push technology and speed to the limit.

The powerful V-8 engines of Ford, Chevrolet and Chrysler provided more horsepower than the more primitive four-banger engines of the past. The popularity of hot rods created a new, California-centered industry as manufacturers, many of which continue to thrive on world-wide sales today, made crankshafts, pistons, cylinder heads and add-on parts to boost power and speed to record levels.

The first stages on which to push these speed machines to their limit were the dry lake bedsbeds of Southern California, where unofficial “timing contests” were as disorganized as an Oklahoma land rush and twice as dangerous. That same daring was carried out on back roads all over America as the hot rod culture spread from coast to coast.

One of the most prominent cars on exhibit is the legendary "Old Crow" belly tank racer owned by Bobby Green. "Belly tanks" were one of the first examples of a new style of speedster built from army surplus that used aircraft fuel tanks for bodies to take advantage of their minimal wind resistance for maximum speed. "Old Crow" has attracted attention on a number of fronts having been featured in a Discovery Channel feature on Bonneville racers; being on display in locations as far away as Amsterdam; and being prominently displayed in a recent Tommy Hilfiger advertisement. The exhibit also includes examples of the style known as “highboys,” which mount narrower ’28 and ’29 bodies for streamlining on a wider ‘32 Ford frame, which provided more stability at high speed and more room for a V-8 engine, as well as for superchargers and other add-on high performance parts.

Also on exhibit, ’32 Ford “Deuce Coupes,” still the most popular model among hot rodders, each with a slightly different style illustrating the evolution of speed technology.

For enthusiasts interested in an up-close and detailed “how to” look at hot rod construction, the exhibit will also include a partially disassembled ’34 Ford to show off the modifications that are more than skin deep.

For more information visit www.CalAutoMuseum.org.

Rare Grouping of World War II Jeeps at the California Automobile Museum

2010-04-24T16:33:36Z

The California Automobile Museum is temporarily home to all three mass-produced World War II military jeeps. The 1941 Bantam Reconnaissance Car (Jeep), 1943 Ford Military Jeep, and 1943 Willys Military Jeep are great examples of American innovation during the war years that are rarely seen together.

In July 1940, the U.S. Army issued a challenge to the nation’s automakers to produce a light, cross-country reconnaissance vehicle described as a “quarter-ton, 4X4 truck.” Ford, Willys-Overland, and American-Bantam took on the task but only American-Bantam was able to produce a prototype in the short amount of time the military required. However, Bantam’s limited production capacity made it impossible for them to produce the number of vehicles the Army needed. The government shared the design with Ford and Willys-Overland and all three companies produced what would become known as the “Jeep.” These Jeeps became the primary vehicle of the U.S. Army and Allies during World War II and the postwar period.

These Jeeps won’t be in one place for long. The 1941 Bantam Reconnaissance Car is part of this month’s Car Club Cavalcade featuring American-Bantams and is on display until April 30, 2010. The 1943 Willys Military Jeep is part of the newest exhibit, Drive Fast, Take Chances: Birth of the Hot Rod and is on display until July 5, 2010. The 1943 Ford Military Jeeps is part of the Museum’s permanent collection.

For more information about the Museum visit www.CalAutoMuseum.org or call (916) 442-6802.

'Bodies Revealed' back in Sacramento

2010-04-22T03:21:26Z

After a nearly two-year absence, "Bodies Revealed" is back in Sacramento. When the exhibit debuted in 2007, it drew sellout crowds and a month-long extension of its limited engagement.

Those who visited the exhibit before it closed in 2008 can look forward to an entirely different "Bodies Revealed" opening Saturday. They will have 11 new bodies, a section with 13 cancerous organs and a research center focusing on health and fitness.

The art/science exhibit will again fill the former CompUSA store location with displays of 14 plastinated bodies and more than 200 total body parts. Attendees will also be able to measure their blood pressure and pulse rate and calculate their Body Mass Index - a new interactive feature.

Returning are the fetal development room, an audio tour and a "touch booth" where visitors can feel a plastinated rib bone, stomach and liver. Like the debut exhibit, the specimens and bodies are grouped by organ system - skeletal and muscular, nervous, circulatory, digestive, etc.

But the biggest differences will be immediately noticeable: fresh and bright lighting, increased interactiveness and the openness of the exhibit, allowing patrons to view the exhibit in any order.

In the old exhibit, entering one room ultimately forced visitors into the next. This time around, the openness makes viewing every specimen optional, including the embryo/fetus room. While the last "Bodies Revealed" exhibited just the bodies throughout a string of dark and narrow rooms, the new incarnation features colorful artistic lighting and multimedia.

The Atlanta-based company Premier Exhibitions that runs "Bodies Revealed," also runs a similar international exhibit, "Bodies The Exhibition," as well as other national exhibits such as "Dialog in the Dark" and "Titanic: the Artifact Exhibition." Sacramento remains the only location for "Bodies Revealed," which is the company's only exhibit on the west coast.

"We want people to know that if you saw it before, don't think that you've seen this way we've chosen to display everything," said Premier Exhibition's Vice President of Education, Cheryl Muré. "We're excited to have a chance to come back to Sacramento and showcase (the exhibition)."

Muré also shed new light on a years-old controversial topic: Where do the bodies come from?

In the last few years, a number of "bodies" exhibits around the world drew extensive media criticism for not knowing the bodies' origins. Premier Exhibitions released a 2008 disclaimer about its New York City exhibition saying it could not independently confirm the bodies were not from a Chinese prison.

That disclaimer does not apply to "Bodies Revealed," according to Muré. "The specimens in 'Bodies Revealed' in Sacramento were all donated to medical universities for the purposes of educational display," she said.

Bodies for the exhibit are plastinated by removing all the body fluids and replacing them with acetone. They are then placed in an silicone chamber where the acetone becomes a gas. A silicone polymer replaces the acetone in the empty space and is hardened once removed from the chamber.

"It's something that's been around for quite some time, especially in the medical professions," Muré added. "It's interesting for anyone who's a student of the human body, and that means of course kids studying anatomy in school, but also massage therapists, acupuncturists, respiratory technicians, EMTs, first responders, (or) anybody who works with the body."

She also noted that a big takeaway from the exhibit is in seeing healthy organs juxtaposed with the diseased organs. In fact, there's a cancerous and healthy lung next to each other, and right next to that, a clear plastic trash case for visitors to ditch their cigarette cartons.

Muré said that one of her favorite moments working in "Bodies" was witnessing a group of schoolkids pressure their teacher to toss his cigarettes into the case. After he finally conceded to the group chants of "Do it!" the class erupted in applause and cheering.

From 4-8 p.m. Thursday, teachers can preview the exhibit for free. From noon-4 p.m. Friday, state workers will be able to preview the exhibit for free and are eligible for a 20 percent discount every Friday after that. The exhibit will run through summer, with the possibility of extensions into fall at 2040 Alta Arden Expressway. Tickets are $14 and up. More information is available at bodiesrevealed.com.

New Custom Electric Vehicle Featured in "Going Green" exhibit

2010-04-21T17:15:57Z

Sacramento, CA – Just in time for Earth Day, one of the California Automobile Museum's newest editions to the Going Green exhibit is the “Quiet 1” – a custom 3 wheel, 2 passenger, electric vehicle designed and built completely at home. This home-built electric car serves as a great example of what environmentally-conscious car enthusiasts can do.

The California Automobile Museum’s Going Green exhibit opened Earth Day 2009 and showcases vehicles spanning the 20th to the early years of the 21st century that personify the low-polluting, environmentally advanced cars dotting California’s highways. The exhibit features one of only 12 surviving models of the EV-1, an all-electric prototype manufactured by General Motors between 1991 and 2003, and a 1913 Rauch and Lang, an electric vehicle widely available at the turn of the century.

About the California Automobile Museum: Formerly the Towe Auto Museum, this spacious 72,000 square foot museum is home to over 150 vehicles of various makes and models, ranging from the early 1900s to alternative power vehicles of the future. Exhibits recreate the love affair we have with automobiles and provide historical information about the automotive industry. The Museum’s mission is to educate and entertain while preserving and promoting the automobile and its influence on our lives. The Museum is located at 2200 Front Street, between Broadway and Old Sacramento with ample free parking. The Museum is open daily from 10am to 6pm, taking the last admission at 5pm and stays open until 9pm every third Thursday. For more information visit www.CalAutoMuseum.org or call (916) 442-6802.

T-rex roams again at the Discovery Museum

2010-02-26T03:40:29Z

Families beware, a Tyrannosaurus rex is running loose at the Discovery Museum Science and Space Center this weekend.

As part of the museum's Gee Whiz Geology: An Exhibit About Rocks, Fossils and Dinosaurs that began Jan. 16, the museum is focusing this weekend's activity on the terrifying T-rex.

This featured exhibit is geared toward families with kids about 12 and younger, but there is fun for everyone, as visitors will begin their learning adventure tracking down the Tyrannosaurus rex footprints throughout the museum's grounds.

Families will learn about these huge creatures together as they move through the museum and interact with exhibits.

Beth Callahan, director of marketing and development for the museum, said that visitors can work on "search and find" worksheets to help learn more about each exhibit. These worksheets, or "discovery sheets," are geared for different age groups and will take visitors on a hands-on tour throughout the museum. She explained that at each stop guests will be able find information, answer questions about what they see and read, and learn together. As an added bonus, if visitors are able to answer every question right, they can receive a prize.

The main Gee Whiz Geology exhibit will focus more on the archaeological side of these creatures. Visitors will learn about different prehistoric eras through rocks and fossils and even have a chance to look at two different dinosaur remains on display.

Families can also create T-rex-related crafts.

"Craft activities get guests involved," Callahan said. "They can take home what they create to remind them of all that they learned."

Visitors are also encouraged to bring along a camera because the museum has some dinosaur costumes of all sizes that children can dress up in.

Though the Tyrannosaurus rex is just one of the many weekend activities created for the public, the Discovery Museum has many other great attractions once inside.

Along with the Gee Whiz Geology exhibit, the Discovery Museum offers a public planetarium, which according to Callahan is the only planetarium in Sacramento. During weekends, it is open to all ages, and the staff focuses on teaching about the night sky that can be seen from Sacramento back yards.

"We teach guests about the night sky as they can see it, so once home they can go in the yard, orient themselves, and look for what they learned about." Callahan said. "It's like a take-home assignment."

The museum also has a wildlife show where families can learn about specific animals. Visitors are able to see the animals up close and learn about them. Next month there will also be an opportunity to pet the animals, such as with Rabbit Day.

Weekend activities are always changing at the Discovery Museum. Callahan said there are two hands-on exhibits for kids planned for next month: an exciting Mammoth exhibit and Gold Panning Day.

More information about weekend activities can be found at thediscovery.org.

Tickets can be bought at the door, and general admission will get visitors into all exhibits and attractions.

The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and from noon to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday.

The Discovery Museum Science and Space Center is located at 3615 Auburn Blvd., and admissions range from $3-$6, depending on age and day.

Day at the Museum

2010-02-05T05:36:29Z

The doors to discovery will be open and waiting Saturday with Sacramento's 12th annual Museum Day.

Museum Day will open 26 of Sacramento's museums to the community at no charge from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The last guests will be admitted at 4 p.m. and all will close at 5 p.m.

This event is presented by the Sacramento Association of Museums, which promotes a large range of art, history, science and wildlife museums and exhibits.

Museum Day coordinator Delta Pick Mello said last year saw a record 80,000 participants at Museum Day. This year, depending on the weather,

Mello recommended that guests plan to visit only two or three museums on Saturday so they have time for parking and possible crowds.

"Places like there could be just as many visitors. Fairytale Town, Aerospace Museum of California, California State Railroad Museum and the Sacramento Zoo get the biggest crowds, so I encourage people to see exhibits they've never seen such as the Sacramento Historic City Cemetery, Museum of Medical History and the Sojourner Truth Multicultural Arts Museum," she said.

The large list of non-profit museums should give everyone the chance to enjoy a part of history and culture.

"This is a way to provide people, some who may not be able to afford it, access to museums and the right to learn about history," Mello said.

The Sacramento Association of Museums also recommends that visitors take the time to look over the Museum Day details, as well as the different Museums websites, before they attend on Saturday. All that information can be found on their website.

Museums participating in Museum Day 2010:

• Aerospace Museum of California
• California Automobile Museum
• California Foundry History Museum
• California State Military Museum
• California State Capitol Museum
• The California Museum
• California State Indian Museum
• California State Railroad Museum
• Crocker Art Museum
• Discovery Museum Science and Space Center
• Explorit Science Center (Davis)
• Fairytale Town
• Folsom History Museum
• Governor’s Mansion State Historic Park
• Heidrick Ag History Center (Woodland)
• Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park
• Museum of Medical History
• Old Sacramento Schoolhouse Museum
• Old Sacramento State Historic Park
• Sacramento Zoo
• Sacramento Historic City Cemetery
• Sacramento History Museum
• Sojourner Truth Multicultural Arts Museum
• Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park
• Wells Fargo History Museum (Old Sacramento and Downtown locations).

There will also be free shuttle buses provided to four of the museums.

California Automobile Museum hosts Annual Spring Swap Meet

2010-02-04T16:31:48Z

Mark your calendar and don't miss the California Automobile Museum's Annual Spring Swap Meet on Sunday, March 7, 2010 from 6am - 2pm.Vendors will offer unique and hard to find automobile collectibles and accessories, including antique auto parts, tools, books, magazines, models and much more! The Meet is located next to the Museum at 2400 Front Street - parking in Museum parking lot, on the street, and behind the Museum. New this year, vendors can pre-register by visiting www.CalAutoMuseum.org/SwapMeet. There will also be set-up and merchant and car sales registration on Saturday, March 6 from 2pm - 5pm and registration and set up will open at 5am on March 7. General admission and parking are free. Merchant stalls (one stall is two parking spaces) are $30 and car sale spaces are $15. Proceeds benefit the Museum. Call (916) 442-6802 or visit www.CalAutoMuseum.org/SwapMeet for more information.

About the California Automobile Museum: Formerly the Towe Auto Museum, this spacious 72,000 square foot museum is home to over 150 vehicles of various makes and models, ranging from the early 1900s to alternative power vehicles of the future. Exhibits recreate the love affair we have with automobiles and provide historical information about the automotive industry. The Museum's mission is to educate and entertain while preserving and promoting the automobile and its influence on our lives. The Museum is located at 2200 Front Street, between Broadway and Old Sacramento with ample free parking. The Museum is open daily from 10am to 6pm, taking the last admission at 5pm and stays open until 9pm every third Thursday. For more information visit www.CalAutoMuseum.org or call (916) 442-6802.

'Under the Dragon' at the California Museum

2010-01-29T18:12:32Z

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 and a tarp before passing through the Moon Gate. Beyond the gate, the dragon's bright orange, red and green tail continues, 150 feet long, weaving in and out of photographs printed on sailcloth suspended from the ceiling. It's as if all the people in the photographs are holding up the tail.

The photographs feature faces like mine, the faces of other multicultural Californians. It's here I realize it seems silly being a Californian in The California Museum, looking at a to-be-constructed exhibit about other people like me.

The exhibit is called "Under the Dragon: California's New Culture," based on a book by the same name written by Lonny Shavelson and Fred Setterberg. The book and museum serve the same purpose: Each section tells the story of a subject immersed in a stereotype-busting activity, photos capturing moments that lead to a visual anomaly.

Though the book mainly captures people and events in the Bay Area, a prominent section about Mien Americans highlights students at UC Davis. Another section focuses on a photo shoot along the banks of the Sacramento River.

Back in the exhibit, I'm surprised to see nearly 25 cultures represented. More cultures lie on the ground on 6-foot-long strips of sailcloth. I also see Californians adopting other cultures: a Mexican Muslim, a black cowboy, a Filipina Hindu. In another room are an Aztec Catholic, an American in a Balinese orchestra, and a Chinese man and a rabbi — both in sombreros.

It takes me back to the scene that first gave the authors the idea for the book: an annual Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco. A sudden cloudburst hit, interrupting the parade. The only refuge for the gatherers was under the 200-foot tail of a Chinese dragon. Under the dragon, together with the Chinese, the authors walked alongside Russians, Samoans, African Americans and Latinos through the streets of San Francisco.

Under the Dragon's thesis comes out in the second section: "Ethnicity, nationality, culture and religion persistently intersect, overlap, startle and confuse. The Bay Area has leapt out of the melting pot and into the fire — where the new America is being forged."

The authors further investigate the lives of a handful of people, whose actions and unlikely alliances provide "momentary annulments of hostilities, grievances, and even traditions itself." But equally important, the authors spotlight other Californians who stay at home, or in homogenous communities where they only mingle with people of their own race.

I called up Shevelson to ask if the dragon was intended as a metaphor for the Bay Area, all of California, or the whole nation.

He explained that the book was not intended as a metaphor for the United States, but as a preview of what we can look forward to as other states become more diverse.

"California was one of the first states, if you exclude Hawaii, that crossed the minority/majority threshold," he said. "What that means is that if you add up all of the cultural groups, none of them — including anglos — make up more than 50 percent of the population."

I can't help but think of how well the book characterizes California as I wait in line to spend $25 on "Under The Dragon" at the museum's gift shop. A busload of elementary school children from Elk Grove are in line in front of me. Their diversity reminds me that South Sacramento contains a number of neighborhoods with, among others, Chinese, Vietnamese, Mien, Hmong, Latinos, African Americans, all living next to each other.

Saturday, Jan. 30 through Friday, July 30. California Museum, 1020 O St. $8, $7 college students/seniors, $6 children.

Photographs 4 and 5 credit Lonny Shevelson

Motorcycles roar into town

2010-01-04T05:13:40Z

The smell of rubber and motor oil fill the vast warehouse stuffed with cars, trucks and motorcycles. The battle between man and machine reaches its pinnacle under the I-5 freeway in downtown Sacramento. The California Automobile Museum, 2200 Front St., is featuring the Born to Ride exhibit through March 12.
The exhibit is chronological, following motorcycles from their humble beginnings at the turn of the 20th century to the current world speed record holder. This impressive machine, BUB 7, reached 367.382 mph in September at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah. Bikes of all brands, spanning several countries and countless models, are on display.
There's a 1912 Harley Davidson, once owned by Steve McQueen, and a 1942 Crocker. The Crocker is considered the rarest motorcycle on display. Fewer than 100 were produced in the months leading to the United States' involvement in WWII. They are valued for their quality and rarity.
Jeff Hughes and Albert Miranda love motorcycles. They rode their BMW bikes from Modesto in the fog for the opening day of the exhibit.
"I've been riding since I was a kid," said Hughes. "I actually got my motorcycle license before I got my car drivers license. I saw a lot of bikes inside that were amazing."
"My favorite bike was the Ariel Mark II," Miranda said. "The square four design (of the engine) was revolutionary."
Special events are planned throughout the exhibit in corroboration with Elk Grove Power Sports. On January 9, Flying Motorcycles' chief executive officer, Sam Bousefield, will be on hand for a meet and greet and demonstration. Also that day, Elk Grove Power Sports will offer demo rides (weather permitting).
Machine mayhem doesn't end with motorcycles, though. Admission to the Born to Ride exhibit includes entry to the museum. Row after row boasts Fords, Chevrolets, Studebakers, Hudsons and more. Original Model A and T cars are on display, too.
"Our collection is very impressive," Museum curator Amanda Moss.
"We offer visitors an experience into the world of automobiles," she said. "We have an extensive exhibit on the 'green' aspect of automobiles from the EV1 to the 2009 Tesla."

Tickets are $8 for adults, $4 for student with valid ID
For more information, visit the museum website.

Photo#1: 1912 Indian Racer
Photo#2: Motorcycles on display
Photo#3: Motorcycles on display
Photo#4: BUB 7- Fastest motorcycle in history
Photo#5: 1977 Kawasaki KZ Drag Bike
Photo#6: Cars on display

Photos courtesy of Matthew Ceccato

THE DISCOVERY/HISTORY MUSEUM IN OLDTOWN SACRAMENTO, CA

2009-11-25T22:57:25Z

By
The Celebrities Psychic
NANCY BRADLEY

Sometimes a building is not haunted itself; the artifacts it holds are. This is the fantastic case of the Discovery/History Museum in Old Town Sacramento, California, located on Ist Street in Old Sac.
It was not too long ago that as the Celebrities Psychic I received a call from the Discovery Museum. They had been hearing strange noises. Employees talked of things being put one place and found in another. Most of the activity was happening upstairs they told me. One employee said “I saw a person upstairs at the old carriage. It was before we opened the doors for the day. The person was dressed in ‘old time’ clothes and I thought, well, they must have put in another mannequin. I went up to see, but then it disappeared! I came back downstairs quickly and waited by the door for the other employees to get here! It was very frightening.”
Other employees spoke of the elevator starting up by itself, the computer in the office just above the downstairs print shop turning itself on, and things being flung to the floor. Obviously, as any reasonable people, they were looking for answers.
The Discovery Museum building was built in 1984. Not that newer buildings don’t see their share of ghosts. Of course they do. Sometimes what you see are the people who lived at the site prior to the new building being built. Sometimes they are just passing through, and sometimes they represent someone you love or a passage in time. Some are simply comfortable where they are and decide to stay.
But as we related to you before, there are two types of activity – ghost and spirit. Spirits are people who choose to visit us from the other side of life. Ghosts, as you remember, are an imprint in time, a videotape, if you will, of when someone was there. They are gone now, but you are tapping into the energy of when they were around. We do not know of any building or house that is not “haunted” at one time or another. We were here to see just what and which type of activity the Discovery Museum was experiencing.
“To me it appears the majority of the energy is connected with the carriage upstairs and the mannequins in the period costumes” according to the employees that have had experiences. Going upstairs it was easy for me to pick up the ghost of an old doctor around the display of ancient medical tools, and I told my crew “He is a ghost, an imprint. He is not there at all, just his energy is.” You cannot have conversation with a ghost as again, it is a videotape of when someone was there, nothing more.
As we walked on, fans, onlookers and employees following, I was able to see two people that were spirits. Ah, communication! The female told me her name was Dolly, and the man next to her was George. She is short, her hair blond, slender. The man is much taller than her, his hair white like spun silk. He says he is her father, and that she is a young girl of 17 years, inexperienced and vulnerable and so he is concerned with keeping her close. “We are going to pick up Martin, her intended” he told us. Although this is clearly a reenactment of an event that happened in the past, these are real entities, drawn to this place by the carriage that brought them happiness. I watched as she gets into the carriage, and the father stands outside next to the mannequin placed at the carriage. A dog barks, and they disappear into the ether, leaving the carriage behind, but NOT before she was to tell me what happened. “Martin died falling from a horse just before we got married” she told me. “We are together again now” she continues, “but I love this old carriage and what it represented, and so I follow it to wherever it goes.” Ah, memories, we all have them and follow them in one way or another.
The ghostly imprint at the medical instruments is a doctor. His hair is dark and he is about 5’ll”. He is wearing a long brown coat, down almost to his ankles. He appears to be about 165 lbs., and we believe intuitively and through impression that in life, he traveled back and forth when people needed him. The name was Bill, William Wayne Smithe if you prefer.
Moving further down the path, we see period costumes. As I psychically Read the old clothing, it was clear to me what happened to the wearer. “He made it through the war” I could definitely determine about the man that wore the military attire. “The woman who wore this nurse’s uniforms name was Anne.” She went on to live on Long Island in New York and then went on to Canada where she raised three children.
We then passed the interment camp exhibit and I shuddered. “Such terrible things to have done and been a part of”. I was anxious to move forward, the exhibit made me sick to my stomach. In passing I said “Good to have it here as a reminder that it should never happen again.”
We walked to a table on display of a 1950s type kitchen and the energy brightened. “Such good memories there…” I could see the imprints. Using the table at one time was a young mother, thin and full of energy. Her husband and three kids sat at it, two boys and a girl. The mother was pregnant again, and very happy.”
The displays at the museum rotate and new ones come in all the time. Yes, the artifacts at the Discovery Museum in Old Town Sacramento were clearly haunted with memories when we were there. Not, again, by the building, but by the changing exhibits that come and go. So, clearly, there are new ghosts and spirits to explore all the time at the Museum, a Mecca for real investigators.
And as different exhibits come and go, so will the ghosts, as they pass through this time to the other and from exhibit to exhibit. Spirits can eventually get off the merry-go-round and get on to other things, ghostly imprints cannot. Everything holds an energy, and it is a strange phenomena, isn’t it?
When we were commissioned to check out the building the employees were willing to show us around and tell us their tales. Perhaps they will do it for you too. Of course now that there are so many paranormal groups around and they get sick of dealing with it, maybe they won’t any longer. Still, coming here makes for a fun afternoon.

Crocker Holiday Art & Craft Festival This Weekend

2009-11-25T19:16:44Z

More than 95 regional artists and craftspeople will offer their unique gift items during the Crocker Art Museum’s Holiday Art & Craft Festival at the Scottish Rite Center, located across from the main entrance of California State University, Sacramento, at 6151 H Street. Visitors will support the Crocker and local artists while they shop for everyone on their holiday list with an array of gift items and price ranges.

The artist’s creations for sale include jewelry, ceramics, paintings, gourmet food, a variety of unique holiday items and more. You can also capture the holiday season by having photos taken with a Victorian Santa Claus in the front lobby. Attendees will also enjoy free parking and a café by Ambrosia Catering.

Running from November 27-29, festival admission is free to Crocker members, $6 for adults and $3 for seniors, students and children. The Holiday Art & Craft Festival is open Friday 1-7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

The event is presented by the Crocker Art Museum and the Creative Arts League of Sacramento.

The Crocker Art Museum was established in 1885 and continues as the leading art institution for the California Capital Region and Central Valley. The Museum offers a diverse spectrum of special exhibitions, events and programs to augment its collections of California, European and Asian artworks. The Crocker is located at 216 O Street in Downtown Sacramento. Museum hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday-Sunday; 1st & 3rd Thursdays until 9 p.m. Free admission on Sundays from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. is made possible through the support of Bank of America. For more information on exhibits and events call (916) 808-7000 or visit crockerartmuseum.org.

Costumed characters promote California Museum's 'Out of this World' exhibit

2009-10-01T03:49:15Z

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 most memorable sci-fi films.

Among some of the exhibit's main attractions are the Darth Vader robe and cape from Star Wars, the leather jacket worn by Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the hat worn by the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz.

Besides viewing these items, visitors will also learn how clothing designers and artists came up with ideas for the costumes and props, according to Ashley Robinson, the California Museum's communications manager.

Mark Lin, normally a business analyst in Elk Grove, was dressed as a death star trooper from Star Wars. He and another costumed storm trooper represent part of a group called the 501st Legion, a group of friends who dress up as villains from the Star Wars movies, Lin said.

Besides comic book and sci-fi conventions, the 501st Legion attends the Rose Parade and even visits children at Shriner's Hospital and the Salvation Army. Lin mentioned that he is looking forward to some of the older sci-fi costumes at the upcoming exhibit, especially the jumpsuit, proton pack and utility belt from Ghostbusters.

Three other costumed sci-fi fans were part of a Sacramento Klingon Assault Group (KAG) called "Ikvnomhegh," which means "swift death," said Chris Mumma, a KAG officer. Mumma wore a Klingon warrior costume from Star Trek complete with a plastic "bat'leth" or "sword of honor."

KAG "Ikvnomhegh" member Julio Alcala was also dressed as a Klingon, but in a plainer costume from the original Star Trek series. He mentioned that sometimes locals must travel as far as Los Angeles, San Diego and Las Vegas to attend sci-fi or comic conventions.

After displaying an uncanny vocal impression of a Wookie from Star Wars, Alcala added that he was looking forward viewing the black leather jacket that Arnold Schwarzenneger wore in The Terminator at the exhibit.

Another KAG members, Von Bean, dressed as a female Sith Lord from Star Wars. Unlike others, she sewed the costume herself, she said.

David Mello, not affiliated with any costume group, dressed up as Fourth Who, which he explained was the fourth incarnation of Dr. Who from the BBC series "Dr. Who." Recently back from San Diego's Comic-Con, Mello blogs about movies under the pen name Impaler General.

Mello said he is excited about the variety at the Out of this World exhibit. "Even if one person is a drawn to a [specific] genre, they will look at others," he said.

"[By] putting sci-fi costumes in the same gallery space as the Lincoln exhibit, the museum will be able to reach people with different interests," Robinson added. Besides being for sci-fi fans, it's also for people who love movies or costume design in general, she said.

California Museum members will get a sneak preview of the exhibit this Thursday at 6 p.m. during a members-only preview reception. In addition to being able to party in the Star Wars cantina and eat from a table based on the monkey brains scene from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, the gatherers will also participate in a costume competition.

Prizes include a round-trip ticket from United Airlines, a resort package from Le Rivage and Scott's Seafood Grill and Bar and four tickets to see "Star Wars: In Concert" which takes place Oct. 9 and 10 at Arco Arena. Non-members can attend the preview by signing up at the door, calling (916)-653-1752 or visiting Californiamuseum.org/membership.

The California Museum is located at 1020 O St.

Roger Smith Performs at the Crocker This Thursday

2009-09-14T21:26:58Z

Jazz keyboard master Roger Smith will perform during the Crocker Art Museum’s Third Thursday Jazz Summer Concert Series on September 17 from 5:30-8 p.m. Smith and his band will bring their lively spirit and exceptional talent to perform an array of melodies ranging from R&B to smooth jazz. This is the final concert of the Summer Concert Series before it takes a hiatus during the winter months.

During his 30 year career, Smith has released five CD recordings and collaborated on countless others. His Off the Hook was a smash, No. 1 hit on Billboard’s contemporary jazz singles chart in 1999 and stayed in the top 10 for nearly 20 weeks. Smith returned to the charts in 2004 with the 14-track solo CD Just Enough. His latest CD release and single of the same name, Sittin’ In is gaining airplay across the country. He has been the keyboard player and background vocalist in the Oakland-based soul band Tower of Power since 1999 and continues to tour over 180 days per year. Currently, he is developing projects with his band Jazz Rosco and producing projects for several other artists.

The Summer Concert Series is held in the Museum’s courtyard on the third Thursday of the month from May through September. Light refreshments and beverages are available for purchase. Concerts are free to Crocker members and $10 for nonmembers.

The Third Thursday Jazz Summer Concert Series is supported in part by 94.7 KSSJ, Renwood Winery, Rubicon Brewing Co. and Pepsi. For more information, call (916) 808-7000 or visit crockerartmuseum.com/jazz.

Gold Rush Gambling

2009-08-20T03:54:18Z

Sacramento gamblers tired of driving to Las Vegas to get their gaming fix can breathe a sigh of relief. The Sacramento History Museum is bringing the games to Old Sac with the first-ever Gold Rush Gambling Day. Although the dealers may be playing Three Card Monte instead of Texas Hold 'Em and the sinning might give way to educational outreach, it still promises to be a fun day.

The event, which will be held on Aug. 22 at 1 p.m. at the Sacramento History Museum (101 I St.), is one of the weekend events that the museum holds every second and fourth Saturday. It is expected to last about one hour.

The day will begin with a lecture about Gold Rush-era gambling games and life in the typical saloon by one of the museum's docents. This will be followed by an opportunity to give the games a try, although the official game list will depend on the day's attendance.

Although this is the first time the museum has had a formal Gold Rush Gambling Day, the museum has held numerous gambling activities.

"We've had classes before, and we've had events at the Gold Rush Days event which is coming up," said Janessa West, a museum educator at the Sacramento History Museum.

Citizens hoping to participate will simply have to pay the normal entrance fee, which is $4 for youth and $5 for adults. But West certainly didn't want the fee to discourage potential attendees. "If you like to gamble, if you like to play cards, then this is a great way to learn the roots of many of the games we play today," she said. Besides, it's a lot cheaper than Vegas.

2nd Saturday weekend doesn't disappoint

2009-07-09T21:14:51Z

Ahhh, yes, it's that time of the month again folks. Second Saturday weekend that is! Although there are great things going on all month long throughout Sacramento, many locals will argue that the second weekend of the month in Sacramento is their favorite time to venture out on the town. In addition to the Art Walk on Saturday, this weekend has a plethora of cool things to check out. And for Sactown, mid-July is looking to bring us some relatively mild weather to boot! Take a look to see if any of these events can lure you to venture out...try something different this week!

Thursday 7.9

Food & Wine: California Grape & Gourmet -- $50 ($70 day of)
Where: Sacramento Convention Center
When: 5:30-8:30pm
Why: A charity event produced by the California State Fair to benefit the Friends of the California State Fair Scholarship Fund. This exquisite wine and food tasting event features more than 600 award winning wines and delicious food from nearly 90 of Northern California's best restaurants. Take home a commemorative wine glass and maybe even purchase some of the award winning wines! There will be also be live musical entertainment, an assortment of exceptional cheeses and award winning micro brews (Commercial Cheese and Commercial Craftbrew Competition winners) to enjoy. This is touted by many Sacramentans as “The Best Wine Event in Sacramento” as well it should be!
Details

Music/Nightlife: DJ Kaskade -- $17 (presale)
Where: The Park Ultralounge
When: 8pm
Why: If you missed him last time, you should really try to make this show. I am not much of an electronic music fan these days but Kaskade really knows how to mix some good music! He’s not your average DJ…
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Music: Beyonce -- $20.75+
Where: Arco Arena
When: 7:30pm
Why: She’s not the best paid celebrity in America under the age of 30 for nothing! Her big debut to fame was back in 1993 (!) with Destiny’s Child, but only after she broke away as a solo act did she really come out of her shell. She is now married to rap superstar Jay-Z and makes over $80 million a year! See what the hype is all about while she’s in town- you’re not likely to leave disappointed.
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Music/Nightlife: Cheese & Olive Oil Pairing -- $45
Where: Cest le Cheese
When: 6:30-8:30pm
Why: Decadent pairings inspired by ancient times. Explore the rich world of artisan cheeses paired with extra virgin olive oils. Laura Martinez, cheese and olive oil connoisseur and author, guides you through California's finest offerings while dipping into timeless and surprising food pairings. Perfectly accompanied by sparkling wine.
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Music/Museum: Night at the Museum featuring the Pyronauts -- $Free w/ admission ($8/7/4)
Where: California Auto Museum
When: 6-9pm
Why: Don’t miss your chance every Thursday during the summer to cruise down to the CA Auto Museum, enjoy the evening, & experience car culture as it comes alive! This Thursday enjoy live music from The Pyronauts, a local surf band who specializes in the sounds of Dick Dale and The Del Tones, The Surfaris, The Ventures and more! Take some time to browse around the museum’s current exhibit “Carved Elegance: Woodies, Wheels, and Waves” while you’re there.
Details: http://www.sacramento365.com/event/detail/39351

Friday 7.10

Music: Concert in the Park -- $Free
Where: Cesar Chavez Park
When: 5pm-9pm
Why: This week features Kate Gaffney & Boulevard Park along with West of Next, Christopher Fairman & The Stilts! If you live and Sacramento and have still not checked out a CIP, you are missing out! Its free family fun that the adults can enjoy too! Afterwards, don’t forget about the weekly concert crawl (Post Concert Specials!!): Show your concert wristband and receive specials at local bars and restaurants. Receive special happy hour deals on food and drinks when you ask for the Concert Crawl Deal.
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Music Festival: Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival --$
Where: Sleeptrain Amphitheatre
When: 2:15pm
Why: The most electrifying carnival to ever hit the summer concert circuit, is back…and bigger. MARILYN MANSON and SLAYER will top the bill on this year’s highly anticipated tour kicking off here in Sacramento! Featuring many of rock’s heaviest bands: Marilyn Manson and Slayer headline joined by Bullet for my Valentine and a special guest; also Trivium, All That Remains, God Forbid and the Jägermeister Battle of the Bands winner, Cannibal Corpse, Job for a Cowboy, Behemoth, Black Dahlia Murder and Whitechapel. In addition to catching a slew of “speaker-shredding performances”, play the newest video games, peruse vendors, attend autograph signing sessions and a host of other interactive activities that will add to the festival experience. Stage sponsor Jägermeister will be sampling their products and providing fun surprises for attendees.
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Special Event: News10 Blood Donor Day-- $Free
Where: News10 Studios
When: 6am & 7pm
Why: The summer months are a critical time for blood banks so we need everyone to be a hero and donate a life saving pint of blood. News10 Blood Donor Day with Delta Blood Bank is the perfect opportunity to do some good, and also have some fun!! Every donor will receive a free t-shirt, as well as a coupon for a pint of ice cream from Baskin Robbins!! In addition, you will also get a coupon for a free cherry limeade at Sonic!! Plus, you can get swabbed to be on the national marrow donor list and the swabbing fee will be waived for this one day only! Thank you for being a hero and helping us save lives. For more information, please visit news10.net.
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Film & Video: MOBS presents, Rock That Uke w/ Ukulele Loki's Gadabout Orchestra -- $5
Where: Guild Theatre (2828 35th Street)
When: Screenings, 7:00pm & 9:30pm; Performance, 8:00pm
Why: The screening of "Rock That Uke" will be accompanied by a live performance by Ukulele Loki's Gadabout Orchestra! Ukulele Loki's Gadabout Orchestra is a Denver based 6 piece chamber-pop band that features ukulele, tuba, trombone, clarinet, glockenspiel, drums, and synth. Additionally, the Director of the film- William Preston Robertson will be in attendance. Robertson has lent his voice to numerous Coen Brothers films and authored the definitive book on the Coen Brothers, "The Big Lebowski: The Making of a Coen Brothers Film!" Come see the movie at 7 and hang around for Ukulele Loki's performance at 8 PM, OR come to see Ukulele Loki at 8 PM and stay for the second screening. About the movie: “A funky, curiously philosophical cinematic love poem that examines the near mystical allure of the four-stringed underdog of the musical world and the recent surge of alternative, post-punk musicians on the American mainland who have taken up the instrument, and have incorporated the ukulele not just into their raucous and irreverent original compositions, but into a counter cultural, post-punk ethos.”
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Music: American Idols Live 2009 Tour -- $40.50+
Where: Arco Arena
When: 7pm
Why: Calling all American Idol fans!! It’s your chance to see your favorite “Idols” live and in person! Only featuring the top 10 contestants: Adam Lambert, Allison Iraheta, Anoop Desai, Danny Gokey, Kris Allen, Lil Rounds, Matt Giraud, Megan Joy, Michael Sarver and Scott MacIntyre, this is sure to be a great show. The phenomenon that American Idol has become is sure to be well received here in Sacramento.
Details

Saturday 7.11

Kids & Families: Downtown Kids Week -- $Various
Where: Saturday 7/11-Saturday 7/18
When: Various
Why: Families from around the region are invited to join in the fun of Downtown Sacramento’s first annual Downtown Kid’s Week. The Downtown Sacramento Partnership (DSP), California State Parks, local museums, theatres and restaurants have come together to make Sacramento’s central city the place to be this summer vacation by offering family-friendly events, activities, exhibits and special offers throughout the week.
Details

Art: Progeny Exhibit w/Artist Talk -- $FREE
Where: 40 Acres Art Gallery
When: 4pm-5pm (Artist talk)
Why: Progeny pairs Deborah Willis and her son, Hank Willis Thomas, in their first official collaboration. Willis is a photographer, educator and curator. Thomas has become known for his stinging critique of advertising and its impact on contemporary life. Consisting of photographs and video, the exhibit is a narrative of their family history, their developments as artists, and the fusion of the two. Exhibit previously shown at the Bernice Steinbaum Gallery, Florida and the Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Art Gallery, Columbia University, New York. This will be an excellent opportunity to get the artists’ perspective before the exhibit opens July 14th.
Details

Music/Art: 2nd Saturday for Families: Gordy Ohliger, the Banjo-ologist -- $Free
Where: Crocker Art Museum
When: 12pm-3pm
Why: The Crocker aims to bring family fun events to the 2nd Saturday lineup! Banjo-ologist Gordy Ohliger will present a heritage you can hear with his movable museum of antique instruments. Toe-tapping, clap-along music, California paintings and hands-on art bring the early years of the Golden State to life. This is a limited seating event so reservations are required.
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Kids & Families: Butterfly Bash -- $6/5/4
Where: Discovery Museum Science & Space Center
When: 12:30pm-3pm
Why: The Discovery Museum hosts many fun and interactive exhibits for your little ones to enjoy. Have any fans at home of these mesmerizing winged insects? There is really no other insect that I can think of to hold such beauty as a butterfly. There will be cases of local & exotic butterflies on display to peruse. How many butterflies can you spot in our butterfly garden? Also, kids will be able to design their very own butterfly ring to wear.
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Film/Video: Esquire IMAX Theatre 10th Anniversary Celebration -- $Free
Where: Esquire IMAX Theatre
When: 10am-5pm
Why: To celebrate the Esquire IMAX Theatre’s 10th anniversary the public is invited to enjoy a free movie this Saturday! Beginning at 10:00 a.m., the Esquire IMAX Theatre will run eight free shows, up to 400 seats each, of the film Wild California! on the hour each hour. Seats will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Make sure to get there early!
Details

Food & Wine: Common Table: AgFest 2009-- $25-100
Where: Freemont Community Garden/Guild Theatre
When: Tours & workshops, 8:30am-3:00pm; Movie, 2:30pm & 4:00pm; Dinner, 5:30pm
Why: Brought to you by Slow Food Sacramento, Common Table is a day of tours and workshops culminating in a sit-down gourmet dinner in the Fremont Community Garden. Benefitting the Sacramento Hunger Coalition and the Sacramento Area Community Garden Coalition, the goal is to raise awareness about local urban gardening and food programs, as well as to advocate for improved city, county and state food policies that enable more locally grown foods in urban locations. The dinner of fresh, seasonal faire will be catered by Magpie Caters. Dinner speaker Braham Ahmadi of Peoples Grocery in Oakland will share his insights on Innovative Solutions for Food Justice. Additionally, the Avid Reader will be on hand selling a variety of books on gardening and the urban food movement, and a live auction will feature an array of culinary opportunities, including local gourmet restaurants that will offer private dinners, private gardening consultations and an opportunity to dine out with a prominent food critic Blair Anthony Robertson. During the day a variety of workshops will be held relating to community gardening, backyard organic gardening, composting, food gleaning and local food swap programs and a special showing of the movie "FRESH" will be showing at the Guild Theater. "FRESH" celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system.
Details

Classes & Workshops: Macrobiotics Wellness Class -- $20
Where: Arden Hills Resort & Spa
When: 10:30am
Why: Never heard of a macrobiotics diet before? It’s a low-fat, high fiber approach to foods designed for optimal health and longevity through nutrition. Don’t miss this special “Macrobiotics” class to learn how a simple diet rich in whole grains, legumes, seeds, nuts, vegetables and soy products might be the right approach to improve your diet and overall well being for a longer, more healthful life. We can all use a little dose of healthy habits right?
Details

Sunday 7.12

Kids & Families: Sacramento Street Scenes -- $Free
Where: Old Sacramento
When: 10am-6pm (Every Sat & Sun through August)
Why: The Historic Old Sacramento Foundation in collaboration with the City of Sacramento is proud to introduce a new Street Scene Program beginning this month. Calling upon the talents of musicians, jugglers, storytellers, re-enactors, volunteer fire fighters, artisans, and even some burros, Old Sacramento will offer free, family-friendly and historically educational entertainment every Saturday and Sunday June through August. This Sunday there will be Storytelling, Children's Games, Bowling- Gold Rush Style, Juggling, & Shootouts!
Details

Special Event: Antique Fair -- $3 Adults/ Children Free
Where: X & 21Sreets
When: 6:30am-3pm
Why: An Outdoor Antique and Collectible Marketplace held the 2nd Sunday of every month!! Hundreds of antique dealers from throughout Northern California selling furniture, textiles, architectural pieces, jewelry, cultural pieces, china and glassware, garden accessories, rugs, art and collectibles of all kinds will be on hand with their quality goods. Browse around and who knows what sorts of treasures you’ll find!
Details

Theatre: Much Ado About Nothing~ Sacramento Shakespeare Festival -- $18 General/15 Students
Where: William Land Park
When: Doors: 6:30pm; Curtain: 8pm
Why: This is the 24th season of the Shakespeare Festival in Sacramento! Its recommended that you buy your tickets online to avoid the ticket line. Plus, get free parking by showing your printout to the parking attendant. Don’t hesitate to bring a picnic, low lawn chairs and a blanket and enjoy Shakespeare under the stars!
Details

Keep in mind that all of these events and many more can can be found on Sacramento365.com, the year-round source for Sacramento events. If you have an event you would like to add to Sacramento365.com, visit the website. Its easy and free to add your events!

Also, if you want to mention an event that I didn't squeeze into this little article- add it to the comments below! Have a great weekend!!

Poetry, a film opening and a writing contest: literary Sacramento this week

2009-06-29T17:09:09Z

This is a great week for book-minded Sacramentans, with plenty of literary events taking place in libraries, movie theaters, community centers and museums. Read on.

Monday, June 29, 7:30 p.m. Poetry reading -- Dorine Jennette and Valerie Fioravanti. Sacramento Poetry Center. Hosted by Frank Graham Dixon. Davis resident Jennette has published poems, essays, and reviews in The Journal, Ninth Letter, Coconut, Court Green, Memorious, Puerto del Sol, and the Georgia Review. She has a poetry collection, Grace by Degrees, coming out in 2010. Valerie Fioravanti writes fiction, essays, and prose poems. Her story collection, The Brooklyn Shuffle, was a finalist for the Tartt First Book Award. Her stories have appeared in North American Review, Cimarron Review, Hunger Mountain, and Green Mountains Review, among others. Her stories and prose poems have earned four Pushcart Prize nominations, and special mention in Pushcart Prize XXVIII. She received a Fulbright Fellowship (Italy) to research her novel, Bel Casino, which is one of two novels currently in the works. She teaches short story and multi-genre classes online for the UCLA Writers' Extension and private workshops from her home in midtown Sacramento. She has also taught writing for New Mexico State University and National University's MFA Program. Free event. Sacramento Poetry Center, 1719 25th Street, Sacramento 95816, (916) 979-9706.
Tuesday, June 30 (and ongoing through 8/1), Focus on Writers contest. Sacramento Public Library. Spend your Tuesday looking into the rules for the contest and choosing what you’d like to submit. California writers are invited to enter entries for a chance to win $250 for first prize, $150 for second prize and $75 for third prize in six categories. For information about the categories, visit www.saclibraryfriends.org. Contest entries must be postmarked by 8/1.
Wednesday, July 1-August 19, once/week, 6:30-9:00 p.m., Research and Interviewing Techniques for Nonfiction Writers, U.C. Davis Extension. Elisabeth Sherwin will lead this eight week course for students who want to learn how to gather information and track down interview sources in preparation for publishing. Students will explore many forms of nonfiction writing and learn how to tailor their work to the market. $325.00 tuition. Sutter Square Galleria, 2901 K St, Sacramento.
Thursday, July 2, 8 p.m. Joe Montoya’s Poetry Unplugged. Luna’s Cafe. There will be an open mic, before and after guest hosts Frank Andrick, Mario Ellis Hill, Geoffery Neil & B.L. Kennedy. Two dollar cover fee or one drink minimum. Luna’s Café, 1414 16th Street, Sacramento 95814, (916) 441-3931.
Friday, July 3, 8:00 p.m. Special screening of Food Inc., followed by panel discussion. Crest Theater.Pesticide Watch Education Fund will host a special opening-night screening of Robert Kenner’s red-hot film Food, Inc. Following the film, chefs, academics and activists will participate in a lively discussion on how the region, state and country can tackle the challenges facing farms and the food system. Food Inc, said to be the next Inconvenient Truth, features interviews with authors Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation) and Michael Pollan (The Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food). Pollan spoke this summer at a sold-out California Lectures event and Eric Schlosser is scheduled to speak through California Lectures' 2009-2010 season. The Arden Dimick Library open book group will read In Defense of Food this fall. Tickets for this special screening are $12 and they are on sale now at tickets.com, Crest box office, or by calling 1-800-225-2277.
Saturday, July 4, 10:30 a.m., Teen Advisory Council meeting. Rancho Cordova Library. Join the teen library council, which meets the first Saturday of each month. Help plan and run programs for the library. Advise on books, music and DVD choices and programs. Receive community service credit. Rancho Cordova Library, 9845 Folsom Blvd, Sacramento 95827, (916) 264-2770.
Sunday, July 5, 12:00-5:00 p.m. With Malice Toward None: Abraham Lincoln exhibit. The California Museum. Celebrate Independence Day weekend by visiting this Library of Congress exhibit commemorating Lincoln’s two hundredth birthday. It charts Lincoln’s growth from politician to statesman, addressing his presidency’s controversies, including challenges to civil liberties and the Constitution, slavery and race, and the dissolution of the Union and the Civil War. Exhibit continues through August 22. $8.50 for adults, $7.00 for seniors (65+) and college students, $6.00 for youths aged 6-13 and free for children 5 and younger. California Museum, 1020 O Street, Sacramento 95814, (916) 653-7524.

Outside the NEW Crocker

2009-06-18T04:02:50Z

The property on the west side of the existing Crocker is prepped for constructing the new wing in July 2008.

A block structure will house equipment that will service the entire art museum.

The steel beams are above the basement which is the front part of the new wing along the street.

The concrete wall in lower portion of photo is along the western side of the new wing.

A worker on the south side of the basement which is the front area of the new wing. The holes in the concrete will carry the heating/cooling ducts. The area below and above the duct openings are now filled in and are part of the floor.

The auditorium and seating is put in place.

Concrete flooring on the east side of the new wing is smoothed before it hardens.

The old and the new will meet at the rear of the existing Crocker Art Museum.

A steel worker climbs a beam to place safety cables for use as the crews are bolt them together.

Crews work on all levels of the new wing.

Sacramento Preservation Roundtable, Saturday June 13

2009-06-12T16:52:11Z

Sacramento's Preservation Roundtable is a quarterly gathering of local history and historic preservation organizations, intended to share current information on local preservation topics, public policy, events, and plans in progress. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Preservation Roundtable - Saturday June 13th
9:00am to Noon at the Young Ladies Institute – 27th & N Sts. (1400 27th Street)
Continental Breakfast * $5 donation

6/13/09 AGENDA:

9:00 Welcome & Introductions
9:10 Preservation Issues & Updates:
- CA State RR Museum Foundation - Kathy Daigle
- Capitol Dist. State Museum & Historic Parks-Pati Brown
- DOC (Devel. Oversight Committee) update
- City Preservation Office - Roberta Deering
– Hwy 50 HOV lane –Kathleen Green & Karen Jacques
– Minimum Maintenance for Historic Structures – Tim Brandt Preservation Commission Chair
- Capitol City Preservation Trust Awards –Kay Knepprath & Fred Turner
- Sacramento City School District’s Bldgs. on the block-i.e.-Jefferson School at 18th & N Sts.

10:30 Speakers – Budget Impacts on Historic Preservation –David Kwong and Roberta Deering-Questions & Answer session

11:50 Announcements
12:00 ADJOURN

Sponsored by:
Page & Turnbull, Architects & SOCA (Sacramento Old City Association)

Next Preservation Roundtable meeting is Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009 at the School House in Old Sacramento

Riverboat Gambling on the Delta King

2009-06-01T20:14:34Z

On June 5, the Historic Old Sacramento Foundation will host a Riverboat Casino Night on board the Delta King Riverboat, providing a colorful look at the world of the riverboat gambler. This event will feature authentic 1850s games of chance, including Chuck-A-Luck, Faro and Shut the Box, as well as more familiar games like poker and roulette. Also featured are a silent auction, live music and entertainment, and food and drink, all appropriate to the Gold Rush era. Re-enactors in period attire will add to the atmosphere of the event. While period attire is not required for those who attend, it is encouraged. Several stores in Old Sacramento, including Sacramento Dry Goods on Second and I Street, specialize in historic styles of clothing for those wishing to attend in full 19th century finery.

The event is a fundraiser for the Historic Old Sacramento Foundation and the Sacramento History Museum. Last year, the Sacramento History Museum split from the Discovery Museum and became part of the Historic Old Sacramento Foundation. Part of the change involves a dramatic renovation of the museum’s first floor, but part involves raising public awareness of the Museum with events like the Riverboat Casino Night. According to Museum public relations specialist Lindsey Meyers, “In the past our events have not necessarily tied in with Sacramento history, and that is exactly what we are trying to change. We want to focus on Sacramento history and the river is a huge part of how we became a city.” In order to highlight the evening’s focus as an educational event, authenticity and historic accuracy are the number one priority. “Even the food is historically accurate,” said Meyers. If the event proves successful, it could become an annual event on board the Delta King. As Sacramento’s last authentic riverboat, the Delta King provides an ideal site for an evening of Gold Rush era gambling and entertainment.

Riverboat Casino Night takes place on Friday, June 5, and starts at 6:00 PM on the Delta King Riverboat in Old Sacramento. Tickets cost $45 for Historic Old Sacramento Foundation members, $50 for non-members. Tickets can be purchased by calling (916)264-7059 or by visiting the Sacramento History Museum at 101 I Street. Guests must be 21 years of age or older. All proceeds will help support the exhibits and programs at the Historic Old Sacramento Foundation’s Sacramento History Museum.

Which event will you be attending this Memorial weekend?

2009-05-21T00:39:16Z

Although many of the events this weekend do not really reflect the true meaning of the foundation of this holiday, there are still some great things to do! Whatever your plan is this weekend, do take a moment to reflect on what Memorial Day is about and be thankful for our fellow Americans who put their lives on the line for the sake of our country. Just in case you aren't sure as to what Memorial Day is all about and why it is a National Holiday, here is the definition from Wikipedia: "Formerly known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day commemorates U.S. men and women who died while in the military service. First enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War (it is celebrated near the day of reunification after the civil war), it was expanded after World War I to include American casualties of any war or military action." So here's to a great weekend and thank you to all those who made it possible!

Wednesday 5.20

Music: Izabella w/ Montana Slim -- $10
Where: Harlow’s (27th & J St)
When: 8pm
Why: Izabella is a dance-inspired rock and soul band hailing from the Bay Area. I haven’t seen them yet but hear they’re great! This is what their website has to say: “This six-piece family of musical explorers is avowed for producing danceable, dynamic grooves. Izabella's live performances exude joy and inspiration for all in attendance. Their unique blend of fist-pumping guitar, funked-out keys, poly-rhythmic beats, and impassioned vocals is unparalleled in the genre. As this musical collective continues to blaze their own trail, they remain in constant connection with their community of fans who ultimately make it all happen.”
Details

Thursday 5.21

Museum: Diverse Perspectives Tour -- $6/$4/$3
Where: Crocker Art Museum (216 O St)
When: 1pm
Why: For those of you out there with wheels to get around on, The Crocker Art Museum will be shining the spotlight on their works at eye-level. This is a special exhibit for wheelchair users and their friends and all are welcome!
Details

Art: Lecture by Catherine Clark-- $5 (Free to CCA members)
Where: Center For Contemporary Art (1519 19th St)
When: 7pm
Why: Catherine Clark, from the Catherine Clark Gallery in San Francisco, will discuss the work in the Center for Contemporary Art, Sacramento's "The Conundrum of Abundance," an exhibition of paintings by Chester Arnold, Scott Greene, and Julie Heffernan. They all share an affinity for abundance in their paintings. While the imagery differs, the works share a pre or post-apocalyptical narrative that simultaneously embraces this abundance, and questions it. This should be a great, informative event.
Details

Music: Third Thursday Jazz Summer Concert Series -- $10 (Free to Crocker Members)
Where: Crocker Art Museum
When: 5:30-8pm
Why: Guitarist and singer Perry Mills leads his band in playing rock-rooted and jazz-schooled music. Enjoy a spotlight tour during intermission.
Details

Festival: Sacramento County Fair-- $3 (Kids & Seniors Free!)
Where: Cal Expo
When: 10am-10pm, May 21st-25th (10am-7pm on Memorial Day)
Why: The County Fair features competitions showcasing talent from our region, arts and crafts displays, agricultural exhibits, a hypnotist, SPIKE the fire juggler, a carnival with 30 thrilling rides, and of course, an assortment of food ranging from traditional fair favorites to contemporary cuisine. Local bands and musicians will get your summer rockin’ and rollin’ on two stages this year. Each night, talented artists are guaranteed to impress audiences! The Demolition Derby, Roving cowboys, wandering jugglers, hands-on fun with physics and the popular Sunflower Saddle Ranch are the types of entertainment you can expect- It's a surprise around every corner! Individuals, families and groups can enter and participate in contests during the Fair including a Cookie Bake-Off, Potatomobile Races, Gift Wrapping, Memory Pages, Grab Bag Art, Trim-a-Tree and more. Frugal fun for the whole family!!
Details

Friday 5.22

Festival: 36th Annual Sacramento Jazz Festival--$45 ($50 at door)
Where: Old Sacramento/Convention Center
When: May 22nd-25th: Fri, 1pm-11pm; Sat & Sun, 10am-11pm; Mon, 10am-4pm
Why: Jazz music of all types will permeate Old Sacramento and the area around the Sacramento convention center. More than 60 bands at 23 venues, more than 20 nationally-known all-stars, and a dozen featured bands. Special events include a big Friday parade, specialty concerts, a rousing Sunday gospel service and respectful Memorial Day salute to service, and sixteen bands made up of teenage musicians on their own stages.
Details

Music: Wonderbread 5 -- $12
Where: Harlow’s
When: 10pm-1:30am
Why: For over a decade, the unstoppable, international rock and roll party machine known as the Wonder Bread 5 have been thrilling audiences, and exceeding client's expectations around the globe. (And on Saturday you can catch Mercy Me at Harlow’s too!)
Details

Theatre: Let's Go! Musical -- $20/25/30
Where: Crest Theatre
When: May 22nd-24th: Fri-Sun 8pm & Sat-Sun 2pm
Why: "Let's Go" will take you on a roller coaster ride of emotions through its inspirational story. With jaw-dropping dance numbers and soulful renditions of your favorite songs, you'll be dancing and singing along with the cast! The performers in Let's Go! have a passion for their art and a desire to be deemed number one. Throughout the first act, the singers and dancers battle to find out who is the best. The magic begins when the rivals realize the only way to be number one is to act as one. United through a tragic loss, the performers come together in Act II and put on a show you'll never forget. Whether you are a fan of Country, R & B, Rock, Gospel, or Hip Hop, this musical has it all! At the end of each show, meet the Let's Go! Cast and hear their real life stories. This is a rare chance to meet the people behind the characters you see on stage and best of all- they’re from Sacramento!
Details

Music: Jackopierce -- $25 ($20 in advance)
Where: Marilyn’s on K (St)
When: 9:00pm
Why: The songs range from acoustic pop (the title-track, "Promise of Summer") to John Mellencamp-tinged country-rock ("Everything I'm Not"). Heartache is ever-present on a Jackopierce record. Jack O'Neill and Cary Pierce founded the duo in 1988 and after a decade-long run they decided to call it quits with a sold-out farewell tour 1997. In 2002, they reunited and have played 15-20 shows per year, always to sold-out venues.
Details

Music: Concert in the Park -- $Free
Where: Cesar Chavez Park
When: 5pm-8pm
Why: This week check out Silver Darling, Kris Anaya, & Buildings Breeding (their CD release!) followed by the featured band Two Sheds. Afterward, continue the fun with the “Weekly Concert Crawl” (Post Concert Specials)! Show your concert wristband and receive specials like happy hour pricing on food & drinks every Friday night at local bars and restaurants. Just ask for the Concert Crawl Deal.
Details

History: CARRIED WITH COURAGE: Historic Flags from the Capitol Collection -- $Free
Where: CA State Capitol Museum
When: Mat 22nd-23rd 9am-5pm
Why: This exhibit features a number of conserved Civil War flags from the Capitol Historic Flag Collection. Some of these flags were flown on display on the parade ground, while others have accompanied Californians into battle. Many of the flags to be exhibited have never before been seen by the public. This exhibit is a unique opportunity and will offer the public a once in a lifetime chance to view this remarkable collection.
Details

Saturday 5.23

Dance: Sacramento Ballet's Season Finale -- $38
Where: Sacramento Theatre Company
When: May 23rd & 24th: Saturday 7:30pm, Sunday 2:00pm
Why: The Sacramento Ballet is bringing their year to an end. These two shows will be the final performances for the Ballet’s 2008–2009 Season. Presenting highlights from its recently sold-out performance at the Mondavi Center’s Studio Theatre, these performances will showcase Amy Seiwert's "Well it's not a cry," Nolan T'Sani's "Ballet de Murphy," Molly Lynch's "A Journey" and Jared Nelson's "Jump Jive," along with additional Sacramento Ballet repertory favorites in a powerful display of the creative and artistic excellence that is the hallmark of what Sacramento Ballet’s Artistic Directors Ron Cunningham and Carinne Binda have consistently and brilliantly brought to the stage. Support the SacBallet!
Details

Festival: Handmade Parade-- $1
Where: Giovanni Hall (1333 58th St)
When: 10:00am-5:00pm
Why: Handmade Parade welcomes everyone to come and enjoy a wide range of fine art, folk art and crafts at this semi-annual event- with free craft demos, make & takes, and knitting & crochet demos to boot! The first 200 people there will receive a bag of freebies and discounts from our vendors and sponsors.
Details

Fundraiser: Walk 'N Rock for Kids Benefit-- $donation
Where: Raley Field
When: Walk 8:00am, Concert 8:00pm
Why: The morning will be filled with music at Raley Field and along the route. After the walk, enjoy entertainment, interactive booths, kids activities, more music, food and fun! Bobby Jackson will be the official spokesperson for this event- Don't miss it! Later that evening, Hope Productions and our corporate partners will host an exclusive VIP reception and a benefit concert featuring: Journey! (Tickets on sale) This will be open to the general public. The proceeds from the concert will be divided among the nonprofit partners.
Details

Family: Family Fun Program-- $Free w/ Museum admission ($7/6/3)
Where: California Auto Museum
When: 1:30pm-3pm
Why: Celebrate Mom all month long and make her a special keepsake, a race car themed picture frame complete with your picture next to your favorite Museum car! Just in time for the 93rd Indianapolis 500, you can also decorate your own miniature wooden race car.
Details

History: Memorial Day Ceremony -- $Free
Where: Historic City Cemetary
When: 10am
Why: Join the Historic City Cemetery Committee in honoring veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Music, speakers, color guard and dignitaries guided tours will be featured.
Details

Sunday 5.24

Music: A Fashion Night Stand -- $10
Where: MIX Downtown
When: Pre-party 6pm, Runway 9:30pm
Why: An upscale & fashion forward one night affair showcasing some of the best local fashion & talent rounds out the Memorial Day Weekend! Enjoy a runway main event featuring fashions by local boutique Madam Butterfly & local designers of Velvet Leaf, with styling by Suede Salon & showcasing Cast Images runway talent. Stay for the post-show party hosted by 100.5 The Zone until 2:00am. Walk the TwinSoup Pink Carpet, enjoy photo-ops, free swag bags valued at $250+ each, TwinSouptinis & more!
Details

Music: Graham-A-Rama -- $15
Where: Geery Theatre
When: 7pm & 9pm
Why: Join in the fun this weekend with Graham Sobelman as he welcomes Jerry-lee to the set! Also performing are the Graham-A-Rama puppeteers! A fun filled-hilarious time! This humorous display of talent occurs every Sunday at the Geery theatre so even if you can’t make it his week, keep it in mind…
Details

Monday 5.25

Theatre: Tommy the Musical-- $20 ($15 in advance)
Where: Crest Theatre
When: 7pm
Why: Sacramento's own Nancy Zoppi will be playing Tommy's mom- She is the daughter of a good friend of mine and an amazing performer! This show is not to be missed! Presented by Artistic Differences.
Details

Also keep in mind for that the Sacramento County Fair & the Sacramento Jazz Jubille are both continuing through Monday. If you didn't get a chance to go over the weekend, it's not too late!!

These events and many more can can be found on Sacramento365.com, the year-round source for Sacramento events.

Summer Concert Series Kicks off at the Crocker this Thursday

2009-05-19T19:50:05Z

An all-star cast of jazz musicians are slated to perform during the Crocker Art Museum’s popular Third Thursday Jazz Summer Concert Series. From May through September, concerts are held outside on the third Thursday of the month from 5:30-8 p.m. Light refreshments and beverages are available for purchase. Concerts are free to Crocker members and $10 for nonmembers.

The Perry Mills Project will open the series this Thursday, May 21. Guitarist and singer Perry Mills will lead his band in a passionate fusion of rock and jazz. Their new CD Hello? is aimed at engaging, rhythmic, and approachable musical art, infused with R&B and jam-band vibes, while keeping the integrity of progressive-rock and jazz-fusion influences. Passionate and dramatic, the music breaks new ground and serves to connect people’s hearts to the movement of energy and beauty.

Guitarist and singer Perry Mills is a veteran of the Los Angeles touring scene who first appeared on the Northern California music landscape with Objects in the Mirror. His music stemmed from the influences of soul, R&B and favorites like Jimi Hendrix, Joe Satriani and Steely Dan. The band features a marvelous lineup of artists in their own right, including composer and saxophonist Grant Reeves, bassist Mike Kelly, vocalist Tanya Scarlett, and fellow Objects alumni Mark McCartney on drums and Bob Villwock on keyboards.

“We want to touch hearts with this music, to unlock some emotional response for people that they maybe haven't yet found,” said Mills. “At a live show, to connect in that way with the art and the audience is uplifting for everyone. That's what the art is really all about. We want the audience to leave the show feeling better, inspired and energized.”

The Crocker Art Museum was founded in 1885 and continues as the leading art institution for the California Capital Region and Central Valley. The Museum offers a diverse spectrum of special exhibitions, events and programs to augment its collections of California, European and Asian artworks. The Crocker is located at 216 O Street in Downtown Sacramento. Museum hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday-Sunday; Thursday until 9 p.m. Free admission on Sundays from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. is made possible through the support of Bank of America. For more information on exhibits and events call (916) 808-7000 or visit crockerartmuseum.org.

(Free) Family Fun Day at California Museum

2009-04-23T16:09:17Z

Live snakes, bats and a desert tortoise named Shelly - these animals will slither, fly and crawl their way around the California Museum on Saturday, April 25.

Inspired by Earth Month and Earth Day, Family Fun Day will have the theme "California's Critters and Crawlers."

From 10 a.m.-3 p.m., families and individuals will be able to enter the museum for free and view any of the regular exhibits as well as build crafts, learn about animals and view some endangered and threatened species. The goal is "to learn more about California's natural diversity," said Ashley Robinson, the museum's communications manager.

Emceeing the event will be Francie Dillon, a children's entertainer who will be singing and dancing as well. Interactive booths manned by the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cosumnes River Preserve and Save Our Sandhill Cranes will be displaying things to touch, smell and play with, Robinson said.

Isabella Powers, a local, ten-year-old animal enthusiast, fifth grader, and host of Isabella's Animal Show on the Access Sacramento channel, expressed her interest in the Family Fun Day. "Of course I would want to go to the museum - because there are animals," she said.

In addition to learning about these endangered and threatened animals, "hopefully [visitors] can learn ways to protect these animals. There are simple things we can do to help get them off the [threatened and endangered] list," said Shelly Atkinson, the museum's education and programs manager.

The desert tortoise, California’s official reptile, has been on the Federal Threatened and Endangered Species List since 1980, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Department of Fish and Game will be displaying Shelly, the tortoise, all day.

Live bats will also be displayed, thanks to a woman from NorCalBats, an organization "dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of bats throughout Northern California," according to their website.

"They are not endangered or threatened, but they are considered an animal of concern,” Atkinson said. “Here's an animal that some people may not think is cute and cuddly, but they play an important role in the ecosystem, and without them, bad things can happen."

To round out the lineup of animals, Sacramento Zoo will arrive at 1 p.m. with a red tail hawk, a gopher snake and another desert tortoise.

Atkinson stressed that everything is free - parking, museum admittance, arts and crafts and entertainment. "It's a great way for families to have a great time together learning about California and its animals. The rest of the museum is also open for free," she said.

"You get to learn more about animals seeing them in real life" said Powers, who has one mole, one dog, two Bombay cats, five tree frogs and 11 hamsters.

Powers added, "I also want to say about polar bears: stop global warming. Global warming is melting the ice, and polar bears don't have a place or home [to swim to] so they just keep swimming."

The museum is located at 1020 O Street, on the corner of 10th and O Streets.

Get up, get out & have fun

2009-03-31T22:43:08Z

Week 13: March 31-April 5

So after a few weeks of experimenting with this Storyline, I’ve decided to tweak things around a bit.

Quandary: My initial concept of highlighting an event a day was in response to those flighty and exasperated comments like: “There’s nothing interesting going on in Sacramento” or even more so the: “There’s nothing to do on Mondays (or any other day of the week that doesn’t seem to offer anything new)”.

7 Days, 7 things to do was my attempt to address this boring complaint of the non-creative, unimaginative types. Not to say that I haven’t been there myself! Don’t get me wrong. It wasn’t until I started to get out a little bit that I really became aware of the vast array of truly great events going on- all the time! The limitation I set for myself to only cover one event a day proved difficult when there happened to be multiple events on a single day. How could I choose which one to cover when they are all cool events?

Solution: Get up, get out & have fun! will be a weekly article featuring events every day of the week. Not a day will be left out but neither will any great events. That being said, if none of these events catch your eye, there are still many more that I didn’t mention, so check out Sacramento365.com for more ideas.

Drum roll please…..

Tuesday 3.31

Save Our Sacramento Ballet Week!! (This is a week-long event)

It is no secret that the enormously talented dancers of our beloved Sacramento Ballet have been affected by economic downturn in the past year. Local businesses have graciously lent a helping hand by participating in the ballet’s “Ballet Business” program. These businesses will donate a percentage of their proceeds on certain days to help support the Sacramento Ballet. Play your part in this valiant effort by visiting one (or all!) of these businesses:

March 30 - April 4: Firefly Salon and Boutique will be donating 10% with mention of S.O.S. Ballet week. Located at 5539 H St.
March 31: Zuda Yoga Classes. Zuda Yoga is located at 19th & O St. Check their website for a schedule.
April 1 - 4: ARareity Jewlery and Art Glass Gallery will be donating 20% of all sales. Located at 1021 R St.
April 4: Rubio's Fresh Mexican Grill: donating 20% of sales with presentation of their flyer (Click HERE to download a printable version of the flyer). Valid at Natomas, Truxel Road location only.
April 4: Heavenly's Yogurt, will be donating 30% of all sales.

Wednesday 4.1

ROOTBEER

No, I am not referring to the bubbly soda likely consumed in ridiculous amounts during your childhood adventures at Chuck-E-Cheese. ROOTBEER is the joint efforts of Pigeon John & Flynn Adam resulting in musical mayhem. As self-described on their myspace page, this is what you can expect: “With an even more upped-tempo vocal cadence dancing on top of beatscapes that awaken even the hippest of skeptics, the music will make you jump up like a chimpanzee. An unbelievably charismatic live show, mixed with the most infectious hooks you've wrapped your ears around in quite some time, Rootbeer slaps a smile on your face that you simply can't contain.”

Location: Blue Lamp (N St. & Alhambra). Time: 9:00pm. Cost: $10. Info: (916) 455-3400

The Waybacks

As unpredictable as the city they come from (San Francisco), The Waybacks are an eclectic mix of music from classic folk & bluegrass to a soulful honky tonk. Their most recent album is their first entirely original album complete with a fiddler and mandolinist.

Location: Marilyn’s on K (10th & K St). Time: 8:30pm. Cost: $15adv, $18 door. Info: (916)446-4361

Thursday 4.2

Jim Lehrer

Most recently known as the executive director and anchor for The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer on PBS, and he has been the moderator for 10 nationally televised debates among candidates for the presidential elections. Jim Lehrer is the acclaimed bestselling author of both fiction and non-fiction books, including 18 novels, two memoirs and three plays. He has been inducted into the Television Hall of Fame, honored with the National Humanities Medal, elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Science, and has won two Emmys. I found it interesting to find that he is a Bus enthusiast! I didn’t know there was such a thing! Maybe he can advocate for Sacramento to have a better public transportation system…

Location: Crest Theatre (13th & K St). Time: 7:30pm. Cost: $27. Info: (800) 225-2277

David Crow

David Crow has rapidly gained a foothold in the standup comedy scene. From his first road trip a few years back to headlining some of the best clubs across the country. In 1996 he was chosen to open for President Clinton when he spoke to over two thousand supporters at the Paramount Theater in Seattle (Hello? He must be funny…) Most recently he has hosted the 1 hour special on Showtime, Crooked Finger. Catch him live this weekend!

Location: Laughs Unlimited (1201 Front St). Time: 8:00pm. Cost: $10. Info: (916) 446-5905

Friday 4.3

Massaging for Medicine

Come out and support a great cause. Troy Goings, a local certified massage therapist, is attempting to raise $10,000 dollars for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and at the same time get into the Guinness Book of World Records by massaging for 20 hours straight. He needs your help. Troy will be offering ten minute chair massages for donations of any amount. All money that is donated will go to the St. Jude's Children’s Hospital. Come out and get a chair massage and hang out. KSFM 102.5 as well as Good Day Sacramento will be there broadcasting. Sandwiches will be available courtesy of Beach Hut Deli from 12:00-1:00pm. There will be raffle tickets for sale for some really great prizes. It should be a lot of fun. Hope to see you there!

Location: Adora Bella Day Spa (1470 Eureka Rd.). Time: 5:00am-2:00am. Cost: Donations welcomed! Info: (916) 541-6914

Bank of America: Free Admission Days

Check out the California Museum for Women History and the Arts courtesy of Bank of America. Museums On Us sponsored by Bank of America provides free admission on the first weekend of every month. Being a Bank of America customer may finally pay off! Bring your BofA ATM or credit card and a photo ID and get in for free.

Location: California Museum (10th & O St). Times: 10:00am-4:00pm. Cost: Free Info: (916) 653-7524

Saturday 4.4

Earth Fest- Party for the planet!

It’s a party for the planet! Learn how to protect and preserve the earth with environmental, wildlife and conservation organizations, a recycle raffle, rummage sale, games, crafts and face painting. During the day, visit Wildlife Wagons to explore animal bio-artifacts; participate in storytelling and activities in the Discovery Room; come face-to-face with the outreach animals; or listen as keepers present enrichment talks in the afternoon.

Location: Sacramento Zoo (3930 West Land Park Drive). Time: 9:00am-4:00pm. Cost: $6.50-$9.50. Info: (916) 808-5888

Theatre Performance Month

A month-long festival of live stage performances for the entire family, featuring Puppet Art Theater, the Fairytale Town Troupers, and other Sacramento-area theater companies. All performances are matinees and will take place indoors in the Children's Theater on Saturdays and Sundays. This week Tomas and the Library Lady is the feature at the Next Stage Theatre for Young Audiences. See their website for the remainder of performances in April.

Location: Fairytale Town (3901 Land Park Dr). Times: 12:30pm & 1:30pm. Cost: $4.50 (Kids under 2- Free). Info: (916) 808-7462

Sunday 4.5

Salsa Night

If you're tired of sitting on your couch and watching Dancing With The Stars, get up and learn to do it like they do! Del Campo Studios conducts a FREE beginning Salsa dance class every sunday night at Harlow's. You don't even need to have a partner! There are plenty of newcomers to stumble over so you won't have to be embarrassed. Try something new! After the class, two DJ's will be keep you dancing to latin music through the night.

Location: Harlow's (28th & J St). Times: 7:00pm-12:00am. Cost: Free. Info: (916) 441-4693

Ross Hammond

Gotta love the coffee house live instrumental sessions! Grab a cup of Joe and enjoy some music. Old Soul is tucked away in the alley between 17th and 18th and L and Capital Streets. Its a cool, brick warehouse turned coffee roasting facility and coffee house. Jason is the coffee connoisseur (you may know him from the original Naked Lounge) and Tim is the baker and pastry extraordinaire. Good people that you are sure to have a good time with! A nice way to spend a lazy sunday if you ask me.

Location: Old Soul Coffee Co (17th & L). Times: 10:30am. Cost: Free. Info: (916) 443-7685

And so goes another fun filled week in Sacramento brought to you by Sacramento365.com. Hope to see you out on the town!

Crocker Launches Arts Stimulus Package

2009-02-20T23:24:28Z

Economy have you feeling down? The Crocker Art Museum is offering some much-needed respite and relaxation at special rates through its Arts Stimulus Package. Launching today, the special deals and discounts will remain in effect through 2009.

“Historically, museums are very well attended during times of national strife and economic decline,” comments Lial A. Jones, Director, Crocker Art Museum. “Individuals look for places to relax and refresh. Our goal is to keep the Crocker easily accessible during this difficult time.”

The Arts Stimulus Package includes two ongoing specials for the general public and extra discounts for public employees on Furlough Fridays.

Guests can purchase a new membership onsite at the Museum and receive $5 off an Individual or Family-level membership, regularly $45 and $55 respectively. Membership benefits include one full year of offerings from the Crocker, including free admission, special exhibition opening celebrations, Third Thursday Jazz concerts, family programs and more.

Visitors enjoy 10 percent off a purchase of $10 or more at the Museum Store with the coupon available for download at crockerartmuseum.org/specials. The Museum Store offers a variety of unique items that reflect the Museum's diverse art collection, its exhibitions and programs and the regional arts scene.

Every Friday, state, county and city employees may show their business cards or identification badges to receive reduced admission for up to four individuals. Furlough Friday admission rates are $4 adults, $3 seniors and $2 students. Admission is regularly $6 adults, $4 seniors and $3 students. Public workers will also receive $10 off a new membership when purchased onsite at the Museum on Furlough Fridays.

For more information, visit crockerartmuseum.org/specials.

The Crocker Art Museum was founded in 1885 and continues as the leading art institution for the California Capital Region and Central Valley. The Museum offers a diverse spectrum of special exhibitions, events and programs to augment its collections of California, European and Asian artworks. The Crocker is located at 216 O Street in Downtown Sacramento. Museum hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday-Sunday; 1st and 3rd Thursdays until 9 p.m. Free admission on Sundays from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. is made possible through the support of Bank of America. For more information on exhibits and events call (916) 808-7000 or visit crockerartmuseum.org.

Governor Celebrates Lincoln's 200th Birthday

2009-02-14T00:30:53Z

February 12th marked the bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth president of the United States. Governor Schwarzenegger and Mayor Kevin Johnson were the featured speakers at The California Museum's celebration event.

An Abraham Lincoln impersonator led the educational program, giving a chronological history of his personal life and political career to an audience of elementary school children and students from Sacramento High. He finished the segment with a question and answer period.

Governor Schwarzenegger then took the podium to a round of applause with Mayor Johnson standing by his side. After complementing the Mayor's tie, he saluted Lincoln, stating, "President Lincoln is an inspiration for me and so many people like me who have made the American dream a reality. He was a dreamer and a leader with fierce determination. And, two hundred years later he lives on through his message of equality for all and his preservation of our nation's unity under the greatest of pressure."

The Governor proudly announced that The California Museum will be hosting an exhibit titled, "With Malice Toward None: The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Exhibition." The exhibit opened yesterday at the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. and will make its only west coast stop in Sacramento from June 24 through Aug. 22.

It will display items such as the bible he and President Obama used during their inaugurations, the chair from his private study, and the contents of his pockets the night he was assassinated.

Mayor Johnson followed the Governor and reiterated the importance of Lincoln's legacy, as well as the upcoming museum exhibit. He praised the nation as a whole, stating, "This is a great time for our country. We have an African American president, an African American mayor, and we have a governor who was not born on our soil."

After the Mayor's speech, Honest Abe took the stage again to recite a portion of the Gettysburg Address to a standing audience.

Following the celebration, Gov. Schwarzenegger fielded questions from the press concerning the state's budget situation.

When asked about cuts in education, he responded, "We will cut as little as possible," insinuating that there will be at least some cuts. He also explained that he has received threats of a recall if some aspects (he did not specify) are not adjusted, but that the legislature is close to approving the final draft.

Museum Day = Huge Success

2009-02-08T04:43:15Z

Today was the 11th annual Museum Day in the Sacramento area. 26 museums opened their doors to the public free of charge (although several of the attractions are always free entry).

I checked the Sacramento Association of Museums' website for participating locations and directions. My date and I decided on 3 museums we wanted to visit, careful to follow the recommendations of the website for overcrowded locations, and left downtown in my roommate's car.

Our first stop was the Aerospace Museum of California located at McClellan Park off Watt Ave. North. I was very excited about this stop because they allow museum-goers to tour the aircraft. It was awe-inspiring to be allowed to walk through, under, and even simply stand near these enormous pieces of machinery.

We wandered the premises for nearly 2 hours. Sitting beside several of the planes were ex-military gentlemen who actually worked with these aircraft while they were in operation. These men volunteer their time to offer in depth information concerning the planes and their histories. Many of them also help to restore these planes from the poor condition in which they often arrive at the museum.

The prize of the museum, in my opinion, was the pristine F-14 Tomcat, the plane featured in a small production titled Top Gun, starring a minor actor named Tom Cruise. It sat in the back of the lot with its wings contracted, inconspicuous, yet with an air of superiority.

On the way out we grabbed some tasty nachos and ate amongst dozens of other hungry museum guests. We drove up the road a bit with hopes of checking out the Discovery Museum Science and Space Center. We parked easily and had high hopes of entering quickly, but our hopes were dashed as we caught a glimpse of the immense line formed outisde the museum. Rather than wait an hour or more to enter, we decided to move on to our third destination--the Museum of Medical History in East Sacramento.

This was a choice of my date as I tend to become queasy when faced with frightful medical equipment. It was surprisingly fun. They have one of less than 20 "Iron Lung" machines on display across the country. The machine was popular in the 1930's-50's as a treatment for polio victims who lost the use of their diaphragm and required breathing assistance. (See picture above.)

The museum contained horrifying photographs of diseases, old medical equipment, explanations of medical knowledge, and bookshelves filled with medical encyclopedias and digests dating back to the late 1800's. Our favorite series was a 3-volume medical digest discussing the mysteries of sex, printed in 1918.

We finished the day by returning downtown and visiting The California Museum for History, Women and the Arts on 10th and O St., also home to the "California Hall of Fame." Photographs and descriptions of women who influenced the history of California filled the top floor of this beautiful new museum.

The main floor houses the "Hall of Fame" and various items and descriptions of California history. The most intriguing exhibit at the museum details the WWII detainment of Japanese Americans in camps across the west coast. A speaker was present telling stories of her mother who was a forced resident of one of these camps.

Transporting attendants between museums was an intricate series of buses which ran regularly all day. Normally I would have utilized this service, but I took advantage of my roommate's absence to enjoy the luxuries of a personal vehicle.

This was a wonderful event. It exceeded my expectations and was run very efficiently by the volunteers at each site. I learned much about Sacramento and the services this city has to offer. If you were unable to attend this year, I highly recommend making a special effort to make it out next year.

Congratulations to the Sacramento Association of Museums for the success of this spectacular event!

Sacramento Museum Day Returns February 7

2009-02-03T22:29:19Z

Twenty-six greater Sacramento area museums will be offering free admission, all day long, during the 11th Annual Sacramento Museum Day. This event is presented by the Sacramento Association of Museums, and proudly supported by Umpqua Bank. Sacramento Museum Day takes place Saturday, February 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. All participating museums close at 5 p.m., with the last guests admitted at 4 p.m.

Museum Day, a Sacramento cultural tradition, invites all members of the community to experience the Capital City’s incredible wealth of art, history, science and wildlife at numerous participating museums at no cost. Twenty-six museums in all will be participating in Museum Day for 2009, the largest number ever! Several participating museums also offer special programming during Sacramento Museum Day, in addition to regular exhibitions.

“The Sacramento region boasts dozens of museums, many of them relatively unknown to local residents,” said Sacramento Association of Museums Chairman Paul Hammond. “Sacramento Museum Day is a great opportunity to sample these institutions and, in the process, to learn about our region, our state, and our world.” Nearly 55,000 people enjoyed the Capital City’s museums during Sacramento Museum Day 2008; since the event’s inception, well over one-half million people have enjoyed Sacramento Museum Day.

Event coordinators suggest that guests plan to see no more than two or three different museums this day, to allow adequate time to enjoy the experience and to travel between individual sites. Also, since some museums must limit the number of admissions this day for safety reasons, guests are asked to check out detailed Museum Day information online at sacmuseums.org, prior to February 7. “And whatever you do,” says Museum Day Coordinator Delta Pick Mello, “consider visiting museums that you’ve never been to—or perhaps have never even heard of. That’s what this event is all about: discovering the many different museums that are right here in our own backyard!”

Sacramento Museum Day 2009 is proudly supported by Umpqua Bank. Media sponsors include KVIE Public Television, Capital Public Radio, Outword magazine, and News10’s Sacramento & Co. Free shuttle buses will operate throughout the day with stopping points located adjacent to most—but not all—participating museums. The California Museum, at 10th and ‘O’ Streets, serves as the central transfer point for the five different shuttle routes in operation during Sacramento Museum Day. Volunteer “step-on” tour guides will be on-board to assist riders and narrate the route, courtesy of the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau and California State University, Sacramento. Riders with special needs will be accommodated courtesy of Cerebral Palsy Transport.

Detailed information about participating museums, suggested parking, public transit options, and free event shuttle routes is available at sacmuseums.org (click on “Museum Day”), or by calling the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau at (916) 808-7777.

PARTICIPATING MUSEUMS FOR SACRAMENTO MUSEUM DAY 2009:
Aerospace Museum of California – California Foundry History Museum – California State Military Museum – California State Capitol Museum – The California Museum – California State Indian Museum – California State Railroad Museum – Crocker Art Museum* – Discovery Museum Science and Space Center – Don and June Salvatori California Pharmacy Museum – Explorit Science Center (Davis) – Fairytale Town – Folsom History Museum – Governor’s Mansion State Historic Park – Heidrick Ag History Center (Woodland) – Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park – Museum of Medical History – Old Sacramento Schoolhouse Museum – Old Sacramento State Historic Park – Sacramento Zoo – Sacramento Historic City Cemetery – Sacramento History Museum (formerly Discovery Museum History Center) -- Sojourner Truth Multicultural Arts Museum – Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park – Towe Auto Museum – Wells Fargo History Museum (Old Sacramento location only).

*Please note that the Crocker Art Museum is under construction for its major expansion. Parking and gallery access will be limited, and shuttle service will not be offered to the Crocker Art Museum during Sacramento Museum Day 2009.

Comprised of 27 greater Sacramento area museums working in partnership with the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Sacramento Association of Museum's mission is to raise awareness of local museums by giving the community the opportunity to discover California’s fine art, history, science and wildlife treasures. SAM achieves its mission through implementing cooperative promotions and developing strategic marketing alliances, by encouraging sharing of knowledge and resources among its partner institutions, and by conducting Sacramento Museum Day each year.

Attain Enlightenment at the Crocker: Buddha Exhibition Opens Saturday

2009-01-29T18:10:09Z

According to tradition, Buddha was a spiritual being who attained enlightenment and shared his teachings, giving birth to Buddhism, a philosophy originating in Asia and practiced for centuries. In "Buddha," a new exhibition on view January 31 through April 19, the Crocker Art Museum explores the differences of Buddhist belief revealed through the depiction of the Enlightened One in more than 40 objects dating from the first millennium to the modern age.

As Buddhism spread in waves across Asia, the dissemination of the historical Buddha’s teachings resulted in varied interpretations and beliefs and created numerous schools of thought. This exhibition demonstrates how the differences in Buddhist philosophy, context and character resulted in differing representations of the buddhas.

Bringing together works from 11 Asian countries, "Buddha" features early Gandhara images of Buddha from Pakistan depicting the narrative of the enlightened one’s life, sculptures and paintings from China and Japan and works from the Himalayas. Such varied depictions of the buddhas reflect local styles and preferences in materials, illustrating the common characteristics of the Buddha – distended earlobes and monk’s robes. The choice of imagery is also closely linked to specific schools of Buddhism. This great variety of interpretations enhances our understanding of the cultures that created such devotional objects.

The Crocker will mark the opening of "Buddha" with a weekend-long celebration. Rev. Bob Oshita of the Buddhist Church of Sacramento will lead a dedication for the exhibition at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 31. Docent-led tours will be offered both Saturday and Sunday for visitors who want a closer look at the exhibit.

A 120-page catalogue published by Pomegranate Communications with more than 75 full-color photographs will accompany the exhibition. Exhibition organizer and catalogue author Nancy Tingley, Ph.D is the adjunct curator of Asian art at the Crocker Art Museum. The book will be available in the Crocker Art Museum Store for $29.95.

The Crocker Art Museum was founded in 1885 and continues as the leading art institution for the California Capital Region and Central Valley. The Museum offers a diverse spectrum of special exhibitions, events and programs to augment its collections of California, European and Asian artworks. The Crocker is located at 216 O Street in Downtown Sacramento. Museum hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday-Sunday; 1st and 3rd Thursdays until 9 p.m. Free admission on Sundays from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. is made possible through the support of Bank of America. For more information on exhibits and events call (916) 808-7000 or visit crockerartmuseum.org.

California Artists Showcased in Competitive Exhibit

2009-01-12T19:12:41Z

January 10, 2009 – Sacramento, Calif. – Showcasing both established and emerging artists in California, the Crocker Art Museum presents the 75th competitive exhibition The Crocker-Kingsley: California’s Biennial from January 10 to February 6, 2009. Due to construction at the Crocker, the exhibition will take place at the Tsakopoulos Library Galleria, located in Downtown Sacramento at 828 I Street. This exhibit will display 59 contemporary artworks in a wide array of media – painting, photography, sculpture, print and craft.

These works demonstrate the vibrant art scene throughout California. More than 500 artists submitted nearly 1,500 works for this competitive exhibit. The juror, nationally acclaimed artist Michael Bishop, selected 59 works from 54 artists which he felt were the “most fresh and original.” The Crocker-Kingsley presents an excellent opportunity to see various artistic developments in California within a diverse context of artists and mediums.

Among the 54 artists selected to display their works, five artists have received awards for the exceptional quality and excellence of their artworks. Agelio Batle, from San Francisco, was awarded Best of Show for his work of suspended graphite on wood panel, titled Black Growth. Kin Kwok, also from San Francisco, received First Place for his sculptural work of porcelain, pigments and resin, titled Orange Faces. Second Place was awarded to Sacramento artist Gioia Fonda for She Wears Perfume For Luck When She Plays Bingo, a work in acrylic, watercolor, gouache and ink. Geoff Tuttle of Sacramento was awarded Third Place for his mixed-media installation of wood, motor, electric parts, halogen bulbs and plexi, titled Projector. Lastly, San Jose artist Trevor Koch received Honorable Mention for his sculpture of low-fire ceramic, glaze, latex paint, flocking, found objects and hardware, titled Implement.

Visitors to the exhibition between January 10 and February 23 will have the opportunity to vote for the work they believe is deserving of the People’s Choice Award. The winner will be posted on the Crocker’s website on February 2.

On Saturday, January 24, Crocker-Kingsley juror Michael Bishop will talk about his studio and public art from 12-1:30 p.m. He will also discuss the Biennial from the juror’s perspective and what goes into judging an exhibition like the Crocker-Kingsley. This forum will take place in the East Meeting Room of the Sacramento Public Library located in Downtown Sacramento at 828 I Street. Reservations are required for this forum. To register, call (916) 808-1182 or email education@crockerartmuseum.org.

The Crocker Art Museum was founded in 1885 and continues as the leading art institution for the California Capital Region and Central Valley. The Museum offers a diverse spectrum of special exhibitions, events and programs to augment its collections of California, European and Asian artworks. The Crocker is located at 216 O Street in Downtown Sacramento. Museum hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday-Sunday; 1st and 3rd Thursdays until 9 p.m. Free admission on Sundays from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. is made possible through the support of Bank of America. For more information on exhibits and events call (916) 808-7000 or visit crockerartmuseum.org.

What's Opera, Doc?

2008-12-31T00:58:42Z

Thanks to Bugs and Elmer Fudd, the music of Richard Wagner, Gaetano Donizetti and Gioachino Rossini is familiar to young audiences today. Who can forget Bugs Bunny donning maestro’s tailcoat to conduct an overstuffed opera tenor through an absurdity of vocal pyrotechnics?

On January 10, the Crocker Art Museum and the Sacramento Opera will present a delightful musical performance exploring how Warner Bros. cartoons introduced classical music to generations.

Discover the origins of opera, its relation to the visual art world, its diffusion to other countries and how it came to appear in Warner Bros. cartoons and other pop culture outlets. Enjoy viewing such masterpieces as What’s Opera, Doc?, The Rabbit of Seville and Long-Haired Hare. The program also features performances of three popular opera selections.

This free program will be conducted twice at 12 and 2 p.m. at Curtis Hall in the Sierra 2 Center, located at 2791 24th Street. Appropriate for children ages 6-12, the program is offered in conjunction with The Art of Warner Bros. Cartoons, on view at the Crocker through January 18.
For more information, contact the Crocker’s Education Department at (916) 808-1963. Reservations not required.

The Crocker Art Museum was founded in 1885 and continues as the leading art institution for the California Capital Region and Central Valley. The Museum offers a diverse spectrum of special exhibitions, events and programs to augment its collections of California, European and Asian artworks. The Crocker is located at 216 O Street in Downtown Sacramento. Museum hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday-Sunday; 1st & 3rd Thursdays until 9 p.m. Free admission on Sundays from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. is made possible through the support of Bank of America. For more information on exhibits and events call (916) 808-7000 or visit crockerartmuseum.org.