April-June 2022 Exhibitions & Events

APRIL

BANK OF AMERICA MUSEUMS ON US® FREE ADMISSION
4/2 &4/3/22

Free admission for all current Bank of America®, Merrill Lynch® and U.S. Trust® cardholders through Museums On Us® with valid photo ID. For more information, visit https://californiamuseum.org/mou-2021.  

PLANET OR PLASTIC?
4/7 – 8/7/22

The “Planet or Plastic?” exhibition examines the global plastic waste crisis and showcases innovators working to solve this urgent issue. Organized and traveled by the National Geographic Society, the national touring exhibition raises awareness and provides actionable steps visitors can take in their lives to reduce, reuse and recycle – or refuse – products with single-use plastic. The California Museum’s presentation of the exhibition also highlights California’s role in fighting plastic pollution through a supplementary display including portraits that Marin County artist Tess Felix has created entirely from plastics washed up on Northern California beaches. On view April 7 through Aug. 7, 2022. For more information, visit https://californiamuseum.org/planet-or-plastic.

EARTH DAY
4/23/22

The California Museum invites the public to celebrate Earth Day with self-guided tours of the National Geographic Society “Planet or Plastic?” exhibition and recycled craft activities led by ReCreate, a STEAM education program that diverts unwanted items into hands-on learning and creative expression. Festivities from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. include free admission for each child with a paid adult. For more information, visit https://californiamuseum.org/event/earth-day-2022.

MAY

BANK OF AMERICA MUSEUMS ON US® FREE ADMISSION
5/7 & 5/8/22

Free admission for all current Bank of America®, Merrill Lynch® and U.S. Trust® cardholders through Museums On Us® with valid photo ID. For more information, visit https://californiamuseum.org/mou-2021.  

DISTINCTLY HER OWN: SCULPTURES BY VIOLA FREY​
THROUGH 5/15/22

Massive sculptures complement tile artworks and smaller ceramics in this exhibition highlighting Bay Area artist Viola Frey’s iconic style and her relentless need to make art. The sculptures made late in her life explore personal reflection and our shared human experience – themes she explored throughout her life. Curated by Cynthia de Bos, Director of Collections and Archives at Artists’ Legacy Foundation.  On view Feb. 17 through May 15, 2022. For more information, visit https://californiamuseum.org/distinctly-her-own-sculptures-viola-frey. 

TIME OF REMEMBRANCE WEBINARS
5/12 & 5/18/22

Exploring citizenship, constitutionality and redress, the “Time of Remembrance” Virtual Field Trip brings a pivotal chapter of history to life through the first-hand accounts of Japanese American docents who experienced life behind barbed wire during WWII. Includes a recorded video tour of “Uprooted! Japanese Americans During WWII” and a 30-minute live Zoom webinar with docent, plus lesson plans, digital artifact kit and follow-up activities. $50 per classroom connection. The live webinars are offered May 12 at 9:00 a.m. and May 18 at 1:00 pm. For more information, visit https://californiamuseum.org/time-remembrance-online.

JUNE

BANK OF AMERICA MUSEUMS ON US® FREE ADMISSION
6/4 & 6/5/22

Free admission for all current Bank of America®, Merrill Lynch® and U.S. Trust® cardholders through Museums On Us® with valid photo ID. For more information, visit https://californiamuseum.org/mou-2021.

CALIFORNIA TIME TRAVELER CAMP
6/27 – 7/1/22

Young adventurers are invited to explore over 300 years of history, arts and culture in the California Time Traveler Camp. Ideal for kids ages 6 to 10, this week-long day camp offers engaging learning experiences as participants travel back in time to some of the state’s significant eras – and then journey into the future. A combination of exhibit tours and hands-on activities from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., daily itineraries begin on Monday in pre-statehood California and end on Friday as campers envision the future they want to live in. Admission: $275 per time-traveler. For details or to book a passage, visit https://californiamuseum.org/event/california-time-traveler-camp-0.

CONTINUING ONSITE EXHIBITIONS:

CALIFORNIA INDIANS: THE FIRST PEOPLE      

Initially developed under the direction of a Native Advisory Council in 2011, “California Indians: The First People” is the only exhibit of its kind in the state to present the unique contributions of California’s Native Peoples in their own voice. Through artifacts, original art, oral histories and an interactive language kiosk, the exhibit chronicles the histories and cultural legacies of over 100 tribes. Highlights include the Chipped Stone Bear, California’s official prehistoric artifact; baskets woven by Native artists; a fur cape owned by Ishi; and more. For details, visit https://californiamuseum.org/california-indians.

CALIFORNIA MISSIONS: A JOURNEY ALONG THE EL CAMINO REAL

Designed to correspond with State standards for 4th grade students, this exhibit includes rare artifacts from Missions across the state, such as iron tools handmade at Mission Santa Barbara, a marriage registry document written by Father Junípero Serra, an 1893 painting of Mission San Luis Rey on an original tile from that mission and more. In addition, oral history brings this pivotal chapter of history into the present through the modern perspective of Andrew A. Galvan, the first Native curator of Mission Dolores in San Francisco. For details, visit https://californiamuseum.org/california-missions.

HEALTH HAPPENS HERE 

Learn how and why your zip code determines how long and how well you live in the multimedia exhibit “Health Happens Here.” Discover what Californians are doing to build health in communities across the state in this interactive journey through all the places and all the ways health happens in California. Through a series of high-tech games and interactive stations, visitors explore key factors that affect health beyond traditional diet and exercise while earning points that can be donated to one of 10 charities to make health happen for all Californians. Winner of the American Alliance of Museum’s “Excellence In Exhibition” award, visit https://californiamuseum.org/health-happens-here for more information.

GOLD MOUNTAIN: CHINESE CALIFORNIAN STORIES       

Discover the overlooked but significant history and contributions of Chinese Californians from the Gold Rush to the present in “Gold Mountain: Chinese Californian Stories.” This ongoing exhibit explores the history of Chinese immigrants who came to California in search of a better life and helped build the modern state while triumphing over racism and other obstacles with ingenuity and perseverance. In their stories, visitors will see the contributions Chinese Americans have made to our state’s economy, governance and culture. For more information, go to https://californiamuseum.org/gold-mountain. 

UNITY CENTER AT CALIFORNIA MUSEUM                          

Initiated in 1999 in response to a series of Northern California hate crimes and launched in 2017, the Unity Center at the California Museum celebrates the state’s diverse people, customs and cultures. Featuring multimedia exhibits exploring significant chapters of California’s civil rights history and a state-of-the-art classroom, the interactive 4,000 sq. ft. gallery encourages visitors to find common ground while embracing their own individuality. Through advocacy tools and engaging educational programs, visitors are empowered to be Unity Activists, exercising their rights and standing up for the rights of others – regardless of belief, background, identity or gender. For details, visit https://californiamuseum.org/unity-center.

UPROOTED! JAPANESE AMERICANS DURING WWII      

Highlighting members of the Sacramento Japanese American community, this exhibit presents the history of immigration and mass incarceration during World War II, as well as their successful fight for redress for the loss of constitutional rights. Featuring replica barracks and guard tower, the display includes rare artifacts along with a video introduction by George Takei, an interactive map of the incarceration sites and oral history video kiosks. For details, visit https://californiamuseum.org/uprooted-japanese-americans-during-wwii.

WOMEN INSPIRE: CALIFORNIA WOMEN CHANGING OUR WORLD

Developed in collaboration with California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and a statewide advisory council of historians, this all-new long-term signature exhibit features the stories of Golden State women from the 1700s to present who inspire change and reflection on the ongoing struggle for equality. For more information, visit https://californiamuseum.org/women-inspire.

FREE ONLINE EXHIBITIONS:

CALIFORNIA HALL OF FAME

This all-new website explores the inspirational lives of California Hall of Fame’s 14^th class inducted by Governor Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom on Oct. 12, 2021.  Highlights include virtual exhibitions and tribute videos on Ruth Asawa, Jerry Garcia, Larry Itliong, Phyllis Lyon, Del Martin and Ritchie Valens, along with a replay of the 14^th class virtual induction and more.  For more information or to take a self-guided virtual tour, visit https://cahalloffame.org.

DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS 2020

Launched in November 2020, this online exhibit features original works by California artists Francisco Franco, John S. Huerta, Oscar Magallanes, David Lozeau and Rob-O of I Love Sugar Skulls exploring the Mexican cultural tradition of honoring deceased loved ones each year on November 1 and 2, which has evolved from the Aztecs to modern-day Mexico and California. For details or related programs, go to https://californiamuseum.org/dotd-2020.

FIGHT FOR THE RIGHT: 100 YEARS OF WOMEN VOTING

Featuring artifacts, historic photographs and interactive activities, this online exhibit chronicles women’s struggle for the right to the vote from the mid-19th century to the ratification of the 19th Amendment on Aug. 26, 1920, drawing parallels to the ongoing fight for women’s equality that continues today. Developed in collaboration with First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, who served as California’s representative on the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission, the project launched on Aug. 26. 2020, marking the 100^th anniversary of the 19^th Amendment’s ratification. For details or to view, go to https://californiamuseum.org/womens-vote-100-online.  

INDOMITABLE: THE STORY OF TOMMY KONO                         

Explore the life and legacy of legendary weightlifter Tommy Kono (1930-2016) in this all-new online exhibit presented in partnership with Google Arts and Culture for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Through historic photographs, video clips and artifact images, the virtual presentation chronicles the journey of the Sacramento native Japanese American who began weightlifting while incarcerated at Tule Lake and went on to set world records in four weight classes, becoming one of the greatest Olympic weightlifters of all time. For more information, go to https://californiamuseum.org/tommy-kono.

KOKORO: THE STORY OF SACRAMENTO’S LOST JAPANTOWN  

Explore the experiences of local Japanese Americans in the early 20th century in the online version of “Kokoro: The Story of Sacramento’s Lost Japantown.” Featuring photographs from the private collections of community members, the exhibit documents the memories of a once-thriving community devastated first by forced removal during WWII and again by redevelopment in the 1960s. Developed in partnership with former residents of the lost neighborhood and author of “Sacramento’s Historic Japantown” Kevin Wildie, “Kokoro” was originally presented as an onsite exhibit in 2017 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Executive Order 9066, the presidential decree that led to the unconstitutional incarceration of 120,000 Japanese Americans. For more information or to view, go to https://californiamuseum.org/kokoro.

VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS: FIRST, BUT NOT LAST       

Explore the life and career of Vice President Kamala Harris in this new online exhibit launched on the eve of her historic inauguration as the United States’ first woman, first African American and first Indian American Vice President. Developed in partnership with the California State Archives, the virtual presentation documents the rise of the California native from her childhood in Oakland growing up as the daughter of immigrants to becoming the highest-ranking female elected official in American history. For more information or to view, go to https://californiamuseum.org/kamala.

WOMEN INSPIRE: CALIFORNIA WOMEN CHANGING OUR WORLD

Discover the stories of selected Golden State women from the 1700s to the present who inspire change and reflection on the ongoing struggle for equality in the online version of “Women Inspire: California Women Changing Our World.” Developed in collaboration with California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the online Google Arts and Culture project launched August 18, 2020—100 years to the day Tennessee became the 36^th and final state to ratify the amendment granting the women’s vote. For more information or to view, go to https://californiamuseum.org/wi-online.