April-June 2023 Exhibitions & Events

APRIL

BANK OF AMERICA MUSEUMS ON US® FREE ADMISSION
4/1 & 4/2/23

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/event/museums-usr-free-admission-6.

ENRICHING OUR ROOTS: ASIAN AMERICAN FARMERS’ HERITAGE
4/22/23

The California Museum, Locke Foundation, and UC Davis Humanities Institute present a panel discussion exploring the rich histories and heritages of Japanese, Chinese, and South Asian farmers in California. Speakers include chef David Soohoo, professor Nicole Ranganath, educator Dan Kubo, and Roger Kinoshita from Walk the Farm. The panel will be followed by Q&A and guided explorations of related exhibits in the Museum. Admission is free to this special Earth Day event, presented as part of UC Davis Humanities Institute’s Cultivation series, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. on April 22, 2023 at the California Museum. For more information, visit https://californiamuseum.org/event/enriching-our-roots-asian-american-farmers-heritage.

“METAPHOR, MYTH, & POLITICS: ART FROM NATIVE PRINTMAKERS”
THROUGH 4/23/23

“Metaphor, Myth, & Politics: Art from Native Printmakers” features 36 contemporary works on paper by 29 Native and Indigenous artists from California and around the world. The colorful and inventive pieces, all drawn from the C.N. Gorman Museum’s collection at UC Davis, reveal the diverse points of view and styles of art present in the world of contemporary Native printmaking. This exhibition is organized and traveled by Exhibit Envoy. For more information, visit https://californiamuseum.org/metaphor-myth-politics.

“CALIFORNIA IS IN THE HEART”
THROUGH 4/30/23

“California Is in the Heart,” presented in partnership with the Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies at UC Davis, underlines the critical role Filipino Americans have played in our state’s history. Never-before-exhibited family photos tie into a map depicting Filipino towns across the state, while artists provide unique perspective as their work supplements a historic timeline. Additional sections celebrate the lifesaving work of Filipino nurses during the pandemic, highlight women’s role in the Fil-Am community, and address efforts to combat AAPI hate. For more information, visit http://californiamuseum.org/california-heart.

MAY

BANK OF AMERICA MUSEUMS ON US® FREE ADMISSION
5/6 & 5/7/23

JUNE

BANK OF AMERICA MUSEUMS ON US® FREE ADMISSION
6/3 & 6/4/23

“BLACK PIONEERS: LEGACY IN THE AMERICAN WEST”
6/10 – 10/1/23

“Black Pioneers: Legacy in the American West” is a first-of-its-kind exhibit exploring the path of Black history in the West through a timeline of original pictorial quilts. Dispelling the myth that Black people in the old West were mostly cowboys, the exhibit shows rich diversity in African Americans’ occupations and achievements in society, religion, education and the arts from their 1528 arrival in the American West through the Civil Rights Movement. This exhibition is organized by The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art and Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi, curator, historian, and artist. The Women of Color Quilters Network (WCQN) created the 50 quilts especially for this exhibition. For more information, visit https://californiamuseum.org/black-pioneers.

CALIFORNIA TIME TRAVELER CAMP
6/26 – 6/30/23

Young adventurers are invited to explore over 150 years of history, arts and culture in the California Time Traveler Camp. Ideal for kids ages 6 to 11, this week-long day camp offers engaging learning experiences as participants travel back in time to some of the state’s significant eras. A combination of exhibit tours, excursions to nearby sites and hands-on activities from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., daily itineraries begin on Monday over 150 years ago in pre-statehood California and end on Friday in the near future that California campers will create. Admission: $279 per time-traveler, including Eventbrite fee. For details or to book a passage, visit https://californiamuseum.org/time-traveler-camp.

ONGOING PROGRAMS:

MUSEUMS FOR ALL

Organized by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, this branded access program encourages individuals of all backgrounds to visit museums regularly and build lifelong museum habits. Those receiving food assistance benefits can gain reduced $2 admission for themselves and up to three guests by presenting their SNAP EBT (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Electronic Benefit Transfer) card. For more information, visit https://californiamuseum.org/event/museums-all-low-income-access.

ONGOING TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS:

15TH ANNUAL CALIFORNIA HALL OF FAME ARTIFACT EXHIBIT
THROUGH 10/31/23

Featuring artifacts and ephemera on loan from inductees’ personal collections, this temporary exhibition explores the lives and legacies of inductees in the 15th class of the California Hall of Fame, inspiring visitors to make their own mark on history. For more information, visit http://californiamuseum.org/artifact-exhibit.

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-0.

“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-0 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: AN AMERICAN STORY”

Reopened on March 11, 2023, this fully rebuilt, technology-enhanced signature exhibit focuses on the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII and explores how they responded to their forced removal and incarceration, ranging from quiet endurance to heroic valor to conscientious resistance. The exhibit also highlights Japanese Americans’ ongoing efforts to ensure no other groups experience similar civil rights violations. All-new interactive displays, and never-before-exhibited artifacts from survivors supplement visitor favorites from the previous installation including a video introduction by George Takei and a replica barracks and guard tower. New features include a theater experience and an AI-based component allowing visitors to hold virtual conversations with three incarceration survivors. For details, visit https://californiamuseum.org/uprooted.

“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.

ABOUT CALIFORNIA MUSEUM:

The California Museum celebrates the Golden State’s history, arts, diversity and unique influence on the world. Established in 1998, the Museum is home to the official California Hall of Fame, Unity Center and more exhibitions inspiring visitors to make their mark on history. Located at 1020 O Street in the March Fong Eu Secretary of State complex, galleries are open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.. Closed Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. General admission is $8-10. Learn more or get tickets at https://californiamuseum.org.

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