As summer starts to wind down, enjoy these cool art events throughout Sacramento. From thought-provoking activist art to immersive outdoor experiences, you’ll find something to engage the senses at every stop. Here's a look at five local events you won't want to miss this month.
Museums: art and storytelling
The California Museum is currently hosting two exhibitions that explore the intersection of art and social justice. “Mission Gráfica: Reflecting a Community in Print,” which opened in June and runs through Sept. 14, features 40 years of activist screenprint posters from San Francisco’s Mission Gráfica. These colorful, historical graphic posters explore identity, politics and social issues.
In a similar vein, “Revolutionary Grain: Celebrating the Spirit of the Black Panthers in Portraits and Stories,” which runs through Nov. 2, humanizes the historical activist group through portraits and personal stories of its members. This exhibit invites viewers to engage with art that offers unique perspectives on historical and current cultural issues.
Meanwhile, the Manetti Shrem Museum of Art at UC Davis is taking a deep dive into the work of Bay Area artist and curator Julio César Morales with an exhibition opening on Aug. 7. Morales grew up along the US-Mexico border between San Diego and Tijuana, and much of his work is focused on the duality of bicultural life and social issues. Morales’ “Ojo” is a “mid-career survey bridging past and future to reflect on the present,” according to the museum. The exhibit marks the artist’s return to California after several years working in Arizona, where he was executive director and a curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tucson.
A large wood, acrylic and neon sculpture with the words “tomorrow is for those who can hear it coming” emblazoned in Old English typography sets the tone of “Ojo” and highlights themes of culture, history and the possibilities of the future through multiple mediums. Morales explores these themes using a variety of media including video, prints, watercolor, sculpture and photography. “Ojo” is on view through Dec. 1.
Meanwhile, the Manetti Shrem Museum of Art at UC Davis is taking a deep dive into the work of Bay Area artist and curator Julio César Morales with an exhibition opening on Aug. 7. Morales grew up along the US-Mexico border between San Diego and Tijuana, and much of his work is focused on the duality of bicultural life and social issues. Morales’ “Ojo” is a “mid-career survey bridging past and future to reflect on the present,” according to the museum. The exhibit marks the artist’s return to California after several years working in Arizona, where he was executive director and a curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tucson.
A large wood, acrylic and neon sculpture with the words “tomorrow is for those who can hear it coming” emblazoned in Old English typography sets the tone of “Ojo” and highlights themes of culture, history and the possibilities of the future through multiple mediums. Morales explores these themes using a variety of media including video, prints, watercolor, sculpture and photography. “Ojo” is on view through Dec. 1.
The conversation continues this fall with a complementary exhibition, “My America,” curated by Gallery Wendi Norris on Sept. 19. This second exhibit will feature new watercolor paintings and a large-scale sound installation created in collaboration with the Mexico City-based Mexican Institute of Sound. An opening and artist talk will be held on Sept. 28.
Group art shows
Get your fill of local art at E Street Gallery in Alkali Flat. Curated by Ember de Boer, “/Altered/ State” opens on Aug. 8, featuring 10 local artists exploring the theme of “creative states of mind that move outside the usual path.” Featuring multidisciplinary works and interactive installations, the exhibition will be “a showcase of local legends and innovators who make art as a way of coping with the world,” according to de Boer, who sees the show as means for “experimentation, dialogue, and personal healing amidst the chaos.” de Boer hopes to highlight these Sacramento artists who “have bolstered the vibrancy of our scene for decades.”
With work from prolific local artists — including painter John Horton, multidisciplinary artist Melissa Uroff and muralist Jose Di Gregorio — this diverse show highlights distinct styles, mediums and artistic practices. An opening reception will be held on Aug. 9 from 6-9 p.m., and the exhibition runs through Aug. 30 with weekend gallery hours from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Read bios for the featured artists here.
Another option to engage with local art is the Prism Art Space print show, running Aug. 9-30. There will also be a Zine Fest on Aug. 16. Both events will feature “printmakers, zinesters and radical illustrators,” highlighting work around activism and resistance, according to a social media post.
For those looking to see art from outside the region, Axis Gallery on R Street will be showing its 20th annual National Juried Exhibition beginning Aug. 1. Nancy Lim, associate curator at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art curated the exhibition, which features a selection of contemporary work that “highlights artists who engage with both material experimentation and thematic depth.” The exhibit runs through Aug. 31, and an opening reception will be held on Second Saturday, Aug. 9 from 5-8 p.m. Gallery hours are Friday to Sunday, 12-5 p.m.
Midtown Magic
Midtown is set to become an open-air gallery with the installation of 16 new large-scale sculptures as part of the “Urban Dreams Art Experience.” Inspired by Burning Man art, Midtown Association has plans to create an interactive experience (minus the fire) that brings the same creative energy and culture of the world-famous art festival to the heart of Sacramento.
The “Urban Dreams Art Experience” is a collaborative project between the Midtown Association, Sacramento Valley Spark and Visit Sacramento. For more information on the artworks and a map of locations, click here.
For those looking to see art from outside the region, Axis Gallery on R Street will be showing its 20th annual National Juried Exhibition beginning Aug. 1. Nancy Lim, associate curator at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art curated the exhibition, which features a selection of contemporary work that “highlights artists who engage with both material experimentation and thematic depth.” The exhibit runs through Aug. 31, and an opening reception will be held on Second Saturday, Aug. 9 from 5-8 p.m. Gallery hours are Friday to Sunday, 12-5 p.m.
Midtown Magic
Midtown is set to become an open-air gallery with the installation of 16 new large-scale sculptures as part of the “Urban Dreams Art Experience.” Inspired by Burning Man art, Midtown Association has plans to create an interactive experience (minus the fire) that brings the same creative energy and culture of the world-famous art festival to the heart of Sacramento.
The “Urban Dreams Art Experience” is a collaborative project between the Midtown Association, Sacramento Valley Spark and Visit Sacramento. For more information on the artworks and a map of locations, click here.
Placed throughout Midtown, the sculptures will be unveiled during Second Saturday on Aug. 9 and will be on display through Sept. 13.
From Second Saturday art walks to out-of-the-box (and gallery) exhibits, August is packed with exciting art experiences across the Sacramento region.
From Second Saturday art walks to out-of-the-box (and gallery) exhibits, August is packed with exciting art experiences across the Sacramento region.
This story is part of the Solving Sacramento journalism collaborative. This story was funded by the City of Sacramento’s Arts and Creative Economy Journalism Grant to Solving Sacramento. Following our journalism code of ethics, the city had no editorial influence over this story. Our partners include California Groundbreakers, Capital Public Radio, Hmong Daily News, Outword, Russian America Media, Sacramento Business Journal, Sacramento News & Review and Sacramento Observer. Sign up for our “Sac Art Pulse” newsletter here.