By Leigh Houck, news and media relations intern, UC Davis
While the summer quieted down initially for art venues, art shows are heating up in the region as we enter August. These include new exhibitions at the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art on the UC Davis campus, new exhibitions and more events at the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, and continuing exhibitions at Pence Gallery, and much more.
Ongoing at Pence Gallery in Davis is Exhibit It! running through Aug. 18. Fairfield artist Barbara Smithson’s painting “Colors of Burano,” depicting a scene from Italy, is on display. More information on this and other Pence exhibitions is here.
“Local Inspirations” runs Wednesday, Aug. 7 through Sept. 15 at the Solano Town Center Gallery in Fairfield, as well. Smithson is the featured artist in this show. Reception: 3-5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10. Smithson, according to her website, engages in plein air watercolor painting, using pen/ink and watercolor to make travel sketches. Her painting style tends toward impressionism, with her work exhibiting both energy and warmth. She often uses minimalist techniques to suggest depth and detail through subtle color changes and controlled lines.
Visit Smithson’s website for more information about her events and exhibits.
Arts Alliance Davis offers artists marketing help during lunch meeting
In its efforts to explore marketing and outreach of local arts programs, Arts Alliance Davis will be hosting a marketing advisory gathering Aug. 16 This session will offer a space for people to share ongoing or upcoming marketing efforts. Attendees are advised to come prepared with one or more of the following for their organization:
- Calendar of upcoming events as far out as July 2020
- Social media channels you are currently actively using
- Ads and events with which you are currently promoting your organization
- Best earned media (social, tv, radio or print media, etc.) in the past 6 months
The gathering is Friday, Aug. 16, noon to 1:30 p.m. (bring your lunch), Hunt Boyer Mansion, Conference Room, 604 2nd Street, Davis.
Please direct questions to Sasha Wallinger at sasha@hvertecouture.com
Weekend is full of gallery, museum and even brewery art events
The following events run Saturday and Sunday this weekend, Aug. 3 and 4, unless otherwise stated. Many of these events invite anyone to be an artist.
At the Manetti Shrem Museum of Art, UC Davis, you can get down and dirty in the art studio or take a special tour. And, while you are there, visit the current exhibition. Details below.
- Art studio drop-in program “Voyages in Landscape” at the Manetti Shrem Museum, Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., free for all
- The art studio drop-in program runs Tuesdays through Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The theme for the program will change from “Voyages in Landscape” to “Drop in and Experiment” for the period from Aug. 6 to Aug. 31.
- “Gallery road trip,” Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., free
- Before you dabble in the art studio, stop in the museum lobby and request a gallery road trip. Then explore the Manetti Shrem Museum’s current exhibits, Kathy Butterly|Colorform and Landscape without Boundaries, while participating in interactive activities.
Events in Davis offer beer, food, art
- Davis Craft and Vintage Fair Square Tomatoes in the Davis Central Park, Sunday, 11 a.m.
- Come out and support local artists at the Davis Craft and Vintage Fair. Artists sell a variety of handmade wares, from original stickers and prints, quilted bags, and stained glass, to skin care products and goat’s milk soap. The fair also features vintage items like clothing, jewelry, watches, and pins.
- “Summer Pints While We Paint,” Super Owl Brewing, Sunday Aug. 4, 2:30-4:30 p.m.,
- Enjoy a cold beer from local brewery Super Owl Brewing while you either paint along with the lesson to create a hot air balloon scene, or just follow your own imagination. All materials are included. Children and dogs welcome. $35 per person.
In Sacramento, Crocker and Verge offer activities
- History Tour of the Crocker Art Museum, Saturday Aug. 3, 11 a.m., free for members and free for nonmembers with admission to the museum, More information here.
- Head down to the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento to take a tour of your favorite local collection with an eye toward history. Members get in free. Children get in free, youth ages 6 through 17 pay $6, adults pay $12, and seniors, college students, and military pay $8.
- Highlight Tour of the Crocker, Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m., noon., 1, 2, and 3 p.m., free for members and free for nonmembers with admission
- Didn’t get enough of the Crocker during the History Tour? Stick around for the afternoon and catch the highlights of the Crocker’s permanent collection.
- Architecture Tour of the Crocker, Sunday, 1 p.m., free for members and free for nonmembers with admission
- The art inside the Crocker, from ceramics and glass to paintings and installations, is captivating no matter where it is housed. But the Crocker itself is a piece of art. This tour invites visitors to learn about the history and architecture of the main building as well as the Teel Family Pavilion.
- Kids & Company Gallery Adventure, Sunday, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
- Need to keep the kids busy this weekend between summer camps? Check out the Crocker’s fun tour geared towards kids ages 5 and older.
- Drop in clay studio at Verge Center for the Arts, Saturday, $15 for members $25 for nonmembers.
- Many UC Davis alumni and faculty have been featured in multiple media (summarized and linked here), including the San Francisco Chronicle, the UC Davis Arts Blog and others, for their ceramics prowess. Get in touch with your own creative side this weekend at Verge. You will be given access to the studio’s selection of pottery tools and glazes, use of the studio kiln, and up to eight pounds of clay to work with.
- More events throughout the region are always featured at on the UC Davis Capital Culture List blog and podcast.
Coming up
The Second Friday ArtAbout is next weekend. Read about it in the Daily Democrat here.