The Nelson Entryway Gallery's spring show, 18th- and 19th-Century British Satirical Posters from the university’s Fine Arts Collection, is being presented in conjunction with modern-day illustrations in the Nelson’s main gallery and project room.

In describing the 18th- and 19th-century satirical prints, the Nelson Gallery draws on information from the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers.

“Early satirical prints are important social documents that comically portray people and situations of interest to their contemporaries,” the Nelson Gallery Web site explains.

“The exaggerations created were not simply recordings of these people and events, but were knowingly critical or infused with popular prejudices revealing the absurdities and hypocrisy of the subjects.

“Most often the prints were also titled so there was no possible doubt of their intended meaning. Because they sold singularly and cheaply, in large numbers, like comic books today, many have survived over the centuries.”

The Nelson continues the illustration theme with one-man shows by Owen Smith and Nayland Blake.

Smith, known for his 1930s-style pulp fiction illustrations, is showing cartoon drawings on paper and in digital video format, paintings, New Yorker magazine covers and other work.

Blake, who has been blogging on a near-daily basis in recent years, is presenting the first offline exhibition of his autobiographical drawings cum cartoons. His show also includes original black-and-white drawings as well as digital images, in color, on a video monitor.

All three exhibitions are set to run through May 23. The Nelson is in 124-125 Art Building. Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday, by appointment on Fridays; and 2-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.

OPENING SOON

Design by Design: Juried Student Design Competition—Annual survey of student talent and creativity, reflecting the multidisciplinary breadth of the Design Program, April 5–17 (Picnic Day), Design Museum, first floor, Walker Hall. Hours: noon-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 2-5 p.m. Sunday.

Niu Pasifik—Contemporary art from New Zealand and the Pacific Rim (including Aotearoa, the Cook Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Niue, Hawaii, Papua New Guinea and Australia), from the collection of curator and educator Giles Peterson. Featuring multimedia work, including graphic art, painting, drawing, animation, hip-hop music video, sculpture, photography, tattoo, installation, embroidery-textile and street fashion. April 6–June 13, C.N. Gorman Museum, first floor, Hart Hall. Hours: noon-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 2-5 p.m. Sunday. Curator talk and reception, 4-6 p.m. April 8.

Jared Tolla: Remnants—The Craft Center director presents an exhibition of works that he has crafted from “reappropriated” bits and pieces of glass, including incorrect sizes and shapes, and leftovers from completed projects. March 29-
April 30, Craft Center Gallery, South Silo. Reception, noon-1 p.m. April 24. Hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday, and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.

Youth Voices for Change—Work by Sactown Heroes, affiliated with the West Sacramento Youth Resource Coalition. The teens collaborated with UC Davis researchers and artists for six months to create poetry, photos, comics and an interactive map with videos, documenting conditions that impact their lives and expressing their hopes for the future. March 23–June 20, Buehler Alumni and Visitors Center, Old Davis Road and Mrak Hall Drive. Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Opening presentation and reception, noon to 2 p.m. March 31. Youth Voices for Change is a collaboration of Art of Regional Change and Healthy Youth-Healthy Regions at UC Davis, and the West Sacramento Youth Resource Coalition.