The influence the Crocker has on Sacramento’s creative economy is enormous. For many, displaying their work at the Crocker — either through an exhibition or a program like ArtMix — is the first step toward “the next big thing”. In fact, some of Sacramento’s most famous artists got their start at the Crocker. It’s a trend that continues to this day. For example, Larriah Jackson’s performance at the Crocker led to more local recognition and eventually, more shows. And now she’s on The Voice! Go Larriah!
Knowing this has made our closure even more painful. Many of our staff members are artists themselves. We’re intimately familiar with both the impact Covid-19 is having on local artists and museums in general. The extended closure and related budget reductions mean there are fewer chances for emerging artists to gain the exposure they need. And it is unlikely things will immediately return to normal even after a vaccine is widely distributed.
That’s why we’ve stepped up our commitment to supporting local artists, specifically those featured in our Student & Community exhibition program. Planned several years in advance, Student & Community exhibitions feature some of Sacramento’s most talented emerging and established artists.
Unlike many of our main exhibitions, most of our Student & Community exhibitions are available online in their entirety. We’ve also filmed quick, virtual walkthroughs for most of the exhibitions and have rounded up the four tours/shows currently available. Additional entries will be added throughout the next few months.
Multiple Horizons
Multiple Horizons creates space for the local Cultural Arts community to share their perspectives on the cultural landscape of the Sacramento region, inviting the viewer to reflect on their own relationship to the ancestral Nisenan territory the Museum was built on. In collaboration with concept: art + movement, an incubator of Arts and Culture El Dorado, the exhibit features California Indian, Native American, and Indigenous artists, community, and youth. Click here to view the full exhibition.
Photography Month Voices
We partnered with Viewpoint Photographic Art Center for an exhibition of photographic works by college and high school students. You can view the full exhibition here.
Wondrous Wax
We teamed up with the Sierra Wax Artists Group for a unique selection of encaustic and cold wax works. Encaustic painting is an ancient form of art that uses heated beeswax, pigments, and resin to create layered, luminous paintings or sculptures. Cold wax, on the other hand, uses oils and cold wax, which results in mystical, matte films of color and depth. Click here to view the exhibition.
Youth Art Month
A recurring, state-wide program presented by the California Art Education Association, Youth Art Month celebrates exceptional art education programs through the professional display of student artwork. Click here to see some more of this year's works.
Studio Selections
Melanie Andrews, Homage to Granville Redmond, 2020. Acrylic paint.
Last, but not least, we have a selection of works created by students who enrolled in the Museum's 2020 studio classes. We were unable to film a walkthrough. However, you can still view the works by clicking here.
Top Image: Caroline Valdez, Tribute to SAMO. Acrylic, paint pen, and oil pastel, Grade 10.
About the Author: Brian Hendershot serves as the Crocker's primary support editor, writer, and occasional audiovisual editor. Before joining the Crocker, he was the Head of Communications at the Museum of the Red River in Oklahoma. He also sat on the McCurtain Country Historical Society's Board of Directors and previously sat on the Crocker's MASS Action Committee. He received his MA in Communications at Drury University in Missouri.
