By Marie-Elena Schembri
This March may start with a roar, but it isn’t from a lion — it might be a jaguar bursting from the front of a Nicaraguan clay pot at the “Cultural Currents” exhibit, or perhaps it’s just the thousands of footsteps echoing through the vast halls of the city’s museums during a weekend of free admission. Whatever your adventure, this month brings fresh energy to the city through its visual art.
The month kicks off with Free Museum Weekend on March 1-2 with several of the area’s museums participating with free ticketed entry (must be reserved in advance and is subject to availability) including the Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento History Museum, SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity and the Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum. Sacramento Rapid Transit is also offering free transit to visit the museums throughout the weekend with a printed or digital copy of this flyer.
If you don’t get your fill of art, culture and history during Free Museum Weekend, try one of these Latin American-inspired art exhibits:
Mark Romero’s “Cultural Currents” at the Latino Center of Art and Culture will surely scratch the itch; this artist and citizen anthropologist has poured himself into studying the historical contributions and shared cultural connections of Mesoamerican and pre-Hispanic art.
Currently living in Davis, Romero is a first generation Nicaraguan American who grew up inspired by artifacts brought home from his father’s travels — like a Colombian vase or books from Mexico. “We always had this Latin home,” he said, adding that living in a culture very separate from his family’s, and not finding many Nicaraguan connections growing up in Pennsylvania might have also influenced his desire to share the art and culture of Latin American civilizations.
Romero earned a master’s degree in art education in 2017 from the University of the Arts, Philadelphia, but didn’t study anthropology in college. It is his passion project, one he has immersed himself — and his art — in, finding books and getting his hands on as many artifacts as possible.
Romero’s art, primarily expressed through illustration and screenprint, combines traditional Latin American cultural and design elements reinterpreted in his cross-cultural style. Always the teacher, he utilizes QR codes with photo examples and in-depth descriptions to accompany his interpretations.
Depicting things like the Latin American food staple maíz — or corn — and images like the fierce jaguar, an important symbol in ancient Mesoamerican art still popular in Mexican art today. For Romero, it is important to highlight these connections that show “the influence and similarities and connections throughout all the cultures of Mesoamerica.”
“Cultural Currents” opens with a reception on Saturday, March 1 from 6-9 p.m. at the Latino Center of Art and Culture located at 2700 Front Street, Sacramento. Regular viewing hours are Fridays and Saturdays, 12-5 p.m. or by appointment.
Women in Art
March is also Women’s History Month and Sacramento will have ample opportunities to view and celebrate art created by women.
We Are Sacramento, a collaboration that uplifts area creators, is hosting its second annual “Women Make the City” exhibition that “uplifts and amplifies the voices of women artists,” according to Mari Padilla, COO of We Are Sacramento.
This multi-media exhibition explores the complexities of female identity and experience through the lens of 13 local creators including Brianne Chaney, Faye Pollack, Lauren de Necochea and Madison Murray-Woods. The exhibition will include “a wide range of original artworks, including acrylic paintings, photography and glass art that share stories of feminine expression,” according to Padilla.
“Women Make the City” opens with a reception on March 1 from 5-9 p.m. at The Gallery by We Are Sacramento, located at 1019 Del Paso Blvd. The exhibition runs throughout the month of March and can be viewed during the gallery’s open hours on weekends from 1-5 p.m.
Those looking for a family-friendly experience will want to check out “The Women of Disney Fine Art” exhibition at Stage Nine in Old Sacramento on March 7-8.
The sprawling 8,000 square foot retail space that is a premier stop for souvenirs and gifts is also the second-highest U.S. retailer of certified Disney Fine Art by sales volume — barring art sold within the theme parks — according to Stage Nine owner Troy Carlson. Showcasing a unique collection of Disney-themed art and collectibles, the gallery is special in that it has a mix of commercial and fine art, including signed originals depicting classic Disney scenes and characters.
During the upcoming exhibition, the gallery will host eight women artists from throughout the U.S. and Canada for special meet-and-greet opportunities. Along with Disney artists Michelle St. Laurent, Elena Penkova, Denyse Klette and Arienne Boley. Los Angeles-based Disney voice actor — and the current voice of Minnie Mouse — Kaitlyn Robrock will be visiting during the two-day event.
New original artwork featuring each artist’s favorite Disney heroine and tributes to Minnie Mouse will be showcased alongside a limited-time display of “special artifacts of pioneering women” from Disney and Pixar history, drawn from Stage Nine’s extensive collection. Each artist works in her own style and medium while drawing inspiration from the art of Disney animation and films. “All these artists have really unique styles and once you see their art, you can kind of see that,” Carlson said.
The public is invited to visit with the artists during the free event on Saturday, March 8 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for storytelling, meet and greet opportunities and autograph signings. VIP ticketed events are also available for $95 and include a $75 voucher to use toward in-store purchases.
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, Outword, Russian America Media, Sacramento Business Journal, Sacramento News & Review, Sacramento Observer and Univision 19. Sign up for our “Sac Art Pulse” newsletter here.
