Program Archive

2024

Spring 

2023

Fall 

Student Program: Study Salon Finals

Sun-Tues, Dec 10,11,12 from 4 to 10 p.m.

Join the Museum of Art (MoA) for a late-night study session! For finals week (Sun–Tues), MoA is open late.

•  Gaze at some art.
•  Set up a study spot at the gallery tables.
•  Enjoy quiet time and a few laughs.

Corita Day, Monday, November 20, from 2 to 5:30 p.m.

Join Saint Mary's College Museum of Art in celebrating the act of giving back on Corita Kent's birthday, November 20!

• Make silkscreens in the spirit of Corita Kent.
• Explore printmaking practices.
• Reframe the world through Corita's famous viewfinder activity.
• Gain insights into local non-profits.

This program is family-friendly; ages 3-15 years is recommended. Thank you to our collaborators and sponsors at the Cummins Institute for Catholic Thought, Culture, and Action, North Bay Letterpress Arts, and Girls Garage. 

"Rebel Hearts" Documentary Screening, Wednesday, November 15

Join us for two screenings at 2:15 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. 

The film shares the sorry of Corita Kent, the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mar, and their fight to define their own lives of faith. This event is presented in partnership with the SMC library, the Center for Women and Gender Equity, The Cummins Institute, and the Mission and Ministry Center. 

Enjoy a free meal before or after the film at the Solidarity Supper from 5-6 p.m. in the Fountain Courtyard.

Cello in the Galleries, Saturdays at 1 p.m.

Sept 23 | Oct 14 |  Oct 28 | Nov 11

Join us for a peaceful hour of music in the galleries. Listen and enjoy the tranquil strings of the cello while exploring fall exhibitions.

Featured music by SMC student and cellist Desiree Sturrock.

Words Matter: Serigraphs, Songwriting + Storytelling

Wed, Nov 1 + Nov 8, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Join Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art (SMCMoA) and the Center for Women and Gender Equity (CWGE) in exploring words and meanings accentuated through serigraphs, songwriting, and storytelling. Join us for a curator-led tour of exploring how words impacted Corita Kent’s serigraphs in the series “heroes & sheroes.” Following the tour, create songs and place words into music through a songwriting workshop with Laura Zucher.

Student Program: Study Salon Midterms

Sun-Tues, Oct 8,9,10 from 4 to 10 p.m.

Join the Museum of Art (MoA) for a late-night study session! For midterms week (Sun–Tues), MoA is open late.

•  Gaze at some art.
•  Set up a study spot at the gallery tables.
•  Enjoy quiet time and a few laughs. 

Artist Talk with Lisa Congdon: Friday, September 15, 2023

Join the Saint Mary's College Museum of Art at the SMC theater for an artist talk with designer and illustrator Lisa Congdon. At 2 p.m., Lisa will speak about the current body of work displayed in the exhibition Hold it Lightly. An open Q&A with the artist will follow this 45-minute talk. 

Opening Celebration: Thursday, September 14, 2023

Join Saint Mary's College Museum of Art for the opening celebration of Spring 2023 exhibitions from 4 to 8 p.m.

• Engage with new exhibitions 
• Meet the artist Lisa Congdon
• Mingle with art lovers, colleagues, and friends 

This event is free and open to all. Light refreshments will be provided. 

"Hold it Lightly" VIP Reception with Lisa Congdon: Wednesday, September 13

Purchase tickets >>

Join the Museum of Art (MoA) and the Office of Alumni Engagement in celebrating the opening of Lisa Congdon's exclusive solo exhibition, Hold it Lightly.  

This private fundraising event features VIP first access to the exhibition and work paired with delicious food and decadent wines from Union Wine Company, Dot Wines, and Aldina Vineyards. Participants will have the opportunity to meet Lisa and partake in a silent auction to purchase original limited-edition prints featured in the exhibition. All proceeds will support the Museum of Art acquisition fund. 

This event features two alumni winemakers, Lisa Asimont '98 and Francisco Lopez '01.

Spring 

Student Art Capstone Opening Celebration: Thursday, May 18, 4 to 6 p.m 

Join the Museum of Art and the Department of Art and Art History to celebrate the graduating students of art practice. Enjoy mixed media prints, photography, and more. Light refreshments provided. 

Study Salon Finals (Student Program): Sunday-Tuesday, May 14, 15, and 16

Join the Museum of Art (MoA) for a late-night study session! For finals week (Sun–Tues), MoA is open late.

•  Gaze at some art.
•  Set up a study spot at the gallery tables.
•  Enjoy quiet time and a few laughs.
•  

Adventure Sense: Exploring Art + Nature Family Day, Saturday, May 13 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Join the Museum of Art (SMCMoA) and Dr. E and Friends for a family day exploring senses through art and nature. In conjunction with the current exhibition “From the Ground Up” participants will learn how to bind books to keep and trace their exploration of sensory engagement with art and the natural world. This program is suited for artists, explorers, and makers of all ages.

Study Salon Midterms (Student Program): Sunday-Tuesday, March 12, 13, and 14

Join the Museum of Art (MoA) for a late-night study session! For midterms week (Sun–Tues), MoA is open late.

•  Gaze at some art.
•  Set up a study spot at the gallery tables.
•  Enjoy quiet time and a few laughs.

Saint Toussaint and Sinner L’Ouverture: Hagiography or Cancellation? March 23, at 2 p.m.

Art Talk with Claude-Rheal Malary

Join the Museum of Art for an afternoon art talk with scholar and SMC professor Claude-Rheal Malary. This talk will focus on Jacob Lawrence's Toussaint L'Ouverture series featuring the beloved leader and cultural icon of the Haitian Revolution. Lawrence’s depiction of the leader, both as paintings 1936-38 and as prints in the later 1980s, reflect the political and social significance of reception, memory, and identity. Malary's talk will explore Lawrence's work through the diasporic lens of black Americans, visual iconography, and cultural symbols.  

Lift Your Voice Reception for Angela Harrelson: March 14 at 5:30 p.m.

Join the Museum of Art in welcoming Angela Harrelson to Saint Mary’s College of California. Author of Lift Your Voice, Angela was George Floyd’s aunt and closest relative in Minnesota. Her story tells the behind-the-scenes of George’s family—how he lived and why he died—and how the world can find a solution to racism through his death. Angela will speak to her work in the chapel at 7 p.m. following the 5:30 p.m. reception at the museum. 

Hosted by and in collaboration with Dean of Students, The Cummins Institute, Residential Experience, The Center for Women and Gender Equity, The Black Leadership Coalition, CCIE Sub Committee, and the Museum of Art 

Yoga & RePosture in the Galleries: March 11 at 1 p.m.

Join us for a free afternoon yoga and reposture session with instructor Clarissa Louis. 

This session combines elements of vinyasa flow yoga, weight + resistance training, cardio intervals and plyometrics. Given the full range of effort, and variety of postures offered/modified, it is a great way to augment a wellness routine for all fitness goals and skill levels.

This program is co-sponsored by Center for Women & Gender Equity, CCIE Sub-committee on Gender Equity and Women’s History. 

Documentary Screening + Q&A: Wednesday, March 1 at 1 p.m. 

Join the Museum of Art for an afternoon screening of the new documentary 100 Years from Mississippi. Followed by a Question & Answer with the film’s director and producer, Tarabu Betserai Kirkland.

In 100 Years from Mississippi, Kirkland amplifies the story of his late mother, Mamie Lang Kirkland, who fled Mississippi as a child in 1915 to escape lynchings and returns to confront the painful part of her history as a 108-year-old woman. 

This program is co-sponsored by Center for Women & Gender Equity, CCIE Sub-committee on Gender Equity and Women’s History, Mission & Ministry, Dean of Students 

Mindfulness & Yoga with Nick Harris: Thursday, February 23, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Join the Museum of Art for a morning coffee hour followed by an InTension workshop with alumni Nick Harris. Harris combines goal identification with journaling and movements to align actions with intentions. He combines mindfulness and yoga as part of this practice. 

• 10 - 11 a.m. - Coffee and Community Hour
• 11 - 11:30 a.m. - Q&A with Nick 
• 11:30 - 12:30 p.m. - Mindfulness and Yoga Session 

This program is co-sponsored by Center for Women & Gender Equity, CCIE Sub-committee on Gender Equity and Women’s History. This program is aligned with SMC 44 days. 

Opening Celebration: Thursday, February 16, 4 to 8 p.m.

Join Saint Mary's College Museum of Art for the opening celebration of Spring 2023 exhibitions.

• Engage with new exhibitions 
• Experience live music 
• Mingle with art lovers, colleagues, and friends 

This event is free and open to all. Light refreshments will be provided. Glee club will perform featuring music at 5:30 p.m. 

2022

Fall 

Student-led Guided Tours

Saturdays through December 10 at 2 p.m. 

Join the Museum of Art for a student-led tour of the current fall exhibitions.

Curator-led Guided Tours 

Wednesdays through December 7 at 11 a.m.

Join the Museum of Art for a curator-led tour of the current fall exhibitions.

Celebrate Art! Museum of Art Exhibition Opening Reception 

Thursday, September 15, from 4 to 8 p.m. 

Join Saint Mary's College Museum of Art for the opening celebration of Fall 2022 exhibitions!

• Engage with new exhibitions 
• Experience choreographed dance 
• Enjoy live music by student cellists 
• Mingle with art lovers, colleagues, and friends 

This event is free and open to all. Light refreshments will be provided. 

Art Talk with Sara Trail 

Wednesday, October 5 at 3:30 p.m. 

Join the Museum of Art for an afternoon art talk with the founder of Social Justice Sewing Academy, Sara Trail. Social Justice Sewing Academy (SJSA) is a Bay Area-based program empowering youth through sewing mediums for expression and social change. Facilitating hands-on workshops in schools, prisons, and community centers across the country, SJSA activates textiles as a vehicle for community engagement and justice. 

Write Now: Express Yourself

Wednesday, October 12, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. 

Join the Museum of Art for a late-night workshop in the galleries! This program is organized with the Center for Women & Gender Equity (CWGE) in honor of National Writing Day. Writing is for everyone. It allows for reflecting on our past, contemplating our present, and (re)writing our futures. This program is free and open to all.

Brew & Muse

Thursday, October 13, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Join the Center for Women & Gender Equity (CWGE) and the Museum of Art (MoA) for a morning brew in the galleries on Thursday, October 13, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Enjoy java, pastries, and live music at the museum courtyard. Engage in a gallery walk at 11 a.m. exploring gender in art and celebrating women artists. This event is free and open to all. This event is co-sponsored by CCIE Sub-Committee on Gender Equity & Women's History.

Tranquility Hour | Music in the Museum 

Sunday, October 16, and Tuesday, December 6, at 5:30 p.m. 

Enjoy extended hours at the museum on October 16 and December 6. Join us for the live music at 5:30 p.m. featuring student cellist Desiree Sturrock. Museum evening hours extend from 4 to 10 p.m. 

Embroidery Workshop: A Pedagogy of Hope 

Monday, October 17 at 10:30 a.m.

Join the Museum of Art (MoA) for a special Monday workshop led by Justice, Community, & Leadership professor, Suzanne Schmidt. This workshop will explore embroidery practices as a craft for social activism and a lens for hope. 

Study Salon (student program) 

Sunday–Tuesday, October 16, 17, 18 | 4 to 10 p.m.

Join the Museum of Art (MoA) for a late-night study session! For midterms and finals week (Sun–Tues), MoA is open late.

•  Gaze at some art.
•  Set up a study spot at the gallery tables.
•  Enjoy quiet time and a few laughs. 

Outside the Frame
Wednesday, November 9, - 1 to 2:30 p.m. 

Join us for an afternoon of creating in the museum with Jen Kulbeck. Through this workshop, Jen will share her creative process and guide participants to create a “conversation” with a work of art in the museum’s galleries. There will be opportunities for participants to share what they have created during the session and hear from one another about their experiences. Bring curiosity and an open mind, and see what happens! 

Angles on Authenticity

Thursday, November 17 at 5:30 p.m. | Soda Activity Center 

Join the SMC Museum of Art (SMCMoA) for an afternoon conversation exploring views and approaches to contemporary art trends through ways of seeing. In dialogue with the current exhibition: Fake It Till You Make It: A Quest for Authenticity, art professionals examine the aura of authenticity and how it impacts artists' intent and culture through history, consumerism, and the art market. This program features guest speakers Rebecca Ackermann and Zach Clark in dialogue with SMCMoA curator Britt Royer. 

Angles on Authenticity is presented by Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art and co-sponsored by The Roy E. and Patricia Disney Forum and the Communications Department.

Watch recording >>

Cello in the Galleries

Saturday, November 5 at 11 a.m.

Sunday, December 4 at 2 p.m.

Saturday, December 11 at 11 a.m.

Join the Museum of Art (MoA) for a peaceful hour of music in the galleries. Listen and enjoy the tranquil strings of the cello while exploring fall exhibitions. 

Family Day Making Holiday Light Boxes

Saturday, December 3 at 1 p.m.

Enjoy a hands-on holiday art-creating adventure exploring light and shadow at Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art (MoA) Saturday, December 3rd. Children and their families are invited to partake in an afternoon of family artmaking and integrated learning with creator and facilitator Dr. E and Friends. Wrap your artmaking activity with a cup of cheer, warm beverages, and holiday music. Supplies are included, and FREE snacks will be provided for all participants. 

Dr. E, also known as Everett L. Louis, Ph.D., is a musician, teaching artist, and adjunct assistant professor at Saint Mary’s College of California in teacher education. Learn more about his art and integrated learning strategies at: http://www.doctoreandfriends.org/

Study Salon (student program) 

Sunday–Tuesday, December 4, 5, 6 | 4 to 10 p.m.

Join the Museum of Art (MoA) for a late-night study session! For finals week (Sun–Tues), MoA is open late.

•  Gaze at some art.
•  Set up a study spot at the gallery tables.
•  Enjoy quiet time and a few laughs. 

Spring 

Family Day: Chill Out, Make Art with Dr. E and Friends

Saturday, June 11 | 2 p.m.

Enjoy a hands-on art making adventure for children and their families in the Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art (MoA) courtyard Saturday, June 11. Partake in an afternoon of family artmaking and integrated learning with creator and facilitator Dr. E and Friends. FREE snacks will be provided for all participants and FREE wine and beer will be available for adults and caretakers over 21. 

Creating Through Chaos: Senior Capstone Reception 

Thursday, May 19 | 4 to 6 p.m.

Join the Museum of Art and the Art & Art History Department for the opening celebration of the Senior Capstone Exhibition: Creating through Chaos. 

The Saint Mary’s College of California Art Practice Capstone 2022 Exhibition showcases the artworks of four graduating seniors: Emma Cate Neve, Kyoungho Isaac Kim, Oona Guensche, and Emily Jones.

Study Salon (student program) 

Sunday–Tuesday, May, 15, 16, 17 | 4 to 10 p.m.

Join the Museum of Art (MoA) for a late-night study session! For finals week (Sun–Tues), MoA is open late.

•  Gaze at some art.
•  Set up a study spot at the gallery tables.
•  Enjoy quiet time and a few laughs. 

Artist Led Tour: Stock with Andrew Mount

Thursday, April 21, 2022 | 2 p.m

Join the Museum of Art for an afternoon guided tour with featured guest artist, Andrew Mount.

Mount will share insights and answer questions regarding his work and process in the solo exhibition Stock. On view through May 8, 2022, Stock explores themes of debt, wealth, and symbolism through an oeuvre of interactive and multi-media works. 

Study Salon (student program) 

Sunday–Tuesday, March 13, 14, 15 | 4 to 10 p.m.

Join the Museum of Art (MoA) for a late-night study session! For midterms and finals week (Sun–Tues), MoA is open late.

•  Gaze at some art.
•  Set up a study spot at the gallery tables.
•  Enjoy quiet time and a few laughs. 

What it Means to be in Power

Saturday, March 19 | 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Join the Museum of Art for an afternoon dialogue exploring African art and the objects in the current exhibition Power & Purpose: Reflections on the African Art Collection. Panelists include alumnae Briana Swain, Enobong Akan-Etuk, and Tammy Appling-Cabading

This event will be hybrid via Zoom and in-person at the Museum of Art.

This program is presented in collaboration with the Center of Women and Gender Equity (CWGE) and the Ethnic Studies Department. 

Opening Celebration of Spring Exhibitions

Thursday, February 24 | 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Join the Museum of Art for the opening celebration of Spring 2022 Exhibitions! Enjoy beverages and food on the patio. Engage in lively conversations. Explore new exhibitions Power & Purpose: Reflections from the African Art Collection and Stock: Andrew Mount. 

2021

Fall 

Re-narrating a Master: Craft Reflections on Keith + Kari

Wednesday, December 1 | 1–2 p.m.

Join the Museum of Art for an afternoon dialogue exploring the exhibition Keith + Kari through the research lens of Dr. Suzanne Schmidt.

Opening Celebration 

Thursday, September 16 | 4–8 p.m. 

Save the Date! Join the Saint Mary's College Museum of Art to celebrate the opening of our Fall Exhibitions Keith + Kari and Collective Memories. More information to come. 

Craft Talk: Textiles for Transformation

Friday, October 6 | 10:30–11:35 a.m.

Join the Museum of Art for a morning a craft discussion with founder Sara Trail from the Social Justice Sewing Academy (SJSA). The Social Justice Sewing Academy (SJSA) is a a non-profit organization that aims to empower individuals to utilize textile art for personal transformation, community cohesion, and to begin the journey toward becoming an agent of social change.

This event is sponsored and organized in collaboration with Prof. Suzanne Schmidt and the Justice, Community, and Leadership Course 163. 

Craft Talk: Embroidery & Fiber

Friday, October 15 | 10:30–11:35 a.m.

Join the Museum of Art for a morning embroidery workshop and discussion with fiber artist Kate Godfrey. Kate is a graphic designer for large and small businesses by day and knitter by night. She love imaginary cities, crafty ghosts, dangerous clocks, evil inventors, plucky people, random acts of kindness, and knitting, too! The underdog is my pet of choice. This event is sponsored and organized in collaboration with the Justice, Community, and Leadership Course 163. 

Study Salon 

Sunday, October 16 –Tuesday, October 18 | 4–9 p.m.

For Saint Mary's students, join the Museum of Art (MoA) for a late-night study session on Sunday, Monday, and/or Tuesday of midterms.  View some art, study on gallery tables, and enjoy quiet time with a few laughs. Free snacks, beverages, and WiFi. 

Third Thursday: Exploring Inuit legends & printmaking 

Thursday, October 21 | 5–8 p.m.

Join the Museum of Art for an evening exploring the exhibition Collective Memories: Stonecuts from Cape Dorset.

• 5:30 p.m.  | A guided curatorial look into the Cape Dorset prints through exploring Inuit legends and animal stories. 
• 6:30–8 p.m. | Learn about printmaking practices through this workshop, supplies included. 

About Third Thursdays: The Museum of Art extends operational open hours on the third Thursday of the month. Whether it be a maker space or yoga session, each late-night offers a free unique experience to engage with our current exhibitions. More information on October's Third Thursday to come. Are you a member of an SMC department, club, or the Contra Costa community interested in collaborating? Reach out to us at museum@051857.com

Healing the Earth 

Thursday, November 4 | 6–7:30 p.m.

Join the Museum of Art for a dialogue that explores art as a medium to respond to environmental change and impact. Featuring ceramic artist Kari Marboe and Museum Director and Curator Lauren MacDonald, this conversation explores site-specific work speaking to how California landscapes have changed yet remained the same. 

Light refreshments provided. Keith + Kari exhibition open through 7:30 p.m.

This event will occur at the Soda Activity Center in partnership with SMC Sustainability Committee, Kalmanovitz School of Education (KSOE), School of Economics and Business Administration (SEBA), School of Liberal Arts (SOLA), School of Science (SOS). 

Third Thursday: Artist Dialogue + Ceramic Crafting

Thursday, November 18 | 5–7:30 p.m.

Join the Museum of Art and ceramic artist Kari Marboe in exploring ceramic as a craft and medium to investigate place. 

5–6:15 p.m. Ceramic art making workshop on MoA patio
6:30–7:30 p.m. Artist dialogue with Kari Marboe.

Instituting Women Representation at SMC

Friday, March 5 at 4 p.m.

In 2018 a study revealed only 11 percent of works in the nation’s major museum collections are works by women artists. Acknowledging this gender inequity, join the Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art (SMCMoA) in a discussion that addresses how museums can shift and reframe their operational and professional practices to enhance the voice and representation of women in the arts. With an emphasis on women as art collectors, artists in art history, writers and archivists, and contemporary artmakers, this discussion looks at how a small college art museum has examined its institutional history, collection practices, and exhibition curations to generate a richer, more inclusive history. 

Sponsored by the CWGE, MoA, CCIE

Representations | Featuring the Art History Babes

Saturday, March 20 at 1:30 p.m.

Join the Center for Women & Gender Equity, the Museum of Art, the Campus Committee for Inclusive Excellence and South Asian Student Association for a day of exploring representations of ourselves, of each other and of art.

At 1:30 p.m. tune into a fun session with special guests + podcast hosts The Art History Babes, as they discuss and recontextualize women artists and their representations in museums. Co-founded by Saint Mary's College of California alumna Natalie De La Torre, the Art History Babes is a women-owned art platform that discusses and generates dialogue centered around all things visual culture. Learn more about their podcast here>>  

This event is free and open to the public. 

View recording >>

Aesthetic Forces: Behind-the-Scenes Exploration

Thursday, February 11 at 3 p.m.

Watch the behind-the-scenes scope on the spring 2021 exhibition. Art historian Britt Royer facilitated a live hour discussion sharing the process, artwork selection, and themes guiding the Aesthetic Forces exhibition.

Watch here >>

Wow Lecture Series: Instituting Women Representation 

Wednesday, January 14 at 1 p.m.

In 2018, a study revealed that only 11 percent of works in the nation’s major museum collections are works by women artists. Acknowledging this gender inequity, Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art (SMCMoA) in Moraga, CA shifted and reframed their operational and professional practices to enhance the voice and representation of women in the arts. Spanning 2020 to future exhibitions, this webinar informs viewers of the underlining practices to build gender inclusion in museums. With an emphasis on women as art collectors, artists in art history, writers and archivists, and contemporary art makers, this webinar shares how a small college art museum has examined its institutional history, collection practices, and exhibition curation to generate a richer, more inclusive history.

This program is presented by the Friends of the Lafayette Library & Learning Center

Watch here >>

MoA Virtual Exploration

Wednesday, January 20 at 1 p.m.

Join the Saint Mary's College Museum of Art (MoA) for a guided look at selected artworks from the permanent collection. This tour provides insights, discussions, and activities exploring artists, artmaking processes, and artists' representations in museum collections. 

2020

Fall 

Due to COVID-19, many programs + events were canceled or postponed from March 2020 through December 2020.

Art Talk with MoA 

Thursday, October 22 | 3 p.m.

Exploration of museum collection + current exhibit Feminizing Permanence. Program in collaboration with Staff Activities Board 

Fall Preview Day: Campus Resource Event

Wednesday, October 14 |  5 p.m., 5:30, and 6 p.m.

Between the Lines and on the Walls: your museum + library resources. Program in collaboration with Admissions 

Fall Preview Day: Campus Resource Event

Wednesday, November 4 | 5, 5:30, and 6 p.m.

Between the Lines and on the Walls: your museum + library resources. Program in collaboration with Admissions 

Spring 

Opening Exhibitions Reception

Thursday, February 20 | members 4:30-5:30 p.m. / public: 5:30-7 p.m.

Join us in celebrating the opening of our Spring Exhibitions: Feminizing Permanence and Sign of the Times: The Great American Political Poster 1844–2012

Members: Closer Looking/Art + Wine

Thursday, January 16 | 4 to 6 p.m. 

While the Museum is closed for installation, join fellow members for a behind-the-scenes look and guided exploration into artwork from SMCMoA’s permanent collection.  On view for one night only, the artwork featured in this limited event aligns in spirit with our upcoming exhibition Feminizing Permanence. At 4 p.m., sip and enjoy wine from Backroads Vines paired with gourmet bites, followed by a 5 p.m. guided conversation exploring themes, techniques, and the voices behind the selected artwork. Please take advantage of this exclusive experience of our permanent collection, as many of the works chosen for this event have yet to be publicly viewed. Members are welcome to bring two guests in addition to names shared under the membership.

Thank you to Backroads Vines for your generous support.

2019

Fall

Study Salon | Finals

Gaze at some artwork and prepare for finals! Free snacks and beverages will be provided. 

Sunday, December 8 | 4 to 10 p.m.

Monday, December 9 | 4 to 10 p.m.

Tuesday, December 10 | 4 to 10 p.m. 

Sausalito Studio Visit & Heath Ceramic Factory Tour

Saturday, November 2 | 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Join the Museum of Art for a Sausalito excursion! Enjoy brunch and beverages with curator April Bojorquez at the artist Diane Rosenblum's studio. Learn about Rosenblum's approach to photography and her creative process. Experience the artisan behind-the-scenes tour of the legendary Heath Ceramics factory. Transportation is offered, but space is limited. RSVP to reserve your place today! Members are free, and nonmember guests are $25.

View Gallery

Meditation in the Galleries 

Wednesday, November 6 | 11 a.m.

Clear your mind, relax, and reflect.

Brother Camillus will lead guided meditation in the galleries. No registration necessary, but space limited. 

This is Hip-Hop

Friday, November 8 | 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

In conjunction with SMC Theater's fall production, This is Modern Art, MoA will feature the "Five Elements of Hip Hop." Community artists and students will perform break-dancing, DJing, rapping and graffiti tagging. A panel discussion featuring playwright Kevin Coval will begin at 6:00 p.m.

5:30 p.m. Rapping by Michael Singletary ('21) and John Huez; DJ Lex in the museum courtyard 

6:00 p.m. Playwright Kevin Coval engages in conversation with Davey D, a Bay Area DJ and hip-hop journalist/scholar. Davey D is featured in Netflix's "Hip-Hop Evolution, Episode: Out the Trunk East Bay."  A Q &A will follow.

6:45 p.m. Hip-hop dancing with Traci Bartlow and guests; DJ Lex and graffiti tagging demo with DJ Agana in the courtyard   

Watch Video

Words: R&D Collaborative 

Thursday, November 21 | 5 to 7 p.m.

Join the Museum of Art for our Third Thursday of November.  The contemporary artists, Diane Rosenblum and Joe Doyle (R&D) will discuss their artistic practices and collaborative approaches to digital painting in the exhibition, New Formalism in Painting and Photography.  Times are subject to change. 

Watch Lecture

Machines & Mysticism: Artist Dialogue

Thursday, October 10 | 6 to 8 p.m. at the Soda Center

Machine artist Kal Spelletich engages with SMC professor Brother Charles Hilken in a dynamic discussion examining art, spirituality, and technology. Discussion moderated by Natalia Mount. 

Watch Discussion

Third Thurs | Draw on Walls: Conceptual Art Night

Late Night in the Museum, October 17 | 4 to 9 p.m.

Collaboratively create, draw, and install monumental scale lines on the wall! Inspired by conceptual artist Sol LeWitt's wall drawings, this activity will be ongoing until 9 p.m. Themed snacks and beverages will be provided. 

Study Salon | Midterms 

Gaze at some artwork and prepare for midterms! Free snacks and beverages will be provided. 

Sunday, October 20 | 4 to 10 p.m.

Monday, October 21 | 4 to 10 p.m. 

Haunted Galleries

Wednesday, October 30 & Thursday, October 31 

For Halloween, the Museum of Art is transforming our mysterious exhibitions into an all-around haunting experience! Visit with your friends and family between regular business hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for a spooky time!

Dark Harvest | Norman Partridge

Wednesday, Oct 31 | 7 p.m.

Join the Museum of Art as author Norman Partridge reads from his award-winning book, Dark Harvest. Dark Harvest has been celebrated by Publishers Weekly as contemporary writing at its finest! Experience this spooktacular book for yourself! 

Listen to Reading

Halloween Storytime in the Museum 

Thursday, October 31 | 11 a.m.

Join the Museum of Art with your little ones (1-5 yrs) for a spooky storytime and reading hour. 

Exhibition Reception

Thursday, September 5 |  6 to 8 p.m. 

Join the Museum of Art in celebrating our Summer & Fall Exhibitions: Kal Spelletich: Significance Machines and Purposeful Robots and New Formalism in Painting and Photography. Meet the collaborative team of R&D (Rosenblum and Doyle) at the reception. Refreshments and appetizers will be provided. 

Members | 5 to 6 p.m. 

Yoga at the Museum

Saturday, September 14 | 9 to 10:15 a.m.

Stretch, clear your mind, and relax! Join the Museum of Art for a free morning yoga session. The galleries will be open following the session with a special hour tour at 10:30 a.m. and coffee. Please bring your own mat. 

Leading instructors: Tara Rochlin & Heather Thorton 

Third Thurs | Late Night at the Museum

Afro-Latinx/Latinx/Indigenous Heritage Month Kick-Off Party

Thursday, September 19 | 4 to 9 p.m.

Join Saint Mary’s College in celebrating Afro-Latinx/Latinx/Indigenous Heritage month with art-making, food, and music! The evening will feature the Sanctuary Print Cart, a mobile print shop created by artists Sergio De La Torre and Chris Treggiari. The Sanctuary Print Cart raises awareness about the impact of immigration policies on our communities and support immigrants’ rights through community silkscreening. This Third Thursday will also include El Molino’s Taco Bar from 5 to 7 p.m. and showcase the DJ collective, Chulita Vinyl Club. 

Free and open to the public. All are welcome! 

Co-sponsored by Mission and Ministry Center and CCIE (College Committee on Inclusive Excellence) 

Meditation in the Galleries 

Wednesday, September 25 | 1 p.m.

Clear your mind, relax, and reflect.

Brother Camillus will lead guided meditation in the galleries. No registration necessary, but space limited. 

Meditation in the Galleries 

Wednesday, August 21 | 11 a.m.

Clear your mind, relax, and reflect.

Brother Camillus will lead guided meditation in the galleries. No registration necessary, but space limited. 

Spring 

How to Read a Play

Thursday, May 2, 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. 

Plays are blueprints for live performance; but minimal stage directions and narrative description, coupled with distant historical settings, can frustrate readers hoping to imagine "the stage beyond the page." Join us for an interactive workshop to discover the craft and artistry of dramatic works.

Antigone

With Amissa Miller, Zahra Ahmed, & Rashaan Menese

Things Known: Public Poetry Workshop

Saturday, May 4, 10:00 to 12:00 p.m.

Join Bay Area poetry group, Fresh Ink, and write from a series of prompts in response to the exhibition Foad Satterfield: THINGS KNOWN 

Third Thurs | Yoga in the Galleries 

Thursday, May 16, 4:30 to 5:45 p.m. | 7:00 to 8:15 p.m.

After hours, join us for a relaxing, renewing and refreshing yoga session in our galleries amongst the large, abstract paintings of Foad Satterfield: THINGS KNOWN. Two yoga sessions offered. All are welcome!

Afternoon Dove | 4:30 p.m. 

Night Owl | 7:00 p.m. 

Registration for sessions required | Sessions cap at 20. 

Art Chat: A Conversation Between Artist and Curator

Saturday, May 18, 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

Join guest curator, Megan Wilkinson, and artist, Foad Satterfield, for a conversation exploring Satterfield's new body of large scale paintings featured in the exhibition THINGS KNOWN. 

Watch Art Chat

Things Known: Poets Respond | Public Poetry Reading 

Saturday, May 18, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Reading will feature Bay Area poetry group, Fresh Ink, followed by an open mic of poems written in response to the Foad Satterfield: THINGS KNOWN exhibition. 

Study Salon | Finals 2019

Sun | May 19 | 4-10 p.m.

Mon | May 20 | 4-10 p.m.

Tues | May 21 | 4-10 p.m. 

Join the Museum of Art for quiet study. Snacks and beverages will be provided.

Opening Reception | Emerge: Student Art Exhibition 

Thurs | May 23 | 4-6 p.m.

Join us for the opening of our student group exhibition in printmaking, painting, sculpture, digital art, and photography on view May 20 through June 9, 2019. Co-sponsored by the Department of Art and Art History. 

Open Studio: Revealing Interdisciplinary Art Process

Wednesday, April 3, 1 to 2 p.m. 

Join SMC MoA Curator April Bojorquez and Professor Laura Miller for a conversation exploring the distinct curatorial approach for the exhibition Open Studio: Interdisciplinary Art Practice in Progress.

Poetry and Environmental Crisis

Saturday, April 6, 1 to 3 p.m.

Poets from the prize-winning online literary magazine of the environmental crisis, Canary, read their poems. For more information about Canary literary journal visit: canrlitmag.org

Arndt on Arendt 

Thursday, April 10, 1:00 to 2:15 p.m. 

In "On Violence, "political philosopher Hannah Arendt probes the nature of power and its relation to violence. Arendt scholar David Arndt will briefly introduce her life work; then a small-group discussion will invite students to explore their own ideas on violence, in dialogue with Arendt's.

Presented in collaboration with Seminar 104. 

Meditation in the Galleries

Tuesday, April 30, 11:00 a.m. 

Join the Museum of Art as we explore mindful ways of engaging with art. Brother Camillus will guide meditation and exploration into Foad Satterfield's abstract landscapes. 

No registration necessary, but space is limited. Chairs will be provided. 

2018

Darker Shades of Red Opening

Wednesday, February 7 at 10 a.m., Museum of Art 

Member's Reception

Thursday, February 8, 3 p.m. Museum of Art

Public Reception

Thursday, February 8, 4-6 p.m. Museum of Art 

Art Chat #1 

Wednesday, February 28, 1 p.m. Museum of Art

The Museum of Art welcomes Professor Susan Weissman of the Political Science Department at Saint Mary's College. Professor Weissman's Art Chat is entitled "The First Socialist Revolution." 

Link to video: http://youtu.be/FQCUV6xN8Kg

Art Chat #2 

Wednesday, March 21, 1 p.m. Museum of Art 

The Museum of Art welcomes Professor Scott Schonfeldt-Aultman of the Communication Department at Saint Mary's College and Alex U. Inn founding member of Momma's Boyz. Professor Schonfeldt-Aultman's and Mr. Inn's Art Chat is entitled "Pursuing Social Justice through Drag." 
 

Link to video: http://youtu.be/4Jc2tpTeE5E

May

Art Chat #3

Wednesday, May 2, 1 p.m. Museum of Art

The Museum of Art Staff welcomes Professor Dan Leopard of the Communications Department at Saint Mary's College. Professor Leopard's Art Chat is entitled "Comrade Tintin: Herge and Stalin in the Land of the Soviets." 

Link to video: http://youtu.be/YMr0V6uQmy0

Art Department Student Exhibition Opening 

Thursday, May 24, 4 p.m., Museum of Art

The Museum of Art hosts the Saint Mary's College Art Department and recent work from students. The Student Exhibition will be open through Sunday, May 27. 

June

Summer Exhibition Opening 

Saturday, June 9, 1-4 p.m. Museum of Art Patio

Join us in welcoming the new summer exhibitions. The Museum of Art will host California Watercolor Association demonstrations and guest speakers. Beverages and appetizers will be provided. 

On display:

California Watercolor Association

The Color of Summer

Richard Gayton

BART: Strangers on a Train

Diana Hobson and Susan Alexjander 

Into Being - The River

September

Fall 2018 Exhibition Opening 

September 20, 2018 4 to 7 p.m.

Performances by the Saint Mary’s College Dance and Music Departments to celebrate the opening of Fall exhibitions. Reception begins at 4:00 pm and performances begin at 4:45. Space is limited, first come first serve. 

Performance Slate:

4:45 Professor Rogelio Lopez Garcia (solo)

5:00 Ballet Folklorico (group)

5:15 Davalos Company (group)

5:30 Saint Mary’s College Choir (group)

Radical Acts of Love

September 22, 2018 8:00 to 10:00 p.m.

Radical Acts of Love is a site-adaptive dance-theatre work conceived and directed by CatherineMarie Davalos. It is a call to action amid hatred and violence. The members of the Davalos Dance Company are interested in creating safe dancing spaces in which interactions for rehearsal and performance become a vehicle for dialogue and change. The dance is set to traditional Mexican music, poetry, spoken word, and original compositions with the common thematic material of love. Since the Davalos Dance Company (DDC) is an intersectional group of artists representing the Latina/o, Jewish, Black, and queer communities, their work questions heteronormativity and asks us to examine privilege, power dynamics, and social constructs. We seek to partner with others as a catalyst for constructive social change. 

Davalos Dance Company: CatherineMarie Davalos (Artistic Director), Rogelio Lopez, Edgar Mendez, Andrew Merrell (Assistant Director), Catalina O’Connor, Micah Sallid, Steve Siegelman, Shaunna Vella, Hailey Yaffee. Radical Acts of Love was made in collaboration with the dancers. For information about the Davalos Dance Company and the dancers’ biographies please visit davalosdance.  

Musicians: Emilio Davalos Gaylord, percussion and vocals; Alex Franklin (Composer) bass, piano, and vocals; David Franklin (Composer) piano; Navarre Herrera (Music Director) guitar; Xandre Herrera, vocals; Rebecca Rose Rodriguez, percussion and vocals; Steve Siegelman, vocals

Mirrors In Every Place featuring Tongo Eisen-Martin 

September 26, 2018 2:30 to 3:30 PM

This craft talk presupposed that among other potentials, poetry exists within a multidimensional overlap of two spheres of insight; one, that of the music or math of language, and two, the social realities that the poet navigate and digest. Students explored the strategies, mechanics, and resulting art of prolific poets from various epochs of craft and social contradiction. We studied Audre Lorde, Roque Dalton, Juan Felipe Herrera, Langston Hughes, Layli Long Soldier, QR Hand, Aja Monet, Ai, and more. And for every poet, we read a corresponding political economy on the times and places that produced that poet. By the end of the talk, students were exposed to a useful set of strategies they can use in their own writing and also a lens of social analysis to synthesize with their writing.

October 

How to Read a Poem 

October 10, 2018 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.

Using a short selection from Matthew Zapruder’s book Why Poetry, two distinguished Saint Mary’s poets shared strategies for unpacking poems in Seminar. Participants practiced these strategies by exploring selected poems in conversation with their peers. With Brenda Hillman & Matthew Zapruder 

Writing the World: Beyond Myth and Violence

October 24, 2018 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. 

Leanne O'Sullivan and fellow Irish writers shared one poem each, then reflected on what myths reveal about power and violence. The group also responded to Hannah Arendt's "On Violence," relating the essay to their own work and to their reading of the contemporary moment. Rosemary Graham moderated. Co-sponsors: January Term, College Committee on Inclusive Excellence, Kalmanovitz School of Education, English, MFA in Creative Writing, Ó Bhéal (Cork, Ireland), Cork Arts Council, and the Los Gatos Irish Writers Festival

Art Chat:  Frances Sweeney "Evolving Spirituality: Artistic Expression and the Creation of Las Tradiciones Guadalupeñas"

October 25, 2018 11:30 to 1:00 p.m.

Dia de los Muertos Altar Decoration

October 30, 2018 3 to 5 p.m. 

Three Sisters Pre-show Party

November 1, 2018 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. (showtime is 8:00 p.m.)

The Museum of Art celebrated All Souls Day and the opening of the Saint Mary’s College Theater Department’s Three Sisters. 

EXPLORANDO FRONTERAS: ANZALDUA + “GRAPHICANOS”

November 14, 2018 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. and 7:00 to 7:45 p.m.

In conjunction with the Museum of Art’s exhibition, “Graphicanos” three Bay Area Latinx poets shared a spoken-word reading of selections from Anzaldúa’s Borderlands/ La Frontera.  In this seminal collection of poems and essays, Anzaldua draws on her life experiences as a Chicana and lesbian activist to challenge the notion of a “border” as a simple divide. Audiences flowed through the galleries, enjoying Anzaldua’s potent words brought to life against a backdrop of art. With guest performers Leticia Hernández-Linares, MK Chavez, & Naomi Quiñones. Related Seminar texts: Anzaldúa’s Borderlands (Sem 104).

Graphicanos Docent Tour (Student only) 

November 13, 2018 | 5 to 5:45 p.m. 

November 14 & 16 2018 | 1:15 to 2:00 p.m. 

Chicanx Studies scholar Jessie Turner and John Schneider led illuminating tours of “Graphicanos.” The exhibition featured 45 silkscreen prints marking the achievements of the Chicano Art Movement. 

Art Chat: CatherineMarie Davalos "Moving, Feeling & Generating: a site for Chicano Resistance"

December 13, 2018  6 to 8 p.m. (showtime is 7 p.m.)

Professor CatherineMarie Davalos and members of the Davalos Dance Company shared the process of creating modern dance choreography for their latest work "Radical Acts of Love." Dancers Edgar Mendez and Hailey Yaffee (both SMC alumni) performed "Nowhere to Hide" as Davalos discusses the various inspirations and many iterations the piece developed from California to Panicale, Italy. Beverages available at 6:00 p.m., performance at 7:00 p.m.

WATCH PERFORMANCE

2017

Scholarship Saturday

Saturday, February 25, 9 a.m. Museum of Art

Member's Only Preview

Wednesday, March 1 at 4 p.m. Museum of Art.

Artist Talk with Peter Freund

Thursday, March 2 at 4 p.m. Museum of Art

Member's trip to the Legion of Honor: Monet the Early Years

Thursday, March 30

ART CHAT | Digital Tomb

Wednesday, April 26 at 3 p.m.

Peter Freund’s digital images explore the visual image as an absence, negation or erasure of the visible. Freund discusses the principle of a “digital tomb” in his series of conceptual prints.

Watch Video

ART CHAT | Desire

Wednesday, May 3 at 3 p.m.

Discussing the overlapping relationship between trauma and desire, Peter Freund explores a parallel between artistic and psychoanalytic practices.

Watch Video

ART CHAT | Alternative Facts 

Wednesday, May 10 at 1 p.m.

“Alternative facts” -a symptom of neoliberal freedom? In this art chat, Peter Freund explores the paradoxical connection between facts and fantasy in political thinking, highlighting three works of video art in his current exhibition. 

Watch Video

Saint Mary's College Dance Company Spring Performance and Pre-Performance Reception at the Museum of Art

Friday, May 12, 7-7:45 p.m.

Saint Mary's College Dance Company is honored to present Rise, an evening of new works in celebration of the dance program's 20th Anniversary.

Pre-Performance reception in collaboration with the Performing Arts Department.  Come enjoy free appetizers and drinks and mingle with the choreographers and alumni. 

Museum Member's Tour of the Private Collection of Julie Armistead and Fred McNear

Tuesday, May 16

Guest Speaker Luncheon| Hossein Khosrowjah, Reconciliations and Desires

Thursday, May 25 at 12 p.m.

Hossein Khosrowjah explores the complexity and importance of "cultural translation" in the contemporary political climate. His talk uses Peter Freund's IRAN|USA exhibition as a springboard for investigating the role of translation and mistranslation in defining the cultural Other.

Hossein Khosrowjah is a senior adjunct professor of visual studies at the California College of the Arts. His essays and reviews on a broad range of topics, from film to exilic autobiography to the history of American higher education, have been published in film, cultural, and area studies journals. His book, The Singular Cinema of Abbas Kiarostami, is forthcoming from I.B. Tuaris Press.

Watch Lecture