Programs

Spring 2024 Programs

All programs are in person at the museum unless otherwise noted.

Download the Spring Program brochure (pdf)

Who Notices the Horse Becomes the Horse:
A Seminar and Reading with Annelyse Gelman and Katie Peterson

Tuesday, April 2

How to Draw a Horse: A Generative Somatic Seminar for Student Artists of All Kinds
1:30–3:30 PM (by invitation)

This generative seminar invites graduate students across the arts at UC Davis to respond to Deborah Butterfield: P.S. These are not horses, the landmark 50-year retrospective of Butterfield’s work. As the exhibit “encourages the viewers to understand her sculpture as more than representations of the equine world,” this gathering will encourage the practitioners involved to engage with the work’s somatic, and affective qualities. Are these “horses,” or are they dream-structures, objects of contemplation, or pieces of an epic? How does a contemplation of materials — like clay, or metal, or salvaged plastic — change the understanding of the form of the horse? What are horses about for us? If these sculptures aren’t about horses, what are they about? The intention of this seminar is to put ourselves in a place of response to Butterfield’s work that encourages our own making. We will do this through discussion, verbal and sonic experimentation, and group work. There will be time to share work at the end of the session.

For more information about participating, email Professor Katie Peterson at kpeterson@ucdavis.edu.

Reading by Annelyse Gelman, introduced by Katie Peterson
4:30 PM

Celebrate National Poetry Month with a reading from Annelyse Gelman’s book-length poem Vexations in the exhibition Deborah Butterfield: P.S. These are not horses. Audience members will have a chance to engage with the materiality of the sculptures themselves along with the speculative text, in which the cultural symbolism of the horse is turned on its head (“Who notices the horse becomes the horse, went the saying / I was terrified, of course, I had noticed the mane”). There will be a discussion and Q&A, and a reception will follow the gallery experience. 

Contemporary poet Annelyse Gelman is the author of Vexations, which received the 2022 James Laughlin Award, in addition to being long-listed for the 2023 National Book Award in Poetry. She studied psychology during her undergraduate degree. In 2020, she received a Master of Fine Arts from the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas at Austin. Gelman founded and directs Midst, a digital publishing platform focused on capturing, sharing and exploring the drafting and editing processes of contemporary poets. She also teaches writing with the Fir Acres Writing Workshop at Lewis & Clark College. 

Katie Peterson is the author of Fog and Smoke, published in 2024. She directs the Graduate Creative Writing Program at the University of California at Davis, where she is professor of English and a Chancellor’s Fellow. Her collaborations with photographer Young Suh have been shown at museums and galleries including the Mills College Art Museum, the Wellesley College Art Museum and the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco, and have resulted in a book, Life in a Field (2021), which won the Omnidawn Open Books Prize. 

Organized by the Creative Writing Program in the Department of English and presented with support from the Needham Endowed Lecture Fund with gratitude to Professor Beth Freeman. Co-sponsored by the Manetti Shrem Museum.

Sharing Perspectives: A Participatory Performative Score with DorteBjerre Jensen

Friday, April 5
Participation by invitation

Danish artist DorteBjerre Jensen (DBJ) hosts the interactive work Sharing Perspectives as a collaborative artistic experience. If you are interested in receiving an invitation to participate, please contact Audrianna Escobedo at aescobedo@ucdavis.edu.

A performative score, Sharing Perspectives stages and explores boundaries, uncertainty, togetherness and the relationship in between bodies and between bodies and the vibrant space. The score is grounded within dance/choreography (contact improvisation) and score design, giving a rare insight into the world of the other by embodying another person’s perspective. In 2019, Sharing Perspectives was performed in relation to the Olafur Eliasson exhibition In Real Life at the Tate Modern in London. One participant said, “It basically breaks your inhibitions, and I think a lot of people that haven’t been raised in art are inhibited about how to act, and this is like a way of smashing through that.” 

Jensen’s work is anchored in an evolving artistic inquiry into multisensory relations of ecological attention through movement, manifested as performance, participatory performative scores, installations, workshops and writing. In 2019, DBJ was a part of the research project Experimenting, Experiencing, Reflecting (EER): between Studio Olafur Eliasson and the Interacting Minds Centre (IMC), Århus university. In 2023-24, DBJ’s pieces depicted human and landscape interdependencies as hybrids between sound, movement and interactive installations. 

Presented by the Performance Studies Department with support from the Manetti Shrem Museum.

Soaring to New Heights: Diversity & Principles of Community Achievement Awards

Tuesday, April 9
4-6 PM

Started over 30 years ago in 1990, the annual Soaring to New Heights – Diversity & Principles of Community Achievement Awards recognizes campus employees who demonstrate diversity and Principles of Community efforts that exceed the expectations of their position. Individuals are recognized for their own personal efforts and significant contributions to affirmative action/equal employment opportunity or heightened awareness and sensitivity to diversity. The awards celebration is presented by the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and is open to all.

The Power of Printmaking: Curators and Printmakers

Saturday, April 13
2–4:30 PM

Mark your calendars for this engaging and immersive event, where we’ll explore the politics and art of printmaking and come together to gain a deeper appreciation of the rich tapestry of artistic expression.

Curators in Conversation
2–3 PM

The program begins with a conversation between Claudia Zapata, curator of Malaquias Montoya and the Legacies of a Printed Resistance, and Inaugural Associate Curator of Latino Art at the Blanton Museum of Art, University of Texas, Austin, and Terezita “Tere” Romo, scholar, curator and author of the first major publication about Malaquias Montoya. Their conversation will look closely at Montoya’s remarkable work and will provide insights into the curatorial approach to the exhibition. Don’t miss this thought-provoking conversation, shedding light on the curatorial processes and the power of printmaking.

Book Sale and Signing
3–4 PM

Following the talk, there will be a book signing and sale of Tere Romo’s book, Malaquias Montoya (A Ver). 

Taller Arte del Nuevo Amanacer (TANA) Pop-Up Printmaking
3–4:30 PM

In 2009, Montoya co-founded the print center Taller Arte del Nuevo Amanecer in Woodland, which is part of UC Davis’ Chicano/Chicana Studies department. Student artists from TANA will be here to demonstrate their skills by pulling unique screenprints that are available to take home.

Observations on the Art Trade: A Presentation by Alan Templeton

Tuesday, April 16
4-6 PM 

Longtime investor, former professional artist and labor union administrator, and occasional guest curator Alan Templeton (B.A., art history and psychology, ’82) will discuss the evolution of the art trade from the 1950s onward. Intended especially for students who will become the museum professionals, art advisors and private collectors of tomorrow, the talk will cover how the fine arts interact with money, museums and the marketplace in a variety of ways. History, prestige, family crises, changing tastes and civic pride all intersect in an international industry that has annual revenues of more than $60 billion. Despite its overall size, the art trade has a limited number of participants in any given segment, making it much more uneven and personality-driven than most markets, leading to both opportunities and pitfalls.

Templeton has been collecting art since 2000, principally to benefit the museums of Northern California. He is a proud Aggie and a generous supporter of the arts at UC Davis.

This talk is organized by the Department of Art and Art History. Co-sponsored by
the Manetti Shrem Museum.

The California Studio Lecture: Kota Ezawa

Thursday, April 25
4:30 PM

Kota Ezawa is a Bay Area-based artist known for creating video, animations and lightboxes that explore the mediations of cultural and historical events in an essential, stylized manner. In 2021, his work was featured in a solo exhibition at the Georgia Museum of Art. Ezawa has received a Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Award, a SECA Art Award from SFMOMA, and a Eureka Fellowship. 

Organized by The California Studio: Manetti Shrem Artist Residencies in the Department of Art and Art History. Co-sponsored by the Manetti Shrem Museum.

Alberini Family Speaker Series in Design
Decolonizing Design: A Cultural Justice Guidebook 

Friday, April 26
4:30–7 PM

Join the live stream

Dr. Elizabeth “Dori” Tunstall (Stanford Ph.D. ’99) is a distinguished design anthropologist, celebrated author, visionary organizational design leader, consultant and coach. The author of Decolonizing Design: A Cultural Justice Guidebook, her progressive approaches challenge conventional design paradigms that exclude and harm Indigenous cultures and champion diversity, equity and inclusivity practices in communities and organizations.

Tunstall will address two aspects of decolonizing design: Putting Indigenous First and Dismantling the Racist Bias in the European Modernist Project in Design. She provides a framework to understand one’s positionality vis-a-vis Indigenous sovereignty and how that sets conditions for design that provides liberatory joy to bodies and communities. By showing the racism inherent in the focus on modernist design as the standard, she demonstrates in both theory and practice how institutions and individuals can open space for decolonial and diverse perspectives on making. A reception follows the talk.

With a global career encompassing an associate professor of Design Anthropology at the University of Illinois at Chicago and Swinburne University in Australia, Tunstall made history as the first Black scholar and Black female dean of a design faculty anywhere with her position at OCAD University in Toronto, Canada.

The Alberini Family Speaker Series, supported through an endowment by the Carlos and Andrea Alberini Family Foundation, brings renowned innovators and thinkers in design to UC Davis to inspire students and encourage community engagement and learning.

Organized by the UC Davis Department of Design, part of the UC Davis College of Letters and Science. Co-sponsored by the Manetti Shrem Museum.

Eggheads Walking Tours

Saturdays and Sundays in May
Tours start at 1 and 3 PM
Meet at the museum
Free; offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

In celebration of the Eggheads’ 30th anniversary, the museum is offering walking tours of the iconic sculptures every Saturday and Sunday in May. Registration is limited to 20 people per tour with on-site signup beginning at 12:30 p.m. for the 1 p.m. tour and 2:30 p.m. for the 3 p.m. tour. Tours require walking approximately 1.5 miles.

Start with a visit to Hatched: The Making of Robert Arneson’s Eggheads, our pop-up display of Egghead maquettes in the museum lobby, and then visit the five Egghead locations across campus. You’ll hear Egghead lore and learn about how and why Arneson created these iconic sculptures and how we care for them today.

Davis Feminist Film Festival 2024

Thursday, May 2, and Friday, May 3
6:30–9:30 PM with intermission
For tickets: tinyurl.com/dfff-24

The UC Davis Women’s Resources and Research Center presents the 19th annual Davis Feminist Film Festival.
This event showcases independent feminist film from around the globe — including narrative, documentary and experimental shorts — to raise consciousness about the intersecting dimensions of social inequality and to explore perspectives often missing from mainstream media. This year, festival interns and staff reviewed over 1,000 submissions before selecting 16 short films that celebrate this year's theme: OUT/LIVE. Follow Davis Feminist Film Festival on Instagram @femfilmfest for updates and previews.

Organized by the Women’s Resources and Research Center. Co-sponsored by the Manetti Shrem Museum. 

Farewell to the exhibition Malaquias Montoya and the Legacies of a Printed Resistance

Saturday, May 4 | 2–3:30 PM

Despedida a la exhibicion Malaquias Montoya y los legados de una resistencia estampada

sábado 4 de mayo | 2–3:30 PM

Join Malaquias Montoya and other exhibiting artists in the exhibition gallery for a farewell to Malaquias Montoya and the Legacies of a Printed Resistance. This important and meaningful exhibition brought together the work of ten artists and activists at a critical time for their voices to be heard. Visited by thousands of students and community members, the exhibition has been a celebration of the power of printmaking. All are welcome.

Acompañe a Malaquias Montoya y otros artistas expositores en la galería para despedirse de Malaquias Montoya y los legados de una resistencia estampada. Esta importante y significativa exposición unió el trabajo de diez artistas y activistas en una época crítica para hacer escuchar sus voces. Visitada por miles de estudiantes y miembros de la comunidad, la exposición ha sido una celebración del poder del grabado. Todos son bienvenidos!

Artist Talk: Alicia Eggert

Wednesday, May 8
4–6 PM

This is your opportunity to meet the artist, learn about her body of work and her process, and share your response to This Present Moment. 

Organized and sponsored by the Manetti Shrem Museum.

The California Studio Lecture: Tania Candiani

Thursday, May 9
4:30 PM

Tania Candiani is an interdisciplinary visual artist whose work explores the intersection of art, literature, music, architecture, science and labor. Her production methods emphasize ancestral knowledge and its techniques and technologies. In 2015, Candiani represented Mexico at the 56th Venice Biennale. Her work has been exhibited internationally in museums, institutions and independent spaces. Candiani has received the Guggenheim Fellowship in the Arts and the Smithsonian Institution Research Grant for Artists, among others. She is a member of the National System of Art Creators of Mexico. 

Organized by The California Studio: Manetti Shrem Artist Residencies in the Department of Art and Art History. Co-sponsored by the Manetti Shrem Museum.

Art Jam: Spring Showcase 

Thursday, May 16
7–9 PM

Join us for snacks and art making at the final Art Jam of the year, featuring a special showcase of creative projects from UC Davis student organizations: 

See creations showcasing the beauty and range of three-dimensional artwork made by 3D Enthusiasts of Davis, a student community that works to inspire creativity in 3D graphics for modeling, animation, cinematography, character design, 3D printing and more!  

Check out the art and media from Game Development and Arts Club members! The club provides a safe environment to encourage the creation of all forms of games. 

Get a peek behind the scenes of the work Aggiemation Eggheads has made toward creating a mixed-media short film! Aggiemation Eggheads is an animation club where students work on learning animation and share enthusiasm for art. 

Open Ceilings Spring Launch 

Friday, May 17
6–8 PM

Join Open Ceilings, UC Davis’ undergraduate-run literary magazine, to celebrate the launch of their ninth issue, Summer 2024: Dog Days. Hear from a selection of captivating readers and visual artists who will be sharing their work, offering a sneak peek into their newest issue.

Organized by Open Ceilings. Co-sponsored by the Manetti Shrem Museum. 

The China Shop: Conversations between Artists and Scientists

Thursday, May 30
4:30–6 PM

The China Shop is a two-year faculty-led initiative that brings artists to UC Davis to work with scientists in their labs. Playing off the idea of “a bull in a china shop,” the project facilitates two artist-scientist pairings each year, providing opportunities for interdisciplinary conversations, giving rise to imaginative possibilities, and catalyzing innovative outcomes. Each residency spans approximately 10 weeks. In addition to the laboratory exchanges, the project hosts a moderated public presentation and discussion, where the participating artists and scientists engage with the audience, sharing insights into their collaboration, creative exchange and work in progress.

This project is funded by a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Art Works grant and directed by Professors Tim Hyde (Department of Art and Art History) and Jiayi Young (Department of Design). We thank the Letters and Science Dean’s office, the UC Davis Office of Research, and the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art for their support. The China Shop is published with the Leonardo Art, Science, Evening Rendezvous (LASER) in conjunction with the International Society for the Arts, Sciences, and Technology (ISAST), or Leonardo/ISAST LASER Talks.

The Manetti Shrem Museum is committed to keeping our visitors and staff safe and healthy by following UC Davis’ COVID-19 protocols.

The museum aims to create an environment that is comfortable for everyone, regardless of their choice about masking. UC Davis has lifted its mask mandate in most settings — masks are encouraged in indoors.