Tue, Nov 17, 2020
Our Exhibition Philosophy
At the MAH, we believe that great exhibitions make our community grow stronger and more connected. Dive into the four kinds of exhibitions we put on every year.
Ah, 2020...
While I, like most people, am eager to see 2020 in my rearview mirror, I'd be remiss to not highlight the silver linings the MAH has painted before skipping ahead to what's to come in 2021.
With the ongoing support of our members and donors, our team here at the MAH had the opportunity to pause and adapt a lot of our offerings to better meet the needs of the community. We met the moment with eyes wide open, finding exciting possibilities to build new, intentional spaces for creativity and connection.
Since our doors closed in March, and we've been relying on the support of generous donations and renewed support from members, here are some of my favorite things we created... Our first 100% virtual exhibition, Queer Santa Cruz, a large-scale public mural by Irene Juarez O'Connell, space for Motion Pacific to dance in the Secret Garden, history displays in downtown storefronts, free downloadable lesson plans for educators, flashlight cemetery tours, room for local artist Abi Mustapha to turn our gallery into a private studio, space for both the Renegade Apothecary and Campasinx Womb Care project to assemble and distribute care kits for folks in need, and a host of new online programming celebrating Día de los Muertos with Senderos.
While we all remain optimistic about what 2021 holds, here's a sneak peek at the exhibitions we can't wait to share with you. We look forward to the day we swing open our doors and welcome you back inside the Museum. Until then we hope you will consider making a donation and supporting the work of the MAH. You can learn more in our full Case for Support.
In These Uncertain Times
Opening Winter 2021
Showcasing the creativity and resilience of Santa Cruz County’s response to the COVID-19 global pandemic, this exhibition will coincide with the MAH's reopening in early 2021. Through community-sourced artwork, individual stories, and objects from the MAH’s history collection, In These Uncertain Times will explore the ways that creativity and community can support us through times of uncertainty.
"¡Méjico, Mexico!,” by Frank Romero, 1984 (Cheech Marin Collection / MOLAA)
Conexiones
Opening Spring 2021
Exploring those personal, intimate connections we can find with art, Conexiones invites Latinx collaborators from across Santa Cruz County to be community curators. These folks will be selecting artworks to fill the exhibition from the Museum of Latin American Art’s (MOLAA) collection and sharing how that piece relates to their heritage, culture, and lived experiences.
Photo by Shmuel Thaler
Lost & Found
Opening Summer 2021
History was made in the Summer of 2020 when the CZU Lightning Complex Fire burned more than 80,000 acres, led to the evacuation of more than 60,000 people, and the destruction of over 900 homes. Lost & Found will showcase the voices, stories, and art that came from a public-call out to the communities impacted as we recognize the resilience of Santa Cruz County.
Presented by The Humanities Institute at UC Santa Cruz. Additional support provided by History Forum.
Hotel Acatlan, Second Day lithograph by David Hockney, MAH Permanent Collection.
Twenty-Five
Opening Late Spring 2021
Did you know the MAH is turning 25 in 2021? As part of the host of happenings in celebration of our silver anniversary, the exhibition Twenty-Five will feature art and artifacts picked from the MAH's permanent collection that corresponds to each of the 25 years we've been open.
Support the MAH
Join us in bringing these exhibitions to life and help us kick off our next 25 years by making a gift or becoming a MAH Member.
Santa Cruz Speed Wheels
Opening Summer 2021
Celebrating the surrealist, eye-popping work by Jim Phillips, creator of the Screaming Hand, Santa Cruz Speed Wheels at the MAH will kick off a global tour of the exhibition. Developed in partnership with NHS the exhibition will hold the largest collection of Phillip's work with pieces largely unseen since the 1980s.
Photo by Kurt Perschke
RedBall Santa Cruz
Tuesday, June 8 - Sunday, June 13, 2021
Discover, track down, and pose alongside the inflatable mobile sculpture by artist Kurt Perschke. Through a mixture of vision and wit, the RedBall will be squeezing into different locations throughout Santa Cruz County. From bridges to alleyways, the Redball fills those mundane, overlooked places with whimsy and possibility.
Do You Know My Name?
Opening Online Winter of 2020 & In-Person Fall 2021
Get to know the overlooked, hidden, and relatable histories of the people of Santa Cruz County from the 19th century to today. Pulling from the MAH publication by the same name, Do You Know My Name?, uncovers the stories of ordinary people who never made the news, never rose to fame, yet overcame adversity to find fulfillment in art, invention, or community.
Presented by The Humanities Institute.
Ocean of Light: Submergence
WHO: Squidsoup (U.K.)
WHERE: MAH, Solari Gallery
WHEN: 5–10PM (Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun)
ABOUT THE WORK
Ocean of Light: Submergence is a large, immersive, walkthrough experience. It uses over 5,000 individual points of suspended light to create feelings of presence and movement within physical space. The installation transforms space into a hybrid environment where virtual and physical worlds coincide.
The piece moves through several movements, creating a semi-linear 12-minute piece. In its entirety, an abstract narrative is formed with a gradual increase in tension, building to a final climax. Each movement has its own elements, atmosphere, and responsiveness. They are also all open to one’s own interpretation.
squidsoup.com
Ocean of Light: Submergence
Opening Fall 2021
Step inside an immersive and interactive installation of lights, sounds, and movement created by U.K.-based digital arts collective Squidsoup. Opening inside the Museum, Ocean of Light: Submergence will kick off the MAH's new four-day art, sound, and digital-culture festival, Frequency.
See something you're extra excited about?
Let us know! Share your favorite upcoming exhibition on social media and be sure to tag us @santacruzmah for the chance to receive a small gift from the MAH.
Related Reads
Celebrating 25 Years
Celebrate the MAH's 25th Anniversary with new exhibitions and events happening throughout Santa Cruz County in 2021.
Make a Contribution
Support a museum that serves as a thriving community gathering place through rotating art and history exhibitions, visual and performing artworks, public festivals, education and outreach programs, and cultural celebrations.