Exhibitions

The Marin Cultural Association presents over 12 exhibitions a year by Marin County artists in three distinct galleries throughout the Marin Center and Marin County Civic Center campus. The Bartolini Gallery, the Redwood Foyer Gallery and the first and third floors of the Civic Center building showcase a wide variety of art including painting, photography, works on paper, sculpture, fiber arts, and much more, all by local artists.

Visions of Hope
September 5 - October 24, 2024
Marin Civic Center
1st and 3rd Floor Galleries

Visions of Hope features impactful stories and art created by over 120 men and women currently incarcerated in California state prisons. Local community members created winged heart sculptures which the men and women painted as part of sharing their heart story. Experience the moving art and learn about advocacy groups at the forefront of California’s pioneering efforts in criminal justice reform.

Visions of Hope is organized by Life On Art and the People’s Commission for Integrity in Criminal Justice.

Maakon Yomi: Our Homelands of the Coast Miwok
October 6, 2024 - January 24, 2025
Bartolini Gallery

This exhibit features artwork by contemporary Indigenous artists including Gloria Armstrong, Joseph Byron, Henry Frank, Silver Galleto, Nicole Jones, Meyo Marrufo, Robin Meely, Michelle Napoli, Nancy Napolitan, Jacquelyn Ross, Yana Ross, Kathleen Smith, Eric Wilder, and more largely from the Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo tribes located in Marin County and the border of southern Sonoma County. The exhibit will include paintings, beadwork, clothing, baskets, and more.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Maakon Yomi: Our Homelands of the Coast Miwok Opening Festival
October 6, 2024, 11 am - 5 pm, FREE

Celebrate the opening of the exhibition Maakon Yomi: Our Homelands of the Coast Miwok with a free all-day festival for all ages. Curated by Northern Sierra Mewuk Basketweaver Jennifer Bates, the festival is a rare opportunity to meet and interact with highly skilled California Indian Artisans from across the region who will be demonstrating their traditional crafts including basketweaving, cordage and jewelry making, acorn cooking, traditional dance, and more.

Event Schedule

Opening Prayer
11:15 am, Showcase Theater Plaza

Artist Demonstrations
11am–5pm, Showcase Theater Plaza
Artist demonstrations include basketweaving, clapper instruments, clamshell beading, canoe/wood working, finger weaving, soaproot brush making, string making, and more.

Artists include:

George Blake, Hupa/Yurok

Canoe Making/Hupa Bows/Bone and Antler Carving/Silver and Gold Jewelry Maker

Carson Bates, Central Sierra Mewuk
Hemp String and Cordage

Julia Parker, Lucy Parker & Family, Coast Miwok / Kashaya Pomo
Twined Willow Basketry

Kimberly Stevenot, Northern Sierra Mewuk
Northern Mewuk Basketry

Julie Tex, Dunlap Band of Mono in Eastern Fresno County
Milk Weed Finger Weaving

Dixie Rogers, Karuk/Modoc
Karuk Basketry

Lois Conner-Bohna, Mono/Chukchansi
Mono Basketry

Gladys McKinney, Dunlap Band of Mono Indians
Soaproot Brushes

Anthony Steele, Pomo
Clam Shell Bead Making

Jennifer Bates, Northern Sierra Mewuk
Acorn Processing and Nupa Cooking

Artist Market
11am–5pm, Showcase Theater Plaza
More than a dozen Indigenous artists will be selling their handmade creations including baskets, jewelry, art works of all kinds, paintings, note cards, and more.

Native Dance Performance by the Patwin Dance Group
11:30am, Showcase Theater

Nupa Acorn Soup Cooking Demonstration
Showcase Theater Plaza
1–1:30pm cooking demonstration; Acorn soup display all day long.

Native Dance Performance by the Patwin Dance Group
2pm, Showcase Theater

Maakon Yomi Artist Panel Discussion
3pm–4pm, Showcase Theater
Join exhibit curator Meyo Marrufo as she leads a panel discussion with artists from the exhibit to talk about contemporary Indigenous art.