Crocker Art Museum :: Press Releases

October 26, 2006 – Sacramento, Calif. – Los Angeles artist Betye Saar first emerged in the 1960s as an important artistic figure by addressing the African American experience in her work. Throughout her long career, Saar has made art addressing contemporary issues, especially the legacy of race in America, aiming to both challenge and engage viewers. In Betye Saar: Extending the Frozen Moment, on view at the Crocker Art Museum from January 27 – April 29, 2007, works spanning the breadth of her production reveal the development of her vision and message.
A sculptor, assemblagist and collagist, Saar has always embraced a diverse range of political, creative and spiritual influences – from the Civil Rights and feminist movements, to design, craft and a belief in personal destiny. This exhibition pays particular attention to Saar’s use of photography, exploring the artist’s preoccupation with “the frozen moment” – the timeless vacuum of personal history – which photography represents.

Using a range of found objects, mined from family archives or secondhand stores, Saar transforms photographs, controversial artifacts such as “black collectibles” and nostalgic bric-a-brac into artworks that stir the intellect and emotion. For Saar, these antique prints and relics offer keys to deciphering the past and the unknown histories of the individuals portrayed in the photographs she uses.
More than commentaries on the past, however, Saar’s works encourage and invite discussion. In posing questions, not answers, viewers are welcome to read meaning into the work based on their personal experience. Ultimately, Saar’s sculptures and collages are essays on universal themes of longing and loss, the passage of time and the bonds between lovers, friends and family members, making her work relevant across generations.

EXHIBITION-RELATED PROGRAMMING
Saturday & Sunday, February 10 & 11, 1-4 PM
African American Art History Session
Assistant Curator Diana Daniels teaches this two-day survey course exploring the history of African American art from the 19th through the 21st century. Participants will explore a range of topics and discover the work of well-established and emerging contemporary artists from the West Coast. Reservations are required. To register, contact Erica Wall at (916) 264-7364 or ewall@cityofsacramento.org by Feb 2. $35 Members, $40 Nonmembers

Thursday, February 22, 6-8 PM
Crocker Contemporaries Forum: Art & Identity
In celebration of Black History Month and the Crocker’s current exhibition of works by celebrated African American artist Betye Saar, a panel of female artists will discuss how their identity and culture play into their art making and artistic voice. Free to members, $10 Nonmembers.

Saturdays, March 24 & 31, 11 AM-3 PM
Art Workshop – Mixed Media for Adults
Explore identity and heritage in this two-part workshop. Participants will create a clay object to include in a personal memory box, along with personal mementos, photographs and found objects. Materials will be provided. Registration required. Contact Emma Moore at (916) 264-1961 or emoore@cityofsacramento.org by March 17. $35 Members, $45 Nonmembers

Sunday, April 29, 11 AM-3 PM
Family Heritage Festival
Enjoy music, dance, storytellers and hands-on art making at this family heritage festival. Bring photographs and keepsakes to incorporate in a uniquely expressive assemblage sculpture, inspired by the works of Betye Saar, and tour the special exhibit featuring her work, Betye Saar: Extending the Frozen Moment. Free admission to Museum and programs all day.

The Crocker Art Museum was founded in 1885 and continues as the leading art institution for the California Capital Region and Central Valley. The Museum offers a diverse spectrum of special exhibitions, events and programs to augment its collections of Californian, European and Asian artworks. The Crocker is located at 216 O Street in downtown Sacramento. Museum hours are 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Tuesday – Sunday; Thursday until 9 p.m. For more information on exhibits and events call (916) 264-5423 or visit crockerartmuseum.org.