FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Now Playing at the Crocker Art Museum

New program looks at the interaction of cinema, visual art and dialogue

February 05, 2009 – Sacramento, Calif. – Filmmakers, critics, pundits, scholars and film enthusiasts have their day at the Crocker Art Museum with the start of a new film series intended to offer insight and expand upon the Museum's exhibitions and permanent collection. First on the film journey is a three-part series celebrating the Buddha exhibition, now on view through April 19. Dr. Maria Jaoudi, Professor of Humanities and Religious Studies at Sacramento State, will lead a discussion of the spiritual dimensions, concerns and values of Buddhism as portrayed on screen.

"The success of our recent film programs, including the Warhol-a-thon and Warner Bros. Film Festival, proved there is interest in exploring the intersections of cinema, visual art and dialogue," commented Stacey Shelnut-Hendrick, Director of Education at the Crocker Art Museum. "This program is only a small taste of the exciting film offerings we are planning for the new building." The expanded Crocker, set for completion in 2010, will feature a state-of-the-art auditorium able to seat nearly 300 for a full range of films, lectures and concerts.

This series will kick off with a screening of Little Buddha (1993, 123 minutes) at 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 19. Directed by Bernardo Bertolucci and starring Keanu Reeves, Little Buddha tells the story of Lama Norbu, who believes he has found the reincarnation of his former teacher in a Seattle child, who in the process learns about the teachings of Buddhism.

The Cup (1999, 93 minutes), screening at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 19, features the plight of two young Tibetan monastery students obsessed with seeing the soccer World Cup finals, while the Lama, head of the monastery, contemplates the challenges of teaching the word of Buddha in a rapidly changing world.

The final film, Kundun (1997, 134 minutes), will be screened at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 16 at the Sierra 2 Center, located at 2791 24th Street. Directed by Martin Scorsese, this film chronicles the life of the 14th Dalai Lama. Movie critic, Jeff Shannon, wrote ".as a political drama and an elegant gesture of devotion, Kundun is a film of great value and inspirational beauty - one, after all, that perhaps only Scorsese could have made."

Crocker Cinematique is free to Crocker Art Museum members, $7 nonmembers and $5 for students and seniors. Light fare and refreshments will be provided. Pre-film tours of Buddha will be offered before each screening at 5:45 p.m.

Reservations are required. To register for one or more films, call (916) 808-1182 or email education@crockerartmuseum.org.

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 California, 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; 1st and 3rd Thursdays until 9 p.m. Free admission on Sundays from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. is made possible through the support of Bank of America. For more information on exhibits and events call (916) 808-7000 or visit crockerartmuseum.org.

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Media Contact: Kathleen C. Richards
Media: (916) 808-5157
Public: (916) 808-7000

216 O Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
www.crockerartmuseum.org

2009 Press Releases

11.02.09
Crocker Art Museum Expansion to Open on October 10, 2010

10.27.09
Target Hosts Free Day at the Crocker on November 14

10.20.09
Collection of California Abstract Expressionist Works Given to the Crocker Art Museum by George Y. and LaVona J. Blair

10.09.09
Mad Men-Style Glamour Reigns at the 49th Annual Crocker Ball on December 5

10.08.09
Crocker Holiday Art & Craft Festival November 27-29 at Scottish Rite Center

09.24.09
Crocker Art Museum's First Director Receives First Solo Museum Exhibit

09.22.09
Unique Crocker Family Stories Come to Light in Exhibition

09.14.09
The Crocker Art Museum and Citizen Hotel Form Exclusive Partnership

09.09.09
Crocker Receives Grants From Two National Organizations

09.02.09
38th Annual Art and Antiques Show and Sale October 23-25

08.24.09
Spotlight on Harpsichord and Saxophone During the Crocker's Classical Concert on October 25

08.21.09
Festival of Forms Marks Closing of Soaring Voices Exhibit

08.20.09
Crocker Art Museum's Presents Soaring Voices Film Festival on October 17

08.05.09
Crocker's Third Thursday Jazz Summer Concert Series Features Roger Smith on September 17

07.09.09
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06.26.09
Major Contemporary Ceramics Collection Gifted to Crocker

06.04.09
Crocker’s Classical Concert Features All Romantic Program August 23

06.03.09
Crocker's Third Thursday Jazz Summer Concert Series Features Peter Morgan August 20

05.28.09
Crocker’s Classical Concert Features Bach’s Unaccompanied Suites for Cello July 26

05.26.09
Crocker's Third Thursday Jazz Summer Concert Series Features The Garrett Perkins Project July 16

05.21.09
Crocker Participates in Bank of America's Museums on Us Program

05.11.09
Smashing the Clay Ceiling:
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04.23.09
Crocker’s Third Thursday Jazz Summer Concert Series Features Iván Nájera June 18

04.22.09
Summer Art Classes Announced

04.20.09
Call for Regional Artists

04.16.09
Financial & Estate Planning
Seminar for Art Collectors

04.01.09
Second Seminar Offered of Financial & Legal Planning for Same-Sex Couples

03.23.09
Senior Art Social Hearkens to Bygone Era

03.19.09
Regional Artists Featured in Two Art Auction Events

03.18.09
Crocker’s Third Thursday Jazz
Summer Concert Series Features
The Perry Mills Project May 21

03.16.09
Mass Meditation on Peace
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02.23.09
Parrish Prints Debut at the Crocker

02.20.09
Crocker Launches Arts Stimulus Package

02.05.09
Now Playing at the Crocker Art Museum

01.15.09
First Museum Exhibition for Animal Portraitist Mari Kloeppel

01.12.09
California Artists Showcased in Crocker-Kingsley Exhibit

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