San Francisco’s Pasados del Presidio
The founding of El Presidio de San Francisco in 1776 and the heritage of early American cultures at San Francisco’s Presidio is honored with a series of events on June 28-29th. Friday’s Afternoon Fun For Kids includes hands-on activities like tortilla-making, adobe brick-making, music and dance by Ballet Folklórico Mexicano. On Saturday, Los Californianos, descendants of the Juan Bautista de Anza Expedition, return to the Presidio to recognize the journey of their ancestors, including a procession by the Amigos de Anza horse-mounted riders, and a roll call of the people who made the original 1200+ mile trek from Sonora, Mexico. Guided History Tours will focus on the park’s rich Spanish and Mexican heritage. Presidio Officers’ Club 415.561.5300, presidio.gov
MUSEUMS
MARIN
Bay Area Discovery Museum
Dinosaurs: Land of Fire and Ice
Explore the land of fire’s volcano and squishy forest floor and the land of ice’s chilly slide and cave before digging for fossils in the field research station, opening May 25 (Sausalito).
415.339.3900, bayareadiscoverymuseum.org
Bolinas Museum
Changing California: Historical Ecology of the Bay Area
See this exhibit in the main gallery.
415.868.0330, bolinasmuseum.org
Marin History Museum
Numerous collections with historical articles, documents, artifacts and photographs commemorate traditions, innovation and creativity in Marin (Novato).
415.382.1182, marinhistory.org
Marin Museum of Contemporary Art
Exhibits from local, national, and international artists at Hamilton Field (Novato).
415.506.0137, marinmoca.org
The Museum of the American Indian
Native Expressions
Featuring the works of Becky Olvera Schultz, whose art is inspired by peoples indigenous to the Americas, the exhibit includes clay and mixed-media masks, rawhide shields and other works by this well-known California artist, through June 28 (Novato).
415.897.4064, marinindian.com
BAY AREA
Asian Art Museum
Tattoos in Japanese Prints
Turns out the ink on your ankle can be traced back to 19th-century woodblock prints, which were inspired by a popular 14th-century Chinese martial arts novel, through August 18 (SF).
415.581.3711, asianart.org
Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive
About Things Loved: Blackness and Belonging
Developed in collaboration with UC Berkeley graduate students and featuring collections by black artists, through July 21 (Berkeley).
510.642.0808, bampfa.org
California Academy of Sciences
Giants of Land and Sea
Discover the forces that make Northern California a place unlike anywhere else. Step inside an immersive fog room, feel a jolt in an earthquake simulator, and explore marine mammal skeletons and models (SF).
415.379.8000, calacademy.org
Charles M. Schulz Museum
Peace, Love, and Woodstock
The smallest, dare we say flightiest, Peanuts character gets his own exhibition exploring all things Woodstock, from namesake to nest, through September 8 (Santa Rosa).
707.579.4452, schulzmuseum.org
Contemporary Jewish Museum
Daria Martin: Tonight the World
Computer gaming technology and film are the tools used to explore the dreams and memories of the artist’s paternal grandmother, who with her family fled the imminent Nazi occupation of the former Czechoslovakia when she was 16, through February 19, 2020 (SF).
415.655.7800, thecjm.org
de Young
Ordinary Objects/Wild Things
Featuring works on paper from the last 50 years, this exhibit asks, What makes the ordinary objects around us extraordinary? Through July 14 (SF).
415.750.3600, deyoung.famsf.org
di Rosa
Viola Frey: Center Stage
Known for her larger-than-life figurative ceramic sculptures, the Bay Area artist had a career spanning five decades and worked in a range of media, through December 29 (Napa).
707.226.5991, dirosaart.org
Exploratorium
Self, Made
What makes you you? Dare to try on new personas and explore others through interactive pieces, artworks and costumes, through September 2 (SF).
415.397.5673, exploratorium.edu
Legion of Honor
Early Rubens
Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens’ most productive years, 1608 until about 1620, are explored along with his masterful handling of oil paint and sensuous coloring, through September 8 (SF).
415.750.3600, legionofhonor.famsf.org
Museum of the African Diaspora
Coffee, Rhum, Sugar & Gold: A Postcolonial Paradox
The legacy of European colonialism in the Caribbean is explored through the works of 10 contemporary artists, including Andrea Chung, Angel Otero and Didier William.
415.358.7200, moadsf.org
Museum of Craft and Design
Wanxin Zhang: The Long Journey
An installation of monumental clay figures for which artist Wanxin Zhang is known includes traditional shapes and iconography from Chinese history threaded with contemporary California funk and pop culture influences, through July 14 (SF).
415.773.0303, sfmcd.org
Oakland Museum of California
Pushing West: The Photography of Andrew J. Russell
Commissioned to document the Transcontinental Railroad’s western expansion, completed 150 years ago in 1869, Russell’s photography shows the tremendous impacts of the technological marvel on the land and native peoples, through September 1 (Oakland).
510.318.8400, museumca.org
SFMOMA
Andy Warhol: From A to B and Back Again
The first retrospective of the artist’s work in 25 years, the exhibition includes over 300 works over three museum floors, including iconic pieces and lesser-known ephemera.
May 19–September 2 (SF).
415.357.4000, sfmoma.org
Sonoma Valley Museum of Art
Sonoma Modern | Contemporary
Featuring artists who have lived and worked in Sonoma County, including Chester Arnold, Mary McChesney and Dennis Ziemeinski, among others, through June 16 (Sonoma).
707.939.7862, svma.org
The Walt Disney Family Museum
Mickey Mouse: From Walt to the World
Celebrate Disney’s most beloved and recognizable character, through Jan 6, 2020 (SF).
415.345.6800, waltdisney.org
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Leading-edge contemporary art and cultural programs that spur and support societal movement are at the heart of this cultural institution (SF).
415.978.2787, ybca.org
EVENTS
Beauty and the Beast: California Wildflowers and Climate Change
Thru June 1
This special exhibition on California’s wildflowers features photographs by Nita Winter and Rob Badger and addresses the effects of climate change on a universal emblem of beauty.
Bay Model Visitor Center (Sausalito)
650.608.1274, cnpsmarin.org
Mill Valley Wine, Beer and Gourmet Food
June 2
Over 65 wineries, 20-plus gourmet food products, local restaurants and breweries come together to benefit the Mill Valley Chamber of Commerce and Kiddo!, the Mill Valley Schools Community Foundation.
Depot Plaza (Mill Valley)
415.388.9700, enjoymillvalley.com
Bouquets to Art
June 4–9
Along with luncheons, lectures and pop-up discussions by renowned floral experts from around the world, the museum’s fundraiser features floral arrangements in all shapes and sizes.
de Young Museum (SF)
415.750.3600, deyoung.famsf.org
TEDxSalon: The Brain and Consciousness
June 6
A community gathering precedes this deep dive into the latest research on the human brain, meditation, dementia and consciousness with host Mark Coleman.
Osher Marin JCC (San Rafael)
Rosé Day Celebration
June 8
Think pink while savoring nibbles from girl & the fig and wines (pink, of course) from Passaggio Wines, Jeff Cohn Cellars and many more.
Suite D (Sonoma)
RoséFest
June 8
Support the Susan G. Komen foundation for breast cancer awareness while sipping pink wines and enjoying views of the Napa Valley.
Sterling Vineyards (Calistoga)
800.726.6136, naparosefest.com
Outdoor Antique French Market
June 9
French music by Michel Michelis, made-to-order crepes, and rows of booths laden with vintage clothing, retro and antique furniture, art and garden decor.
Marin Center (San Rafael)
415.383.2252, thefrenchmarketmarin.com
San Francisco Zoo Day
June 9
Following the 2 p.m. matinee of Rhino at A.C.T., join an interactive experience and learn about rhino conservation efforts at the theater in collaboration with the San Francisco Zoo.
Headlands Center for the Arts Benefit Art Auction
June 15
Enjoy cocktails and snacks, live and silent auctions, immersive installations, entertainment and a pop-up shop, all to raise funds for the center’s programs and mission.
Fort Mason (SF)
415.331.2787, headlands.org
MARINSCAPES Reimagined 2019
June 20–23
This annual fundraiser for Buckelew Programs includes a gala and a live auction, a meet-the-artists reception and a special presentation about investing in fine art.
Escalle Winery (Larkspur)
415.491.5705, buckelew.org
Walk in the Wild
June 22
Support conservation by strolling through the Oakland Zoo, sampling cuisine from the region’s top chefs before dancing and dessert (Oakland).
Oakland Zoo
510.632.9525, oaklandzoo.org
Made in San Leandro
June 27
Enjoy bites, beer and wine, games and live entertainment around the 55-foot-tall “Truth Is Beauty” statue at this month’s Truth Thursdays.
San Leandro Tech Campus (San Leandro)
WALKS/TALKS
Graduate Fellows Exhibition
Thru June 6
With representative works from Bay Area graduate students in the arts, this program is a window into the work of emerging Bay Area artists and regional arts programs.
Headlands Center for the Arts (Sausalito)
415.331.2787, headlands.org
Amor Towles
June 4
The author of A Gentleman in Moscow (currently under development as a miniseries starring Kenneth Branagh) discusses his works.
Sydney Goldstein Theater (San Francisco)
415.392.4400, cityarts.net
