San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles Presents 40th Anniversary Exhibition

This weekend kicks off the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles 40th Anniversary Exhibition. They have four special exhibitions planned that will be opened in stages starting at the end of October thru January 2018:

• Juncture I
• Expressions of Identity: 40th Anniversary Exhibition
• Identity Tapestry: Mary Corey March
• JUNCTURE II

The San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles is at a juncture in time, where they  can both reflect on the past and look forward to the future. A juncture can also be an intersection of place or events, often one laden with symbolic potential: In many folk traditions, junctures as represented by crossroads are a potent metaphor for transition. Though a juncture can be a time for reflection, the word can also describe a critical moment or crisis that demands immediate action. With the concept as their point of departure, artists may take the exhibitions theme for "juncture" where it leads them.

“Since our 35th anniversary, the Museum has focused its collecting efforts on historic and contemporary quilts and fiber art since 1940, with an emphasis on California artists” said Executive Director Nancy Bavor. “This exhibition, which includes over 40 art works acquired since our 35th anniversary, is tangible evidence of that concentrated focus and includes important art works by some of California’s leading fiber and quilt artists, as well as works by other internationally known fiber artists.”

Among the exhibits to explore on your visit is Expressions of Identity: 40th Anniversary Exhibition that is currently on display in all galleries thru January. This exhibit reveals the how inserting one's identity is inherent in the process of an artist and their body of work.

Plan Your Visit To The San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles

San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles, last caged atb520 South 1st St. in San Jose, CA 95113. Hours are:

11:00am-4:00pm Wednesday through Friday
11:00am-3:00pm Saturday and Sunday
Closed Mondays, Tuesdays and major holidays.

Admission to the museum is $8.00; $6.50 for students and seniors; and free to Museum members and children 12 and under. Admission is ‘pay what you can’ on the first Friday of each month. For more information, call 408-971-0323 or visit www.sjquiltmuseum.org.

Photo Credits: San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles

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Discover History Captured By Time At The La Brea Tar Pits

One of my favorite places to visit as a child was the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles. I would stand at the edge of the pit and marvel at the Mastodon’s trapped in the tar. Although, the most common fossils found at the Rancho La Brea site have been Dire Wolves, Coyotes, as well as Saber-Toothed Cats.

The tar at the site still bubbles from the natural gases trapped beneath. The site is a time capsule, in which prehistoric animals and birds roaming the area became trapped in the tar, and made easy targets for predators like the wolves and big cats, which also got stuck. It was an endless cycle as you’ll find out as you roam the exhibits within the Page Museum.

Stop and watch the team of paleontologists at the Fossil Lab as they continue to uncover new fossils found in Project 23. This project has uncovered many Ice Age fossils that were trapped in the tar in the Los Angeles Basin between 40,000 and 10,000 years ago. And, they are still digging in the area because they never know what they might find?

Tickets are available for the Ice Age Encounter Stage Show in the Page Museum that features a life-size adult Saber-toothed Cat puppet. Combined with a live performance and film projections, the encounter uncovers the mysteries behind the animals that roamed the area. The Page Museum and La Brea Tar Pits host many exhibits, programs, and volunteer opportunities throughout the year so check out their website for updates.

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