exhibitions

April 16 - September 15, 2013

In the mid-1400s, many celebrated artists, goldsmiths, silversmiths and engravers were attracted by the abundance of wealth in the city of Florence, but the most important factor in this gathering of talent was the presence of the Medici family. For almost three hundred years, generation after generation of Medici dominated city affairs and steered the course of art history. It was the Medici family who funded the workshops of these artists and artisans, who commissioned and collected the masterpieces of art and antiquity. From founding father to the last Grand Duke, the immense power and wealth of this great dynasty was invested in its legendary collections, of which the collection renowned as the Gems of the Medici is perhaps the finest in the world.

Gems of the Medici, a world premier exhibition, highlights some of the oldest and most unique pieces of the Medici collections including antiquities dating from the 1st Century BCE as well as a cornelian which was part of the Seal of Nero.

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September 27 - July 7, 2013

* closing date subject to change

The bygone era of American whaling led men on distant voyages in search of the giants of the sea. In spare time, these whalers carved the teeth, bone and other unused parts of the whale, developing a tradition that came to be called scrimshaw.

Scrimshaw: The Art and Craft of the American Whaler is a comprehensive exhibit of whale teeth and bone carved with images of Victorian ladies, renowned female pirates and scenes from the sea, tools made for mending clothes and ship sails, games made to pass the time, gifts and toys made for loved ones, and a variety of personal items – all authentic sailors’ work from a the golden age of American Whaling.

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Ongoing

Experience exquisite masterpieces and dynamic objects from the vast and diverse Pacific Islands in this special exhibition guest curated by Chris Rainier.

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Ongoing

*closing date is subject to change

The nine oversized paintings shown in this exhibition are all the work of one extraordinary 69-year-old Buddhist monk named Shashi Dhoj Tulachan, a second generation thangka artist living in Tuksche, a remote village located in Mustang, Nepal’s northernmost district adjacent to Tibet. Shashi Dhoj Tulachan has devoted much of his life to the restoration of a nearby 18th century gompo (Tibetan monastery) known as the Chhairo Gompa.

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Ongoing

Curated by authorities of Chinese history and culture from the Shanghai Museum, this incredible collection portrays the evolution of Chinese art and culture.

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Ongoing

Classic California: Recently Conserved Paintings from the Permanent Collection features 22 paintings by California’s most celebrated artists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries that have been conserved from the Bowers Museum’s permanent collection.

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Ongoing

This installation showcases the Bowers` extensive permanent collection of Native American art and artifacts in stone, shell, plant fiber (through spectacular basketry) and feathers.

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Ongoing

Arts from the sophisticated Pre-Columbian cultures of Mexico and Central America are highlighted in a series of galleries.

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Ongoing

California Legacies: Missions and Ranchos (1768-1848) features displays of California and Orange County history that are must-sees for California students and residents alike.

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