exhibitions

February 16, 2013 - April 28, 2013

Maurice Sendak: 50 Years ● 50 Works ● 50 Reasons - is a comprehensive memorial exhibition of 50 select works by the late artist supplemented with accompanying comments by celebrities, authors and noted personalities – celebrating the 50^th anniversary of the publishing of the universally revered “Where the Wild Things Are”. The exhibition includes works in a variety of media and offers a survey of the highlights of Sendak’s career and the diverse art forms in which he was renowned. From children’s literature to Broadway and the opera, from animated film to young adult textbooks – Sendak remained an iconic American illustrator and author, acclaimed around the world for his genius and insights.

Among the contributing commentators to the exhibition are playwright and screenwriter Tony Kushner, comedian Stephan Colbert, artist Robert Crumb, Director Spike Jonze, President Barack Obama, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and actor Tom Hanks. Special note is given to Sendak’s teachers and commentary is also provided by his students from his teaching years in New York.

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February 10, 2013 - April 28, 2013

Lucy’s Legacy gives visitors the opportunity to further their understanding and place in the human family. Discovered in the late 20th century by American Paleoanthropologist Dr. Donald Johanson in Ethiopia, Lucy is the oldest and most complete adult fossil of a human ancestor that has been found in Africa to date. This exhibition is an opportunity for people to better understand current scientific theory of human evolution, and to see for themselves how the discovery of Lucy continues to profoundly influence our understanding of human origins—even 30 years after her discovery.

Ethiopia is the cradle of mankind, the birthplace of coffee, the purported resting place of the Ark of the Covenant—and home to Lucy, the 3.2 million year old hominid that has become the world’s most famous fossil. In addition to the real Lucy (Australopithecus afarensis), the exhibition includes two educational videos, stone tools from Addis Ababa, a life size model of Lucy, plus a thorough timeline of Ethiopian history and illustrations of evolution by celebrated artist, Viktor Deak. After being exhibited at the Bowers Museum, this incredibly rare and fragile hominid fossil will be returned to the National Museum of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

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The Duchess 2008

December 15, 2012 - March 10, 2013

Discover the glamour, luxury and artistry of cinematic couture in this exhibition from the renowned British costumer, Cosprop Ltd and organized by Exhibits Development Group.  Forty-three costumes worn by 30 actors in 25 different films attest to the sumptuous fabrics, lavish lace and embroidery, unparalleled craftsmanship and creativity, and the essential ingredient costumes play in the authenticity of a period film. Many of the costumes have won major awards including Oscars from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and BAFTAs from the British Association of Film and Television Arts.

Visitors to the exhibition will be transported from fairy tale England (Angelica Huston,  Ever After) to colonial Virginia (Colin Farrell, The New World) to 18th-century England (Keira Knightley, The Duchess) and to 19th-century Paris – fantastic and opulent – (Emmy Rossum, The Phantom of the Opera).  They will enjoy the fashions of the early 20th century – of World War I Italy (Sandra Bullock, In Love and War), of seedy Shanghai in the 1930s (Natasha Richardson and Ralph Fiennes,  The White Countess)  and of World War II Belarus (Daniel Craig, Defiance).

SUPPORT

CUT! COSTUME AND THE CINEMA
Presented by Exhibits Development Group in cooperation with Cosprop Ltd., London, England. Sponsored at the Bowers Museum  by Margaret A. Cargill Foundation, East West Bank, and Mei-Yen Chang.

for press information click here

CUT! Costume and the Cinema - slideshow

CUT! Costume and the Cinema Gallery Guide

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photography by Diana Walker,

October 20, 2012 - January 13, 2013

The Albright collection consists of pins that Secretary Madeleine K. Albright, America’s ambassador to the United Nations (1993-1997) and the first woman to occupy the position of U.S. Secretary of State (1997-2001), wore before, during and after her years of public service.  Shortly after becoming a diplomat, Albright discovered the power of jewelry to convey a foreign policy message.  Before long, she began selecting appropriate pins to wear to particular meetings, visually expressing her high hopes, determination, impatience, or warm feelings.  The brooches soon became her diplomatic signature.  

The collection includes examples of fine art, but most are of the costume variety.  Many are by anonymous designers and were selected for the signals they send and the spirit they convey. Sometimes demure and understated, sometimes outlandish and outspoken, these pins were used as gentle implements of statecraft. Their stories and messages reflect the Secretary’s sense of humor and her humanity, and are shared here for the first time in a public museum setting.

Visit the Bowers Museum Store or shop online to purchase a copy of Read My Pins: Stories from a Diplomat's Jewelry Box.

Support

Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection has been organized by the Museum of Arts and Design in New York.  Support for the original exhibition was provided by Bren Simon and for the exhibition catalogue by St. John Knits.  Sponsored at the Bowers Museum by Margaret A. Cargill Foundation, East West Bank, and Mei-Yen Chang.

Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection - slideshow

for press information click here

Interested in hearing Madeleine Albright talk about her pins?

click here

click here

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June 23, 2012 - January 6, 2013

Discover the spectacular designs of Peter Carl Fabergé, the master goldsmith and legendary jeweler still celebrated for his inventive designs and meticulous craftsmanship, through a special exhibition, Fabergé: Imperial Jeweler to the Tsars.

Perhaps best known for Imperial Easter Eggs created for the Russian Royal family, the House of Fabergé also fashioned jewelry and luxurious gifts for many ruling families of Europe, as well as other wealthy patrons. Marvel at exquisite objects produced by the Fabergé workshop at its peak, including personal gifts to the Tsar and Tsarina, an extravagant tiara, the magnificent “Fire Screen” picture frame, and the famed “Nobel Ice Egg,” one of the few “Imperial-styled” eggs in private  hands.  From elegantly simple to breathtakingly ornate, the jewelry, clocks, picture frames, boxes and eggs in this collection have been thoughtfully selected to exemplify extraordinary materials and workmanship.

Click here to read Richard Chang’s review of ”Fabergé: Imperial Jeweler to the Tsars” in the "Orange County Register"

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March 31, 2012 - July 1, 2012

Sacred Gold: Pre-Hispanic Art of Colombia from the renowned Museo del Oro in Bogotá, Colombia includes over 200 gold figures and ornaments full of expression and inventiveness inspired by the natural environment and by supernatural visions. A selection of ceramic tomb figures and stone tools accompany the exhibition.

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February 25, 2012 - September 9, 2012

Visitors will see immeasurable riches in this exhibition including: stunningly beautiful specimens of native California gold; coins, bullion, and recovered treasure from sunken ships.

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October 1, 2011 - March 4, 2012

Enter the great tombs and temples of the powerful, and the cunning men and women who ruled imperial China. ``Warriors, Tombs and Temples: China’s Enduring Legacy`` is a landmark exhibition drawn from China’s most important archaeological excavations assembled in cooperation with seven leading Chinese institutions.

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June 18, 2011 - July 17, 2011

The Bowers Museum welcomes Japanese Masterpieces from the Price Collection, showcasing some of the very best screen and scroll painters of Edo Period Japan. Like no others these master artists produced stunning images meant to be contemplated and enjoyed.

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May 21, 2011 - January 22, 2012

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

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April 16, 2011 - June 12, 2011

Exquisite and engaging, the scroll and screen paintings of Itō Jakuchū from the prestigious Price Collection have drawn crowds of over 1 million viewers. The Bowers Museum is proud to host this important exhibition in conjunction with the county wide JapanOC festival.

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December 18, 2010 - March 13, 2011

The story of America`s most dynamic forefather, Benjamin Franklin, told through rare artifacts and engaging interactive experiences.

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September 4, 2010 - November 14, 2010

This August the museum opens its storerooms to let you encounter the weird and the wonderful as we celebrate 75 years of collecting at the Bowers. Never and rarely-before-seen objects from the museum's diverse collection will be on display.

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July 17, 2010 - May 1, 2011

For over 35 years Harold Van Pelt has perfected the art of carving quartz and agate stones. The Bowers Museum is proud to be the first to assemble a body of Van Pelt`s work in an exhibition that highlights the remarkable beauty and extraordinary skill of gemstone carving.

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July 3, 2010 - July 31, 2011

Back by popular demand, Quilts: Two Centuries of American Tradition and Technique presents the Bowers’ most popular American quilts. To satisfy the curious and creative visitor, emphasis is placed on the quilts` construction techniques.

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March 27, 2010 - July 25, 2010

A historic exhibition of 150 objects drawn from the rich collections of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Museum and the Xinjiang Institute of Archaeology in Urumqi, China reveals surprising details about the people who lived along the ancient Silk Road.

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December 26, 2009 - June 6, 2010

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December 19, 2009 - February 21, 2010

This exhibition features 20 pieces of fine ancient women’s jewelry exemplary of Trojan craftsmanship.

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September 12, 2009 - January 17, 2010

This exhibition features a selection of paintings from leading Latin American beverage company FEMSA`s prestigious collection of more than 1,000 modern and contemporary works of Mexican and Latin American artists.

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September 12, 2009 - December 6, 2009

Colombian artist Fernando Botero`s unique style is recognized and renowned world-wide for the voluminous forms and sensuous figures found within his painting, sculpture and works on paper.

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July 11, 2009 - August 23, 2009

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April 19, 2009 - June 14, 2009

Art of the Samurai: Selections from the Tokyo National Museum features 81 objects from the Tokyo National Museum, representing the art and aesthetics of the Samurai culture of Japan.

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November 15, 2008 - September 20, 2012

This important collection of exquisite textiles and silver jewelry on loan to and from the Bowers Museum’s permanent collection highlights the beauty and wealth of the Miao peoples of southwest China.

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November 15, 2008 - April 19, 2009

Spanning 30 years of work documenting tradition and ritual practices across the African Continent, these vivid images underline the wealth of African culture.

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September 20, 2008 - March 15, 2009

Approximately 30 quilts from the Bowers Museum collection will be on exhibit, many for the first time, in the first exhibition focused on this important collection of American quilts dating from the 18th -20th centuries.

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May 18, 2008 - October 16, 2008

Considered one of the greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century, the tomb complex of China`s First Emperor, Qin Shi Huang, features thousands of terra cotta warriors that were intended to protect him throughout eternity.

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June 17, 2007 - August 24, 2008

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February 18, 2007 - August 19, 2007

Treasures from Shanghai: 5000 Years of Chinese Art and Culture features 77 sets of objects from the Neolithic period (circa 3000 B.C.) to the Qing dynasty (1644-1911 A.D.).

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February 18, 2007 - May 13, 2007

Ansel Adams: Classic Images features 75 images chosen by Adams as the finest examples of the quality and range of his photographic achievements.

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July 16, 2005 - October 16, 2005

Despite Eva Per`s secure place in history as one of the most powerful, influential, and controversial female political figures ever, an exhibition about the spirited former leader of Argentina has never been unveiled in the United States.

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April 17, 2005 - March 30, 2008

Among the people of the ancient world, the Egyptians occupied a unique position with their approach to death and the possibility of resurrection.

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October 17, 2004 - March 13, 2005

Queen of Sheba: Legend and Reality explores the modern legend of the Queen of Sheba as portrayed in cultures around the world. The Queen of Sheba has always been a wonderfully intriguing figure famed for her beauty and wealth, although much of her true identity remains unknown.

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April 24, 2004 - January 9, 2005

Bridges to Understanding explores and celebrates the exquisitely meticulous work of award-winning and world-renowned photographer, Phil Borges.

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October 12, 2003 - September 12, 2004

For most Americans, Tibet represents the mysterious isolated land of an ancient culture struggling to maintain its traditional ways; a sort of mythical Shangri-La lost to time in the shadows of the towering Himalayas at the crossroads of Central Asia.

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July 9, 2002 - May 4, 2003

Symbols of Power: Masterpieces from the Nanjing Museum features national treasures from one of China`s premier museums, the Nanjing Museum, travelling outside of the country for the first time.

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February 16, 2002 - February 29, 2004

Curated by Bowers Museum President Peter Keller, Ph.D., this exhibition features some of the world`s finest known gems.

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October 20, 2001 - April 21, 2002

Two thousand years ago in an area now known as Tuscany, the Etruscans gave us the concept of the banquet, Roman numerals, the keystone arch, aqueducts, and even the toga. They developed the first cities in Europe and were the first to cultivate olives.

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October 6, 2001 - January 9, 2002

The Holy Land: David Roberts, Dead Sea Scrolls, House of David Inscription features about 50 lithographs from the 19th century by Scottish artist David Roberts, who was the first major Western artist to travel and record many important historical sites in the Middle East.

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July 7, 2001 - September 16, 2001

This exhibition provides an in-depth look at the paintings and sculptures of Frederic Remington and Charles Russell, who are considered the two quintessential creators of western American art.

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February 24, 2001 - June 4, 2001

This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to understand the art and technology of glassmaking from three broad geographical regions, comparing the function and forms of glass of the ancient world with the role of glass as high art in the world today.

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October 7, 2000 - January 24, 2001

The British Museum houses one of the greatest collections of Egyptian antiquities in the world, and this exhibition presents more than 100 individual items which have been selected to illustrate the achievements of Egyptian art and culture.

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February 6, 2000 - September 3, 2000

This exhibition will bring together a selection of precious objects, including formal and informal robes, arms and armor, accessories and jewelry, scepters and seals, portraits and paintings, and a complete throne room, from the Palace Museum in Beijing.

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