LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Two SMC exhibitions highlight political artwork and women in art over time


Image Above: Rioscape by Sonya Rapoport, mixed media, 1962. Collection of Saint Mary's College Museum of Art

Two newly opened exhibitions at Saint Mary's College Museum of Art offer a unique look at art throughout history.

"Feminizing Permanence" presents 40 historical and contemporary artworks by 40 women artists in the museum's permanent collection. The exhibit recontextualizes the work, spanning centuries and cultures, to highlight a wide range of themes while collectively speaking to the contributions of women in the arts and their shared journeys toward parity.

"Sign of the Times: The Great American Political Poster 1844-2012" explores a variety of styles, design trends, and printing technology that engage visitors' imaginations and highlight 168 years of political commitments, from the 1844 race between Whig Henry Clay and Democrat James K. Polk to 1960s left-wing Democratic campaign posters of Eugene McCarthy.

Admission is free and open to the public Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For information, visit www.stmarys-ca.edu/museum.