Current & Upcoming Exhibitions

The La Jolla Historical Society is honored to present an exhibit of contemporary art created by Native Americans from the reservations of Southern California where San Diego County is home to eighteen reservations - more than any other county in the United States. Southern California Natives live both on and off the Rez, upholding historic culture and traditions while concurrently inhabiting the modern world. In this exhibition, ten artists reveal images, ingenuity, and unrestrained voices divulging their stories and communicating opinions through artistic expression. The medium for powerfully affirming their voices is through painting, drawing, sculpture, fashion, beadwork, mixed media, narrative writing, song and performance. Works from these artists break through stereotypical barriers and open a path to share their strength, perspectives, and influential experience.

Featured artists: Chuck Contreras, Gail Werner, Gerald Clarke, Gordon Johnson, James Luna, Jamie Okuma, Johnny “Bear” Contreras, Robert Freeman, Sandra Okuma and Tracy Lee Nelson (Mataweer).

Curated by Dana Hicks, PhD

Funding for this project generously provided by Patsy and David Marino; an anonymous donor; and the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians. Institutional support provided by the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture and by the Members of the La Jolla Historical Society.

Register to attend the opening reception for Voices from the Rez on June 3 at 6pm

The La Jolla Historical Society is proud to present The Smallest Show on Earth: Paper Theaters Explored, which celebrates the long history and recent creative innovations in this unique art form. Paper theatres, also known as toy theatres, originated to promote productions in Victorian Era London. They were printed on paperboard sheets and sold as kits at the concession stand of an opera house, playhouse, or vaudeville theater. Aspects of set design were shown on the posters along with representations of actual actors of the company (shown in costume from a specific production). Condensed scripts were included in these poster kits and paper doll players were soon seen in lively productions on a tabletop at home, with many aspects of theatre arts being introduced to producers and performers of all ages. These paper theatre hobbyists ended up learning a great deal about scenic design, lighting effects, sound effects, musical underscoring, acting, directing — all through a paper theatre toy. The theaters gradually declined in popularity during the late 19th and early 20th centuries but have enjoyed a resurgence in interest in recent years among many puppeteers, filmmakers, theater historians, and hobbyists. This exhibition will introduce new audiences to this playful and engaging craft and offer the opportunity for a wide range of theatrically themed, complimentary programs.

Curated by Scott Paulson

Funding for this project generously provided by Barbara Freeman, Mark and Kathryn Muñoz, and Ann Craig. Institutional support provided by the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture and by the Members of the La Jolla Historical Society. Opening Reception sponsored by Wheat & Water.

Stay tuned for public program dates.