Follow the downtown Davis Treat Trail 

Thursday, Oct. 31, 3-6 p.m.

This Halloween, over 70 businesses in Downtown Davis will be handing out candy and treats to kids and their chaperones. People from Sacramento, Woodland, Dixon and Davis alike all join in on this spook-tacular fun.

For more information, visit Davis Downtown Treat Trail 2024  and see the map.

Davis Downtown Treat Trail Video  

See Sonic Horizons at the UC Davis Design Museum for its opening weekend

From Friday, Nov. 1 at noon; on view through Friday, Nov. 22 at 4 p.m., Cruess Hall

Devised and curated by graduate student Maral Salehian, this multi-screen installation showcases nature videos centered around landscape themes. This sensory-rich immersive experience aims to promote well-being and inspire a deeper connection to nature. 

Maral Salehian is an interdisciplinary designer with a background in industrial design. In 2018, she graduated top of her class from the University of Art, Tehran. Her design practice in conceptual and formal inventiveness matured and converged in furniture design. In 2019, she attended the University of Tehran, where she studied M.A. in industrial design. During her study, she gained a deep understanding of design principles, methodology, and philosophy. She began working as a furniture designer.

The UC Davis Design Museum is a founding adopter of the Green Museums Initiative. The initiative is a set of five principles that propel museums to become environmental leaders and is administered by the California Association of Museums and the Green Museums Initiative. The Design Museum, part of the College of Letters and Science and free to the public, is in 124 Cruess Hall. 

Dance the day away at the second Musical Theatre Dance Workshop

Friday, Nov. 1, 2-4:30 p.m., Hickey Gym at UC Davis

Doria E. Charlson, visiting professor of dance, is pleased to announce the second musical theatre dance workshop on Nov. 1. Students are invited to participate and learn choreography for “Ever After,” the first act finale from the award-winning Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine musical Into the Woods.

The workshop will be led by Meredith Joelle Donato, an acclaimed Bay area choreographer and teaching artist. Donato has a diverse work experience that includes American Conservatory Theater, where they worked on the world premiere of A Walk on the Moon. They also served as a theater director and teaching artist at Berkeley Playhouse.

The workshop begins at 2 p.m. in the Hickey Gym. The workshop is free, but space is limited so please reserve a space here: Reserve Workshop Space.

The Sheepmowers return to campus with screenprinting opportunity too

Friday, Nov. 1, 12:10 p.m., Wellman Hall Lawn at UC Davis

Members of the UC Davis community can relax with the Sheepmowers and learn the art of Screenprinting at the same time! Bring your own T-shirt or tote bag, or you can print a poster featuring fun sheepy designs.

Register for the Screenprinting with the Sheepmowers event. Submit your interest in the survey by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 29. A random drawing of participants will be conducted as spots are limited. If selected, you will be contacted via the email provided. This event is limited to current UC Davis staff and academics (faculty, students, post-docs). 

Find more sessions on the Nature Rx webpage. Topics include: Birdwatching in the Arboretum, landscape design and tea, Outdoor Yoga, and more!

Attend an artist talk at the Pence Gallery

Saturday, Nov. 2, 2 p.m., free but $10 suggested donation, 212 D Street, Davis

Alejandro Rubio is an imaginary landscape painter who has lived and worked in Davis and Oakland for about 24 years. His exhibit, currently at the Pence Gallery until Nov. 30, features adaptations of places from his childhood in South America. Rubio’s artist talk will go over his time spent learning about and creating art in Uruguay as well as how he began landscape painting with an emphasis in the Central Valley. 

For more information visit the Pence Gallery's website. 

Next week

Begin next week with a Sunday evening with Brittney Griner at the Chancellor’s Colloquium 

Sunday, Nov. 3, 7:30 p.m., Jackson Hall at the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, UC Davis

Brittney Griner is a pioneer, humanitarian and activist and was named as one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2023.

Griner is an NCAA champion, a WNBA champion and a three-time Olympic gold medalist. Winner of the Best Female Athlete ESPY Award, and a ten-time WNBA All-Star, Griner is one of the most decorated and significant athletes of this generation. Griner’s most recent book, Coming Home, takes readers inside her shocking detention in Russia, the campaign to bring her home and how overwhelming support from family and friends kept her fighting for survival and justice.

Chancellor Gary S. May will moderate the discussion and Q&A.

Tickets are still available, get yours here: An Evening with Brittney Griner | Mondavi Center

Youn Sun Nah brings jazz to Davis

Running from Thursday, Nov. 7 through Saturday, Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m., Vanderhoef Studio at the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, run time is approximately 90 minutes with no intermission

Youn Sun Nah first heard Nina Simone in high school. From that moment on, she decided to pursue jazz.

Long hailed for her style-blurring renditions of artists spanning from Tom Waits and Jimi Hendrix to Marvin Gaye and Metallica, her most recent album, Elles sees Youn Sun Nah bringing her remarkable voice and unique perspective to a range of songs made famous by such iconic female artists as Björk, Sarah Vaughan, Grace Jones, Roberta Flack, Edith Piaf, Grace Slick, Maria João and, of course, Nina Simone.

Youn Sun Nah will be joined by Grammy Award-winning pianist and composer Ruslan Sirota, whose past collaborations have included some of the biggest names in the music industry, including Kamasi Washington, Thundercat, Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller, Seal, Josh Groban, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Watch her official music video for Feeling Good here: Youn Sun Nah – Feeling Good (Official Video) 

Get tickets here: Youn Sun Nah Duo | Mondavi Center 

Department of Art and Art History lecture series features Fernando Palma Rodríguez

Thursday, Nov. 7, 4:30 p.m., at the Manetti Shrem Museum of Art, free

Fernando Palma Rodríguez combines his training as an artist and mechanical engineer to create robotic sculptures that utilize custom software to perform complex, narrative choreographies. Central to Palma Rodríguez’s practice is an emphasis on indigenous ancestral knowledge, both as an integral part of contemporary life and a way of shaping the future.

Drawing on Aztec mythology and pictorial codices — as well as colonial histories — his works reframe language through the physical activation of these linguistic symbols. He lives in the agricultural region of Milpa Alta outside Mexico City, where he runs Calpulli Tecalco, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of Nahua language and culture.

Organized by the Department of Art and Art History and supported by the College of Letters and Science at UC Davis. Co-sponsored by the Manetti Shrem Museum.

Experience magic with Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan

Thursday, Nov. 7, 7:30 p.m., Jackson Hall at the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, UC Davis

“When you’re talking about Cloud Gate, ‘magic’ is not too strong a word.” Effusive praise from no less a source than Time Out magazine, reads the Mondavi Center description of this event. 

Formed in Taiwan in 1973, Cloud Gate is known for transforming ancient aesthetics into a thrilling and modern celebration of motion. Indeed, Cloud Gate could very well be compared to the story-ballet spectacle stylings of Mondavi Center favorites Ballet Preljocaj or Akram Khan.  13 Tongues is inspired by the childhood of current artistic director Cheng Tsung-lung and has been praised as “a sensationally big, indulgent, and visually arresting expression of cultural memory” (The Times).

Read the digital program PDF here and get tickets here.

The Pence Gallery’s annual Holiday Market returns to Davis

Running from Friday, Nov. 8 through Tuesday, Dec. 24, open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Opening reception is on Friday, Nov. 8, 6-9 p.m.

Do you need gifts for the upcoming holiday season? If you do, the Pence Gallery has you covered with their annual Holiday Market. Stop by to get your loved ones hand-crafted gifts made by local artists and artisans. Over 50 artists will be selling their work this year ranging from knit items to ceramics and jewelry. 

Pence members receive 10% off all Holiday Market purchases! Watch for upcoming guide to arts-related gifts next month in the Arts Blog. 

For more information visit Holiday Market – Pence Gallery 

Share the joy of stand-up comedy with W. Kamau Bell

Friday, Nov. 8, 7:30 p.m., Jackson Hall at the Mondavi Center of the Performing Arts

W. Kamau Bell returns to the world of stand-up, bringing his talent for “finding the comic absurdity in darkness” (Time Magazine) to the Jackson Hall stage for an illuminating evening of comedy.

Bell’s CNN docuseries United Shades of America won five Emmy awards, and he was awarded a Peabody for his docuseries We Need to Talk About Cosby. The list of accolades only continues to grow with his second book, Do the Work: An Antiracism Activity Book, making The New York Times bestseller list and his second comedy special, Private School Negro currently available on Netflix.

Get tickets here: An Evening with W. Kamau Bell | Mondavi Center

W. Kamau Bell: Private School Negro - Stand-up Special | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix 

Take watercolor classes at the Pence Gallery

Intermediate watercolor: Wednesday, Nov. 20, 9-10:30 a.m., $70 for Pence Gallery members, $80 for non members

Beginning watercolor: Thursday, Nov. 21, 1:30-3 p.m., $70 for Pence Gallery members, $80 for non members

The beginning watercolor class is meant for students who have never taken a watercolor class or who are still learning how to use watercolor while the intermediate watercolor class is intended for students who are already familiar with watercolor materials and techniques. Please email Joanne Andresen directly at joanneandresen@gmail.com to register for her watercolor class, to receive a supply list, and for any questions.