RECEPTION TODAY (FEB. 26)

Year of Biodiversity — Jewelry and glass pieces by Olga Barmina, a staff research associate in the Department of Evolution and Ecology. She is also a Craft Center instructor. Through March 12, Craft Center Gallery, South Silo. Reception 5:30 to 7 p.m. Feb. 26. Craft Center's regular hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday, and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.

More about Olga Barmina and her art.

OPENING NEXT WEEK

Meet the Regents—This multimedia exhibition, co-curated by Art History 401, focuses on the California Master Plan for Higher Education and the role of the UC Board of Regents in relation to the UC budget crisis.

The exhibition is set to open March 3 and run through March 19 in the Art Lounge on the second floor of the Memorial Union. An opening reception is scheduled from noon to 3 p.m. March 3 in the MU's King Lounge, next door to the Art Lounge.

The exhibition organizers provided a news release that cites the regents' decisions to appoint Mark Yudof as UC president and to raise student fees by 32 percent, and asks: "Who are the regents? What is their role within this recent crisis and the entire UC system? Have they broken the promise of the California Master Plan for Higher Education, conceived by then-UC President Clark Kerr, who in 1960 envisioned and intended to make an exceptional quality of higher public education accessible to anyone regardless of class, race, sexuality and gender?"

The news release continues: "The recent decisions and actions by the regents signal a move towards privatization of higher education that jeopardizes the master plan’s 'unique' commitment to have a 'place ready for every high school graduate or person otherwise qualified.'"

The exhibition organizers said they are raising questions by introducing some of the 26 regents, via photography, text, video and a podcast.
 
AHI 401 is a course on curatorial methods, led by Susette Min, assistant professor, Asian American studies. The students this quarter are Ruthye Cole, Alison Flory, Kevin Frances, Jane Oh, Elizabeth Ottenheimer, Lucy Potter, Dayanita Ramesh, Stan Nghia Trinh and Camille Wheat.

Art Lounge hours: 7 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday-Saturday, and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday.

OTHER EXHIBITIONS

Description of a Journey: Art and Contemporary Narrative — Featuring the work of Rubén Ángeles, Carmen Chami, José Antonio Farrera, Elvira Sarmiento and Alejandra Zermeño, this exhibition reflects upon the physical, emotional and metaphorical experiences that arise through the journey and the narrative. Sponsored by the Mexican consulate general, the exhibition celebrates the bicentennial of Mexico’s independence and the centennial of the Mexican Revolution. Through March 19, C.N. Gorman Museum, first floor, Hart Hall. Hours: noon-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 2-5 p.m. Sunday.

First Ladies and Fashion: Style Icons on a Political Runway — Winter and spring quarters, first floor, Shields Library. Hours: 7:30 a.m.-midnight Monday-Thursday, 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, noon-6 p.m. Saturday and noon-midnight Sunday.

From Our Land — About the Nikkei (Japanese emigrants) and their role in California agriculture as well as their response to the changing political climate from the turn of the 20th century to the present day. Through March 7, Design Museum, first floor, Walker Hall. Hours: noon-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 2-5 p.m. Sunday.

How to Make a (Political) Play: Behind the Scenes with the San Francisco Mime Troupe — Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the San Francisco Mime Troupe, a political theater group. Through winter quarter, first floor, Shields Library. Hours: 7:30 a.m.-midnight Monday-Thursday, 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, noon-6 p.m. Saturday and noon-midnight Sunday.

Prison Works — From the art workshop at the California Medical Facility, Vacaville. Through March 21, Buehler Alumni and Visitors Center, Old Davis Road and Mrak Hall Drive. Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Recently Conserved Works — A showing of three rehabilitated works (by Roy De Forest, Wayne Thiebaud and Edward Weston) to add to visitors’ understanding of the “behind-the-scenes” work of a museum. Through March 14, Nelson Entryway Gallery, 125 Art Building. Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday, by appointment on Fridays; and 2-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.

Selected Recent Acquisitions: 2007-09 — Insight into the acquisition process — with this exhibition of some 40 works donated over the past three years. Included are works by UC Davis art professor Wayne Thiebaud; drawings by the late Robert Arneson, also a UC Davis professor; prints by Professor Malaquias Montoya given on the occasion of his retirement; and a drawing by William T. Wiley, another UC Davis professor. Through March 7, Nelson Gallery, 124 Art Building. Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday, by appointment on Fridays; and 2-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.

21st-Century Life Sciences: Technology-Biotechnology — Winter quarter, first floor, Shields Library. Hours: 7:30 a.m.-midnight Monday-Thursday, 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, noon-6 p.m. Saturday and noon-midnight Sunday.