The Great Indoors: Exploring art and culture in winter (part II)
Posted by admin on Jan 9, 2012
From nature-inspired coastal art to Native American artifacts, Northern California’s rich ecology, history, and artistic traditions have been well documented by some of the region’s lesser-known museums and cultural centers.
In the second part of our series on cultural activities that are off the beaten path, we focus on attractions near our Sacramento, Marin Headlands, Point Montara, and Point Reyes hostels. Experience the great indoors this winter, and get a unique perspective on California life.
Part II: Beyond San Francisco
Marin Headlands GGNRA Visitor Center
Open daily, 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Admission: Free. Located less than one mile from the Marin Headlands Hostel.
The Marin Headlands Hostel is located in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, a space that has wonderfully secluded hiking and biking trails and breathtaking vistas perfect for the amateur or professional photographer. The park’s visitor center, located in the Fort Barry chapel, offers exhibits that investigate both the natural world and the Headlands’ human history from the Miwok Indians through modern times. There’s a Miwok shelter, an exhibit about the cramped living quarters of the enlisted men stationed in the Headlands, wildlife displays, and an installation that explores the daily life of an 1850s lighthouse keeper. There’s also a comprehensive bookstore with detailed anthologies about the Marin Headlands’ diverse history, ranging from the Miwok to the U.S. military, the NIKE missile site to the 150-year-old Point Bonita Lighthouse.
Bay Model Visitor Center
Open Tuesday - Saturday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Admission: Free. Located 6 miles from the Marin Headlands Hostel.
The Bay Model Visitor Center is an educational facility housing one of the most unique public exhibits in the Bay Area. Created by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Bay Model is a working hydraulic model of the San Francisco Bay and the Sacramento - San Joaquin River Delta. It’s an extremely detailed and precise replication of the complete bay-delta system, and demonstrates the delicate balance between society, the ecosystem, and our water supply. Life in the Bay Area would not be possible without the vibrant water-supply system that is beautifully and technically illustrated by the Bay Model.
Bolinas Museum
Open Wednesdays from 4-7 p.m., Fridays from 1-5 p.m., and weekends from noon - 5 p.m. Admission: Free. Located 19 miles from the Point Reyes Hostel and 26 miles from the Marin Headlands Hostel.
Tucked away in the tiny coastal town of Bolinas (and deliberately established in a remote location), the Bolinas Museum is a hidden gem of the Marin County arts and culture scene. The museum reflects both the beauty of the region and the talent of the highly creative people that coastal Marin communities attract. The small space consists of five curated rooms: a gallery with bimonthly contemporary arts exhibits, a fine art photography gallery, two galleries with art from the museum’s permanent collection (art from the 1800s to the present), and a gallery dedicated to preserving the history of the region.
Coastal Arts League
Open Friday - Monday, noon - 5 p.m. (Tuesday and Thursday hours vary). Admission: Free. Located 8 miles from the Point Montara Lighthouse Hostel.
Continuing in the tradition of coastal California artist communities, the Coastal Arts League is a nonprofit that supports art and artists in San Mateo County. Partly an art gallery and partly a museum that hosts traveling exhibits from around the world, the Coastal Arts League works with both emerging and established artists, and supports the business of local art in addition to offering a space to showcase local artwork. The museum has seasonal exhibits that reflect contemporary world art as well as the local art scene in Half Moon Bay, with a pumpkin theme in October and a Mavericks theme in the spring.
Center for Contemporary Art, Sacramento
Open Tuesday - Sunday, noon - 5 p.m. Admission: Free. Located 1 mile from the Sacramento Hostel.
The Center for Contemporary Art is the edgy, daring, avant-garde cousin to Sacramento’s more mainstream Crocker Art Museum. Dedicated to the advancement of experimental art, CCAS boasts exhibits by a roster of acclaimed and international artists working in a variety of mediums. In addition to showcasing the best of the post-modern art scene, CCAS hosts special events, monthly lectures, and workshops for art students.
Automobile Museum
Open daily, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Admission: $8 / $7 seniors / $4 students and children 5-17 / Free for children 4 and under. Located less than a mile from the Sacramento Hostel.
While art offers a window into the soul, artifacts can offer insight into society. The California Automobile Museum is devoted to exploring the evolution of the automobile, both mechanically and culturally. With a rotating display of cars that span several decades, the museum aims to educate the public about the power and influence that automobiles have had on our lives. Their current exhibit features the great "wunder" cars of Germany, from the BMW to the Volkswagen.