Exhibitions – Haggin Museum

Leyendecker: Celebrating 150 Years

Few people today recognize the name Joseph Christian Leyendecker and yet he was arguably this nation’s most popular commercial artist during the first four decades of the 20th century. His paintings helped sell everything from men’s clothing to breakfast cereal and he helped define the modern magazine cover.

Haggin Museum houses the largest public collection of original artworks by the “Golden Age” illustrator. The museum’s core Leyendecker Gallery displays over 40 pieces of original work and personal ephemera. In honor of the 150th anniversary of his birth, the Haggin is displaying a collection of rarely seen original works and sketches by the artist. The selection includes J.C. and his brother Frank’s sketches, allowing viewers to get a closer look at the artists’ process.

SHE SLAPS 2.0! Street Art Stickers by Women Artists from Around the World

SHE SLAPS 2.0 features over 600 street art stickers by 85 contemporary women artists from 20 countries around the world. Drawn from the private collection of Oliver Baudach, founder and director of Hatch Kingdom Sticker Museum in Berlin, Germany, the exhibition includes stickers individually drawn, painted, and/or printed by the artists, as well as silkscreen, offset, and digital designs that were printed in larger runs through commercial services.

In 2019, Baudach sent out a worldwide call-for-entries for new stickers to add to the original SHE SLAPS exhibition and to St. Lawrence University’s “Street Art Graphics” digital archive. A second worldwide call was issued in 2023 for the 2.0 edition of the exhibition.

The exhibition includes portraits of women and men, fanciful “character design” creatures, and various images and text that function as artists’ “tags.” Female personas represented in the exhibition range from dolls, punks, and riot grrls to femmes fatales and leading ladies. A handful of artists address political subjects, with one artist using photos of her cat Illchmann as a spoof on “Grumpy Cat” in order to comment on sexism, racism, and gun violence.

The exhibition organizers also noted that the stickers in the show, with few exceptions, exclude images of violence, skulls, or military-related themes often found in stickers by some male artists. Several artists contributed works that are part of an ongoing global campaign called “Streetart Against Hate: To Live and Let Live,” in which artists can download circular templates with text in different languages and design their own stickers.

When asked, many artists in the exhibition indicated that identifying as a female affected their work, while others felt that gender and sexuality did not play a role. All of the artists indicated a strong sense of solidarity among street artists in general, however, whether male or female.

Exhibition courtesy of St. Lawrence University (Canton, NY) and Hatch Kingdom Sticker Museum (Berlin, Germany).

The Art of Ezra Tucker

Ezra Tucker’s wildlife art is characterized by its dynamic composition, unexpected color, lighting, and scale. Its large scale gives a sense of dignity and presence to each creature. His subjects seem alive and animated, ready to step out of two dimensions into a three dimensional world.

Though his background is as a commercial illustrator and designer, Tucker’s use of earth tones and warm light give his subjects the glow of an old master’s work. Of his current work, the artist says, “The challenge I have for myself is to present the beauty and majesty of the natural world to encourage the preservation of wildlife and diversity through my art.”

This exhibition, featuring approximately 35 paintings by Ezra Tucker, is organized and traveled by David J. Wagner, Ph.D., Curator/Tour Director David J. Wagner, L.L.C.

Under the Mexican Sky

Mexico City in the 1920s-30s was the scene of one of the great artistic flowerings of the twentieth century. Like Paris in the aftermath of World War I, Mexico City after the decade-long Mexican Revolution served as a magnet for international artists and photographers. Foremost among the expatriate photographers was the Los Angelino, Edward Weston, who embedded himself in the artistic milieu surrounding the muralist painters Rivera, Orozco, and Siqueiros. Weston reinvented his approach to picture-making during his three years in Mexico, 1923-26. The soft-focus painterliness that had characterized his studio portraiture in the ‘teens melted away under the brilliant Mexican sun, to be replaced by crystalline landscapes as well as evocative still lifes that prefigured his later shells and peppers. Meanwhile, his paramour and protégée, the Italian silent film star Tina Modotti, created photographs that would place her in the pantheon of great photographers of the era. This exhibition features rare vintage Mexican masterworks by both Weston and Modotti from the 1920s, as well as stellar photographs from the 1930s by the New Yorker Paul Strand, the Frenchman Henri Cartier-Bresson, and by Mexico’s own self-taught master of the camera, Manuel Álvarez Bravo.

Under the Mexican Sky is organized by art2art Circulating Exhibitions, www.art2art.org. All prints are courtesy of the private collection of Michael Mattis and Judith Hochberg.

African Americans in World War II

African Americans in World War II, a traveling exhibition from the National Museum of Nuclear Science, opens April 4, 2024, in the Haggin Museum’s West Gallery. The exhibition includes approximately 40 framed photographs highlighting the efforts of Black soldiers and military personnel.

More than 2.5 million African American men and thousands of Black women served in all branches of service and in all Theaters of Operations during World War II. Despite extensive discrimination and segregation, they met the challenge, preserved, and served with distinction and honor. Many Black infantrymen were involved in the war in Europe and the war of the Pacific. In addition, African Americans supported war efforts from the home front and were instrumental in the achievement of success of the allied forces.

On the home front, African Americans also did their part to win the war. They worked in war industries, in government agencies, sold War Bonds, entertained the troops on overseas tours, and performed many vital services that would lead to the final victory in August 1945.

Yardley’s People, Places, & Things

For over 50 years Ralph O. Yardley (1878 – 1961) captured the mood of his times in his illustrations and cartoons. He worked for many newspapers and publications such as the San Francisco Examiner, the San Francisco Chronicle, Honolulu’s Pacific Commercial Advertiser, the San Francisco Bulletin, the New York Globe, and the San Francisco Call. In 1922 he returned to Stockton and spent three decades at the Stockton Record as its resident artist.

Yardley’s daily editorial cartoons dealt with the topical issues of the day and his artwork decorated the paper’s many special features, advertising supplements and holiday issues. One of his most popular contributions to the Record was his “Do You Remember” series, which he initiated in November of 1924. Published every Monday, these pen and ink sketches—based upon old photographs and the artist’s own memories—recalled the people, places, and events of Stockton’s past.

Ralph Yardley’s People, Places & Things showcases illustrations from the Haggin Museum’s collection which includes over 1,100 original works donated by the Record in 1970. This collection of images gives viewers a highly detailed glimpse into Stockton’s bygone era—often with humorous touches so characteristic of the artist. They serve as a wonderful visual history of Stockton and reflect the love that Yardley had for his hometown.

93rd Annual Robert T. McKee Student Art Exhibition

Celebrate the arts in education during the 93rd Annual Robert T. McKee Student Art Exhibition, the country’s longest-running museum-sponsored student art exhibit! This event features the work of student artists from kindergarten through grade 12. The show was first envisioned by founding patron Robert T. McKee, who aimed to encourage students by providing a public venue for their artwork. All schools in San Joaquin County—public, private, charter, parochial, and home schools—receive invitations to submit their work.

On average, Haggin receives 1,000 pieces of art chosen by the teachers as the best in their class. The Museum’s Tuleburg Gallery will be filled with two- and three-dimensional artworks created in crayon, colored pencil, pastel, watercolor, oil and acrylic paint, photography, and other mediums.

All San Joaquin County K-12 teachers are invited to drop off student artwork on January 18 & 19 between 2:30 – 5:30 pm and January 20 between 1:30 – 4:30 pm. For more information about the show and student artwork submission, view the 2024 McKee Student Art Exhibition guidelines.

Under Pressure: Painting with Air

Most people are familiar with airbrushing as a method used by commercial artists to decorate a broad range of material culture such as t-shirts, sporting equipment, cakes, body art, makeup, tattoos, and vehicles ranging from boats to pickup trucks, semis, cars, and motorcycles. In the 1950s and ’60s, airbrush became a go-to medium for the so-called Kustom Kulture, a neologism that refers to styles and fashions associated with custom cars and motorcycles in the United States, particularly the hot rod scene of Sothern California. As would be expected, many commercially successful airbrush artists possess incredible skill, but many lack true artistry, which may be the reason why the medium has often been unfairly maligned or ignored by the fine art world over the years.

Though a hip medium in the world of commercial art today, airbrush is actually a 19th-century invention. Francis Stanley (who with his twin brother became famous for the Stanley Steamer) patented a simple atomizer airbrush to colorize photographs in 1876. Some fifteen years later, Charles Burdick revolutionized the airbrush with his patented double action, internal-mix airbrush similar to those used today. It contained paint somewhat like a fountain pen and featured an index finger trigger with the air supply re-positioned through the bottom, which improved balance and control. Burdick’s invention was promoted by Thayer and Chandler, a Chicago mail-order arts and crafts retailer, which also showcased it at the 1892 World Columbian Exposition. As other improvements ensued, the medium took off. Pioneers of airbrushing include Surrealist Man Ray and graphic illustrator Alberto Vargas. Later, Pop artist James Rosenquist used it to evoke the qualities of advertising in his work. Today, works by artists who use airbrush embody a diverse range of styles, subject matter, and techniques.

Under Pressure is comprised of 45 works, wide-ranging in theme. It is a survey exhibition of contemporary realism by 15 exceptional airbrush artists from around the U.S. and beyond, including photorealists Don Eddy, Kirk Lybecker, and Hisaya Taira; still-life painter Cesar Santander; abstract illusionist George Green; Dru Blair; Silvia Belviso; David Evanoff; Joshua Zarambo; Jerry Ott; Bruce Evans; Alan Pastrana.

Under Pressure is organized by David J. Wagner, LLC.

Pastels USA: 99 Voices in Pastel

The Pastel Society of the West Coast is returning to the Haggin Museum for its 37th Annual Pastels USA: 99 Voices in Pastel international juried exhibition. The show opens on August 31 and runs through October 29, 2023. An estimated $12,000 will be awarded among three categories: Modern and Experimental, Contemporary Realism, and Contemporary Impressionism. This highly competitive show attracts internationally known pastel artists, resulting in a stunning collection of award-winning art.

This year’s jurors include Mary Platt, Executive Director of the Hilbert Museum of California Art at Chapman University; Marcia Holmes, PSA Master & IAPS Eminent-MC; Tony Allain, Pastel Society UK & Royal Society of Marine Artist, UK, Eminent Pastelist & Member Circle IAPS; Cuong Nguyen, PSA Master Pastelist, Master Circle IAPS, and Distinguished Pastelist PSWC.

Artists Reception
Saturday, September 9, 2023
2 – 4 PM

Join the Pastel Society of the West for an awards ceremony and reception on Saturday, September 9, to celebrate the opening of the 99 Voices in Pastel exhibition.

Click HERE to see the full list of award winners (click the link, then scroll down to see awards).

Artwork in this exhibition is available for purchase. Please contact the Pastel Society of the West Coast at art@sabrinahill.com for pricing and sales.

Tony Levin: A Life of Music & Photography

For decades, musician Tony Levin has chronicled his life on the road through photography and his online “road diary.” His photographs capture iconic moments on stage playing with bandmates, the day-to-day life on tour, and everything in between. “The images tell a story. Each represents that I was lucky to be in that place at that time with a vantage point that other people don’t have—from on stage or backstage and being in the band,” said Tony. A Life of Music and Photography gives viewers a glimpse into what it’s like being on the road with King Crimson, Peter Gabriel, Paul Simon, Sting, Peter Frampton, Stick Men, and more.

Tony Levin was born in 1946 in Boston, Massachusetts. Influenced by his musical family, Levin began playing the upright bass around age ten and the tuba in high school. Tony studied music at the Eastman School of Music and then appeared in the Rochester Philharmonic. Over time his interest in music shifted to jazz and then to rock.

In 1970 Tony relocated to New York City to pursue his rock music career. He began to work as a session musician, which led to his work with Peter Gabriel and Robert Fripp. From there, he has played on albums and/or toured with artists such as John Lennon, Pink Floyd, Lou Reed, Alice Cooper, Carly Simon, Paula Cole, James Taylor, and countless other luminaries. Levin is currently a member of the bands King Crimson, Peter Gabriel Band, Stick Men, and Levin Brothers.

Tony has always had an interest in photography and experimented with different cameras, equipment, and techniques throughout his career. He has documented decades of concerts, studio sessions, and behind-the-scenes moments. “I always have some part of my mind looking at the light on different people trying to be aware of if there is an image that wants to be captured,” explains Tony. Whether on stage or on the road, Tony has accumulated a vast catalog, and this collection of images includes some of the finest.

Click HERE to learn more about Tony Levin.

Archives: Exhibitions