Grace Hudson Museum

Many thanks to Carole Brodsky, Chris Pugh, and the Ukiah Daily Journal for this morning's front page article about our reopening and the exhibition "Postcards from Mecca." Come visit!

Come for the exhibit, stay for the SALE! Grace Hudson Museum’s Gift Shop is now OPEN! Now through May 31, the Shop is offering 25% off selected popular jewelry, kids’ items, and décor.... NEW merchandise will be arriving throughout the summer from some favorite local artists and artisans. Watch this space for announcements! GIFT SHOP HOURS are Saturdays and Sundays, from noon to 4:00 pm, through May and June. And the Shop will also be open on First Fridays, May 7 and June 4, from 5:00 to 7:30 pm. See the Museum website (gracehudsonmuseum.org) for information about current exhibits, virtual programs, in-person outdoor events, and the status of Sun House tours. AND be sure to stop by Mendocino Book Company before May 31 to purchase your raffle tickets for this beautiful platter from Jan Hoyman Studio the drawing will be held on June 4, and all proceeds benefit Grace Hudson Museum and Sun House! THANK YOU for supporting the arts in your community!

Are we sure "Postcards from Mecca" will be ready to open by 5:00 PM on Friday? Heck yeah! See it as part of your First Friday Art Walk evening tomorrow, or come visit over the weekend. We'll be open on Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 to 4:00 and then, starting next week, Wednesdays through Sundays. The exhibition will run through August 22.

The City of Ukiah's First Friday Art Walk returns this Friday, May 7 after a one-year pandemic hiatus. We'll be open from 5:00 to 8:00 PM. Get a sneak preview of the exhibition "Postcards from Mecca" before its official opening on May 8. Reacquaint yourselves with the Grace Hudson Museum’s core galleries. And enjoy a spring evening with a stroll around the Wild Gardens. The Gift Shop will also be open! Unfortunately, we feel it’s too soon for the Museum to be offering refre...shments. But you can take advantage of the Streeterie, only a few blocks away on School Street, where you can purchase take out food from any of the local downtown restaurants and eat outside with family and friends. While you're walking about, also check out what our friends at the Corner Gallery are up to at 201 S. State Street. At the Museum, masks must be worn and appropriate social distancing maintained. We look forward to seeing you! See more

We are so happy to see that the Mendocino County Museum has reopened, and with a new exhibition about Henry Wonacott, a commercial photographer who worked in Mendocino County from 1908 to 1947. Sounds like a perfect companion show to "Postcards from Mecca," the traveling exhibition that we will open with this Saturday. We've supplemented "Postcards" with the photography of A.O. Carpenter, another legendary Mendo County photographer of the late 19th and early 20th Century. Anyone interested in the photographic arts and in local history should make a point of visiting both museums. Click the image to check out the April 26 story about the County Museum in The Willits News.

Happy May Day with some flowers from our garden!

Mary Jackson grew up making baskets in South Carolina. Back then it was a chore during the hot summer days and she would compete with her cousins to see who could make the best basket. She never expected that she would become a full time basket maker. After some time away in New York, she returned to her home state and married. When her son was diagnosed with chronic asthma, she stayed home to care for him and returned to basketry. She used and continues to use the techniqu...es and processes which were passed down from her West African ancestors to their descendants who were enslaved in the United States to her grandmother and mother. Today her husband Stoney harvests her sweetgrass which she coils and binds with strips of palmetto fibers. Early on, she began to be affected by sweetgrass scarcity caused by an increase in development. She worked to find new accessible gathering places and with others to propagate new varieties. With her great skill, creativity, and innovation, she continues to honor tradition while creating beautiful new forms. 1984 was a pivotal year for Mary. Her work was featured in her 1st solo exhibit at the Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston, South Carolina, and she was invited to the Smithsonian Craft Show. Her work is now in private and museum collections across the world including the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the Museum of African American History in Detroit. In 2008, she became a MacArthur Fellow which is often called the genius grant and in 2018 she was elected to the American Craft Council College of Fellows and was 1 of 8 recipients of the 2018 American Craft Awards. We hope you’ve enjoined finding out about the amazing basket weaver Mary Jackson as we celebrate #BlackHistoryMonth! Find out more here: https://charlestonmag.com//sweetgrass_basket_artist_mary_j And here: https://www.craftinamerica.org/artist/mary-jackson

Join us tomorrow for our program "Traditional Pomo Tule Toys with Meyo Maruffo" at 3pm! Meyo Marrufo is Eastern Pomo from the Clear Lake Basin, tribally from Robinson Rancheria. If you already picked up your craft kit so you can make the crafts with Meyo, make sure to soak your tule in water an hour before the program. We do have a couple of kits available for pick up tomorrow between 11am-2pm. If we do run out of kits, you may request one through email ([email protected]) so that you can make the craft later as you watch the recording we plan to make available. Click here for the program link: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/529967877. Keep in mind you may need to download GoToMeeting to run the program.

If you missed or virtual program Kashia Pomo Stories with Eric Wilder or want to watch it again, it's now live on our youtube channel! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M2trVo5KU8&t=2s

In January 2014, Jonas Kulikauskas, was enjoying the view as he waited for his oatmeal in the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park. As a waiter smoothly laid down the tablecloth, he was inspired and took out his camera to capture this shot. This was the start of his project to capture Yosemite in a new way, by focusing on the people. Delve deeper into this project and meet some of the people who make Yosemite their homes and their travel destination with the exhibit Yosemite People. Created by Exhibit Envoy, the exhibit is now available online for a limited time: https://exhibits.exhibitenvoy.org/yosemite-people-ghm/.

"According to the laws of physics, everything that occupies space is matter, but when you’re serving a life sentence, it feels like you defy physics--you occupy a cell but don’t matter to society." Rahsaan New York Thomas Rahsaan New York Thomas curated the digital exhibit Meet Us Quickly: Painting for Justice From Prison hosted by the Museum of the African Diaspora in San Francisco. The exhibit features the work of 12 artists incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison. V...isit the exhibit here to see their work and discover their stories: https://www.moadsf.org/meet-us-quickly/. The Museum of the African Diaspora also features a variety of upcoming programs (https://www.moadsf.org/calendar/) and past programs (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBDxwyq8yf8N5rXI8k2UdjA). Explore more this #BlackHistoryMonth and throughout the year.

The Grace Hudson Museum is sad to share news of the passing of Marshall McKay, a former tribal chair of the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, son of legendary basketweaver Mabel McKay, and a towering figure in protecting Native American heritage and culture, throughout California and nationally. If you don't know about him, or would like to learn more, click the link for a statement issued on the Yocha Dehe web site: https://www.yochadehe.org//yocha-dehe-wintun-nation-mourns

Happy New Year! Grace and John rang these bells to celebrate the holidays and we hope you ring in 2021 with lots of joy.

Can you see how these two historic photos were blended together to create a single image of hop pickers in the mural? A. O. Carpenter, Grace Hudson’s father, took these historic photographs as he travelled across Mendocino County. The image on the right was taken in the 1880s and shows Monk Robinson with his Pomoan family. The image on the left was taken in 1895 and the hop pickers are unidentified. While the two groups may never have worked side by side, they would have exp...erienced similar working conditions. Imagine picking prickly hops flowers in the height of Ukiah summer in a full-length dress! Alta Ballou recalled, In August, hop picking time came.It was real hot and it was real hard work. Quote Source: Mendocino County Remembered: An Oral History, Vol. 1, 1977 by Bruce Levene, et. al.

For everyone who loves salmon or, for that matter, a good crime scene investigation story, check out this article from the Los Angeles Times. Researchers think they have found the cause of long-mysterious Coho die-offs that range from Northern California to British Columbia. While finding the cause is reason to celebrate, the search for a solution has now begun. Heroic work by environmental scientists.

As the sun sets on 2020, we thought we'd share a look back at the past Grace Hudson Museum year in images. From the pre-pandemic days of exhibits to the Wild Gardens in bloom, the five days of Frida, our first ever virtual Gala, expanded social media series, and some of our Fall programs. We celebrated the retirements of Sherrie Smith-Ferri and Karen Holmes, and welcomed new curator, Alyssa Boge. Somehow we got through this crazy and challenging year. Many thanks to all of our members, volunteers, stakeholders, and constituents. We couldn't have done it without your encouragement, kind words, generosity, and all around support. What will 2021 bring? We are eager to see. Wishing all of you a safe and blessed New Year! See you on the other side.

Can you spot the Pomoan shell necklaces and game pieces? As Lauren Sinnott created her mural in downtown Ukiah, she reached out to people from a number of tribal bands to better understand local Native American histories through their thoughts, experiences, and memories. One of the people she consulted with was White Wolf. From Kashaya Rancheria, White Wolf has worked with Native history and museums and shared some items from his personal collection with Lauren. Lauren incl...uded some of these objects in her community panel, painting a happy scene of village life. Along the bottom of the mural, you can see acorn spinning tops and stick dice used for fun games. You can also see shell beads and necklaces that Pomo peoples used as money. Lauren painted White Wolf as the skilled money maker, aging him considerably! He appears alongside the portrait of a 16-year-old Frances Jack wearing a wealth of necklaces, based on a famous 1926 photo by Edward Curtis who visited the Grace and John Hudson’s home. Today, the Grace Hudson Museum protects similar objects acorn tops, game pieces, and shell beadsin our collection today.

The Grace Hudson Museum is pleased to announce the publication of a new 5,000-word ebook from Critical Read titled, "A Woman’s Work: Grace Carpenter Hudson and the Making of Blue Monday." A few years ago, writer Noelle Nicholson encountered Hudson’s painting "Blue Monday" on a trip through Ukiah, and became compelled to learn more about its subject matter and composition. The resulting ebook takes readers through the writer's process of discovery and includes what she learned... from interviews with the Grace Hudson Museum’s own Karen Holmes and Sherrie Smith-Ferri. In examining "Blue Monday," Nicholson considers Grace Hudson’s career and methods, as well as her lifelong appreciation for the Pomo people. "A Woman’s Work" is modestly priced at $2.99, and can be purchased on the Critical Read web site at https://criticalread.org//a-womans-work-by-noelle-nichols/. If you choose to read "A Woman’s Work," please feel free to let us know your thoughts by responding with a comment. We'd love to hear from you. Critical Read creates ebooks that explore the stories within a work of art while also making connections to wider historical, cultural, and biographical subject matter.

Can you see the different steps in the logging process? In the background of this section of Lauren Sinnott’s mural in Ukiah, you can see a small fire. Fire was used to clear the ground. Then workers added water to create mud for the massive felled redwoods to slide upon, pulled by teams of ten oxen. Generally, these water slingers were Chinese laborers, who carried two buckets of water hanging from a yoke, which is reflected in the mural. The ribs of the oxen stick out a detail that Lauren took from a photo by A. O. Carpenter, Grace Hudson’s father. He travelled throughout Mendocino Country, documenting life.

Merry Christmas to all those who celebrate! What special dishes will you make? Grace likely enjoyed a Christmas goose. She wrote this poem: The ghost of the Goosie... we used to call Lucy came to us Christmas day which proves what my goose will risk when she's loose whatever scoffers may say We rejoiced and were glad though a wee bit sad on this good Christmas day for our high hopes turned loose met the ghost of a goose which isn't the usual way

I want to bring history to life in public, to put real people in my imagery, to connect the community with its history. We are all walking backwards into a predictable but ultimately unknowable future. We can see the past behind us. Ignorance of history is like doing that with your eyes shut. ~ Lauren Sinnott Lauren Sinnott has been assisted by consulting many sources of information, including retired Native American curator White Wolf James, long time locals such as Dave P...oma, the Mendocino County Historical Society, the Ukiah Daily Journal historical books, and the Grace Hudson Museum, as she paints her mural in downtown Ukiah! Located on the Church Street wall of the City of Ukiah’s Conference Center, the mural is organized into themed panels highlighting local history. Over the next 2 weeks we’ll share some of the connections between the images in the mural and the Museum.

We wish you could visit the Sun House, decked with laurel bay, in person, but since that's not possible, we offer you this glimpse inside instead! Stay safe everyone and Happy Holidays! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZc_frhi1JA

Do you recognize these three women? Hint: one currently has a shop downtown! As Lauren worked on the mural in downtown Ukiah, she drew inspiration from the book, Remember My Relations, available in the Museum’s store. The woman standing behind the others is a middle-aged Annie Burke, a very talented basket maker. She asked her daughter Elsie Allen, the older woman in the middle ground, to not destroy her baskets in a funeral fire upon her death as was the Pomo tradition. An...nie wanted the baskets to survive so that they could be used to educate both Pomo and non-Pomo peoples about the incredible skill and artistry of Pomo basketry. Elsie kept her word. She saved the baskets and taught many, including her grandniece Susan Billy, the third woman in the image with braided hair. Susie owns Bead Fever in downtown Ukiah! The school pictured along with the women in the Education panel of the mural, was based on a photo taken by A. O. Carpenter, Grace Hudson’s father. It was a magnificent Grammar School built for Grades 1 - 3. In the mural, a tiny figure of a teacher waits for children to arrive as the ringing bell in the tower calls students to class. Tune in tomorrow to find out more about A.O. Carpenter’s inspiring photos.

A big thank you to everyone who helped with our holiday special including Santa, our carolers, and Buffie who demonstrated crafts! If you got a craft kit and weren't able to join or wanted to see how to make the craft, check out our short video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RJqOsdi8J8

Don't forget to tune in tomorrow at 3pm for our Holiday Special! Enjoy carols, crafts, and stories with Santa as you get in the festive spirit. The program is free. Keep in mind you may need to download GoToMeeting in advance. Click here to join the program: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/653528453.

In painting her mural in downtown Ukiah, Lauren Sinnott didn’t want to shy away from the darker parts of local history. In Lauren’s Truth panel, a woman lies on a blanket, clutching her marriage bag, an object that brings memories of a happy time. In Grace Hudson’s painting The Dowry a happy bride-to-be wears the beautiful object around her neck. However, in Lauren’s mural, she imagines that a woman’s village is under attack and she has fallen, clutching what she holds mo...st dear her baby and the wedding bag made by her husband who is shown in the valley mist above her, having passed before. Her blanket has red stripes but the color reveals more, her blood, spilled in the genocide of Native peoples. This is one of the few painted figures in the mural that was not based on an image of an actual person. Lauren wanted to depict the beauty and strength, the endurance and survival of Native peoples, rather than the depravity of the acts committed against them.

Does the smell of California bay laurel put you in a festive spirit? Also known as Pepperwood, its dark green leaves make for perfect fragrant wreaths and trimmings. It can also be used for many things besides decoration. Pomo peoples place it above doorways to keep out bad spirits. They wear the leaves during ceremonies, use it as medicine, and roast and eat the nuts for a treat that tastes similar to chocolate and coffee. Don't forget to pick up your laurel bay wreath for ...the holidays this Saturday from 10am-2pm. Walk-ins are welcome as long as supplies last. Also, grab a craft kit to go along with our Holiday Special this Sunday at 3pm. Click here to join the program: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/653528453. Source: "Native Plants Used By Native Pomos," Pinoleville Native Plants Project