The Sonoma County Museum is pleased to present Emerging Visual Artists, celebrating the work of promising artists with $5,000 cash awards and an invitation to exhibit their work for the first time in the Museum's Main Gallery. Established by the Sonoma Arts Council in 2006, this second iteration continues the recognition of emerging artists for their outstanding work and provides the opportunity to advance their development as artists. Read more...

In its ninth year, and the second time featured at the Sonoma County Museum, this annual juried black and white high school photography exhibition, which began in 1999, has grown from a local Santa Rosa event to a regional North Bay competition. Approximately 500 works are submitted annually, of which approximately 60-75 pieces are chosen for the exhibition. Photographs are judged in seven categories and each category can have a first, second and third place. This year's $4,000 dollars in prizes has been selected by the Sonoma County Museum's Chief Curator, Patricia Watts, along with local photographer Sarah Pedlow and local photography collector Craig Rosser. Read more...

Featured from the Museum's Tom Golden Collection is a selection of works ‘wrapped and unwrapped’ by environmental artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude, including Wrapped Stapler (1993), and a barrel from The Koln Mastaba (1986). This exhibition is the third in a series of four groupings from the Museum's Tom Golden Collection.   Read more...

In collaboration with the Sonoma County Japanese American Citizens League and the Giri Oral History Project, presented are highlights from the most compelling aspects of the history of Japanese people in Sonoma County.

Starting with the Museum's extensive collection of materials related to Kanaye Nagasawa, the ‘Baron’ of Fountaingrove, the exhibition recounts the remarkable life of Nagasawa (born Hikosuke Isonaga) and his journey from a student smuggled out of Japan in the 1860s to study western culture, to achieving prominent status as successful vintner and widely recognized resident of Santa Rosa. The Giri Oral History Project also highlights other elements of Japanese history in Sonoma County, particularly the internment of Japanese-American citizens during World War II. Read more...