HomeMy WebLinkAbout8.1 Heritage Center Programs & Exhibits CITY OF DUBLIN
HERITAGE AND CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION
AGENDA STATEMENT
MEETING DATE:April 8, 2004
SUBJECT: Heritage Center Programs &Exhibits
ATTACHMENTS: None
RECOMMENDATION: Receive report from Staff.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT: None
DESCRIPTION: As part of the goals for 2003-2004 for the Heritage Center the
Dublin City Council rated as a High Priority: "sponsor programs and exhibits at the Heritage Center that
will emphasize Dublin's culture and heritage".
To accomplish this goal the Heritage and Cultural Arts Commission approved three programs for the
fiscal year, Mexican Folklorico Crafts, Homespun Holiday Workshop and Irish Faeries Workshop. The
three exhibits approved by the Commission were Mexican Folklorico: Day of the Dead Exhibit, Cultural
Fragments: An Exhibit by Amy Lam and Gold Fever: Myth & Reality: The California Gold Rush and Its
Legacy. Each one of these programs has met and exceeded our expectations of the program.
Mexican Folklorico: Staff and four key volunteers coordinated The Day of the Dead exhibit. Displayed
from October 1 through November 25th it consisted of Mexican altars demonstrating tribute to loved-ones
for the Day of the Dead. Also on display were colorful decor of Mexican folk arts, paper flowers, sugar
skulls, and candles.
The Day of the Dead Family Workshop was held November 1, and had five teenage volunteers from the
Alameda Volunteer Center to help coordinate the craft stations. The workshop had 27 pre-registered
participants and 15 walk-ins on the day of the workshop. There was five stations set up for craft making:
sugar skulls, pop-up skeletons, box/alter diorama, clay skeletons and paper movable skeletons. Cathryn
Fairlee dramatically told 6 traditional and spooky Mexican folk tales while the audience was mesmerized.
This exhibit required approximately 30 hours of Staff time to coordinate the exhibit and volunteer man-
hours.
Homespun Holiday Workshop was held Saturday, December 6th and again boasted a full house for the
workshop. The holiday crafts tables were busy all afternoon with gingerbread ornaments and orange
pomanders along with the hot cider and gingerbread. The storyteller told old time Holiday stories to the
young and old alike. This workshop required 15 Staff hours to prepare and coordinate the workshop.
Cultural Fragments: An Exhibit by Amy Lam. Gifted artist Amy Lam lent her interactive/mixed media
"cultural boxes" to the museum from January 11 through February 14. Ms. Lam offered insight into her
personal experience of growing up as a Chinese American through a collection of found items, art objects
and memories. Five other Asian families were involved in the exhibit by loaning various items
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representing their culture. The Cultural Fragments open house was held in February for a steady stream of
visitors for the day. Amy Lam and other exhibiting members were on hand for the day to answer
questions and tell their personal stories of growing up Asian American. Staff required approximately 30
hours of time to coordinate the exhibit and volunteer labor.
Irish Fairies Workshop was held Saturday, March 6 with crafts for the kids, soda bread for the adults and
Cathryn Fairlee spinning tales of folklore. This workshop was sold out two weeks in advance. This
workshop required 15 hours of Staff time to coordinate.
Currently exhibiting at the Heritage Center from March 15 through May 10 is Gold Fever: Myth and
Reality: The California Gold Rush and Its Legacy. The installation consists of 24 exhibit panels with
photomurals, educational suitcase with hands-on artifacts and activities, videotapes on the gold rush
history and materials developed by the Oakland museum for the school tours. Staff and docents are
conducting multiple tours each day for the school children. This exhibit required approximately 20 Staff
hours to coordinate and assemble with volunteer assistance.
The fee for each of the workshops was $5.00 adults and $2.50 for children. This helped offset the cost of
supplies and to plan for the number of participants.
Press for the exhibits and workshops included the Tri-Valley Herald, CTV, Valley Times, Contra Costa
Times—calendar listing and Diablo Magazine.
RECOMMENDATION: It is the recommendation of Staff that the Heritage and Cultural Arts
Commission receive the report from Staff.
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