November 20, 2001

The Crocker Art Museum

"Hey, didn't you say you'd never been to the Crocker Art Museum?" asked the voice on the other end of the phone.

"Yes."

"Me neither, but I need to go shoot photos for the paper. Want to come along?"

I rarely turn down such an opportunity, so I readily agreed to go visit the museum. We met at the office, grabbed a camera, and headed for downtown Sacramento. I miraculously did not get lost, and we were soon at the entrance to the museum. The not-so-observant passerby might think the Crocker Art Museum is just a historic house in Sacramento, and I wasn't sure what to expect as we walked up the steps and through the large doors.

We stopped inside the entrance just to take it all in. The ornate woodwork and glittering chandeliers were only small parts of the art before us. It's no wonder the Crocker is well-known; people come to see both the art and the building itself. At one point, the museum was a home, and although it has undergone many changes since then, parts of the former home can still be imagined. An area upstairs seemed like it could be a suitable office, and we pictured a large desk, armchair, and computer placed in the center of the room.

The exhibits varied from mural-sized California paintings to a sculpture made entirely of jellybeans. One attraction was even interactive, as it allowed visitors to take a lump of clay, mold it, and return it to the large display. Other exhibits included miniature hats from various genres and numerous paintings and photographs.

After exploring the whole museum and lingering in the store full of artistic books and trinkets, we wandered back outside. The whole experience was rather inspiring for both of us.

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