The City of Sacramento’s Office of Arts and Culture is featuring an exhibit focused on caregivers, parents, and guardians who engage in artistic pursuits during their off-hours.
The showcase, titled “When I Can,” is part of the City’s Emerging Curators Fellowship initiative and lead by this year’s Fellow Bridgètt Rex. It will be hosted at the City Hall Robert T. Matsui Gallery (915 I Street) from May 31 through Sept. 9.
“This exhibition features a diverse variety of artists at various points in their artistic journey,” said City 2024 Emerging Curator Fellow Bridgètt Rex. “Artists who create when they can, should be recognized no matter how far along their creative endeavor is.”
The exhibit features 18 regional artists who have created paintings, mixed media pieces, photographs, and other creative works during their off-hours.
One featured artist, Alex Escalante, shares his experience caring for his mother, Alicia Lara Escalante, a well-known activist in East Los Angeles who passed away two years ago after a battle with vascular dementia following her fifth stroke. Alex retired early to care for her full-time. However, as her condition worsened, he was advised to place her in a memory care facility, where she passed away within three months.
Alex’s featured art piece in the exhibit was inspired by his mother’s last days. He began the painting two weeks before she died, depicting her holding a flower he had picked for her. The painting remains unfinished, symbolizing her mental state and the impact of dementia, which erases memories and identity.
“I realized this unfinished work probably describes my mother’s state of mind better than any of my words can,” Alex said. “Just like the flower that she had been holding in her hand, dementia takes away from your mind. Flowers and all that you have loved in your life. All that you were and are.”
The gallery’s hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This exhibit is wheelchair accessible.
About the Emerging Curators Fellowship
Administered by the Office of Arts and Culture, the Emerging Curators Fellowship is a year-long program designed for the selected curator to curate and present two exhibitions with the guidance of a curatorial mentor.
This year’s fellow, Bridgètt Rex, holds a B.A. in Art History/Theory and Criticism with honors from UCSD and an A.A. in Graphic Communications from Sacramento City College. Committed to fostering a more equitable and diverse future in both physical and digital realms, Rex brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her role as the Emerging Curators Fellow.
