Crocker Art Museum provides meaningful opportunities for people of divergent backgrounds to find common ground. Founded in 1885, the Crocker features the world’s foremost display of California art and is renowned for its holdings of master drawings and international ceramics, as well as European, Asian, African, and Oceanic art.

Visitors to the Crocker, 216 O St., Sacramento, can enjoy several exhibitions that begin in December.

The Museum is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Museum is closed Mondays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Every third Sunday of the month is “Pay What You Wish Sunday” sponsored by Western Health Advantage.

“Modern Menagerie: Sculpture by Loet Vanderveen” runs Dec. 9 through March 31, 2019. Sculptor Loet Vanderveen (1921–2015) was born in Rotterdam, Holland, where throughout his childhood he frequented the local zoo. He was devastated when, in preparation for the German bombardment during World War II, the Dutch army destroyed the zoo’s dangerous species. After brief periods in Zurich, London, and New York, Vanderveen settled along the coast of Big Sur, California, where he built a home and studio. He is today known for his remarkable ability to capture the subtle expressions and gestures of animals with minimal detail using his own observations.

“Arte Extraordinario: Recent Acquisitions” opens Dec. 16 and continues through March 24, 2019. “Arte Extraordinario” showcases work by a diverse group of artists, all of whom share a heritage associated with Spanish-speaking cultures in the Americas. Some of these artists may identify as Latinx, an alternative gender-neutral term for Latina or Latino that is quickly becoming more popular, especially among a younger demographic. The exhibition covers a range of genres from figuration to landscape to abstraction, as well as a variety of themes including politics, activism, humor, family, and religion. Many of the featured artists have roots in California and several are nationally or internationally recognized for works that challenge, critique, innovate, or inspire.

Student and Community Exhibitions – “The Colorful Souls of the Sister’s Quilting Collective” runs Dec. 20 through Jan. 27, 2019. The Sister’s Quilt Collective (SQC) exhibition showcases colorful works of art utilizing a variety of fabrics, threads, and embellishments. SQC was formed in 2012 with goals to celebrate, preserve and continue the traditions of quilting and fiber arts, and to keep quilting and fiber arts alive for future generations.

More information about exhibits and programs can be found at crockerart.org or by following @crockerart.