On a field trip to Sacramento’s Crocker Museum in elementary school, I fell in love with art galleries. A recent visit to the Crocker reminded me why.
The Crocker building has been located downtown for 140 years, and with admission at just $8 for anyone under 17, it’s a deal. The exhibits are full of beautiful works of both modern and classic art well worth seeing.
When you walk in the door you’re greeted with tall ceilings and clean streamlined walls. The cold and clean structure juxtaposes the art on its walls in a perfect way.
The third floor contains mostly modern art, which I found captivating, though some of the pieces felt soulless and hollow.
That said, Jasson Vass’ “Constance Mallinson,” a painting of a colorful pile of trash showing dystopian beauty, caught my eye and changed my opinion on the section’s offerings.
The painting filled me with creative inspiration, and the painting beside it also inspired creativity. The art beside it was done by Anthony White, and the color of the many depicted items popped in a fun, childish way.
The playfulness of the piece made me smile. It was probably my favorite work that I saw while visiting.
My favorite overall section of the museum was the Founder’s House. The museum actually connects to original founder Albert Crocker’s former abode and contains some of the pieces he personally owned.
The museum captures the elegance and opulence that comes to mind when you think of classic art, with an infusion of refreshing modern works. And while it might not be one of the more famous art museums in the country, it’s definitely worth a visit.
216 O St., Sacramento 95814
Open Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Youth admission: $8
