{"id":227301,"date":"2026-03-19T19:05:07","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T19:05:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/227301\/"},"modified":"2026-03-19T19:05:07","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T19:05:07","slug":"free-exhibit-celebrates-25-years-of-contemporary-sacramento-art","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/227301\/","title":{"rendered":"Free exhibit celebrates 25 years of contemporary Sacramento art"},"content":{"rendered":"

The following is the March 19 edition of Cultural Capital, an arts and entertainment newsletter written by Abridged contributor Chris Macias. Want it sent directly to your inbox?\u00a0Sign up here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

St. Patrick\u2019s Day passed a couple days ago and that luck of the Irish would\u2019ve been handy for scoring tickets to recent shows. Cake returns to its Sacramento stomping grounds for the first time since 2019, but its run of shows from Saturday through Monday at Channel 24 are sold-out. The nights are bound to be filled with Sacto pride, 1990s nostalgia and likely tears given the recent passing of\u00a0original guitarist Greg Brown<\/a>. Let\u2019s hope Cake comes back sooner than later.<\/p>\n

On the jazz side, the much-anticipated debut of LabRats\u2019\u00a0\u201cWho is Jef Costello?\u201d<\/a>\u00a0is also a sold-out affair. The show takes the beloved Sacramento jazz fusion band to theatrical heights with dance and hip-hop in an adaptation of \u201cLe Samoura\u00ef,\u201d a stylish noir film from 1967. Whoever nabbed tickets for these shows on Saturday at Sac Dance Lab definitely scored.<\/p>\n

Still, no need to get wrapped up in the FOMO. The upcoming week is filled with cultural life, including street art from a Sacramento institution, music ranging from soothing Hawaiian guitar to blistering vintage sounds, ballet and more.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s get it!<\/p>\n

Dig into\u00a025 years of art\u00a0from a signature Sacramento gallery<\/p>\n

\"ToyroomToyroom Gallery\u2019s archives exhibit at Never Board. (Denis Akbari)<\/p>\n

The details:<\/p>\n

Never Board, 1518 Del Paso Blvd., Sacramento<\/p>\n

5-7 p.m., March 21 (Saturday)<\/p>\n

Free<\/p>\n

Toyroom Gallery is in the midst of celebrating 25 years on the forefront of street art<\/a> in Sacramento. Over the past quarter-century, the gallery has showcased works from the likes of Shepard Fairey<\/a>, best known for his Barack Obama \u201cHope\u201d posters and around Sacramento as the creator of the Johnny Cash mural<\/a> on 15th and L streets. Through its various gallery spaces and organizing exhibitions, Toyroom Gallery has a keen eye for art that\u2019s accessible and visually eye popping.<\/p>\n

Toyroom Gallery is an especially staunch supporter of local artists who take their cues from graffiti, pop culture, political activism and other contemporary styles. In tandem with Never Board<\/a> in Del Paso Heights, \u201cFrom the Archives\u201d celebrates 25 years of Toyroom Gallery with such Sacto artists as Skinner, John Stuart Berger, Pete Bettencourt and the late Nathan Cordero.<\/p>\n

But the clock is ticking. After a month-long run, a closing reception for \u201cFrom the Archives<\/a>\u201d will be held Saturday at Never Board. Plan for an evening of art appreciation and live music that\u2019ll rock your senses.<\/p>\n

Relax with pints and\u00a0pretend it\u2019s Hawaii<\/p>\n

The details:<\/p>\n

Ruhstaller Farm Brewery, 6686 Sievers Road, Dixon<\/p>\n

6 p.m., March 20 (Friday)<\/p>\n

Free<\/p>\n

Close your eyes as Ledward Kaapana<\/a> plays his masterful Hawaiian slack key guitar, and it\u2019ll feel like O\u2019ahu\u2019s sandy beaches are footsteps away. Ruhstaller Farm Brewery<\/a> in Dixon will transform into a bit of tropical paradise as one of Hawaii\u2019s most celebrated guitarists takes the stage. Savor the sunset with a pint, and you\u2019re in for one idyllic night.<\/p>\n

Get inspired by\u00a0ballet through the ages<\/p>\n

The details:<\/p>\n

The Sofia, Home of B Street Theatre, 2700 Capitol Ave., Sacramento<\/p>\n

7:30 p.m., March 20 and 21 (Friday and Saturday), 2 p.m. matinee, March 21 and 22 (Saturday and Sunday)<\/p>\n

$55-$99<\/p>\n

Sacramento\u2019s dance community lost an icon with the\u00a0recent passing of Ron Cunningham<\/a>, Artistic Director Emeritus of the Sacramento Ballet. No better way to honor his deep legacy than enjoying a\u00a0performance this weekend of \u201cVisions.\u201d<\/a>\u00a0The Sacramento Ballet will perform innovative works ranging from George Balanchine, the beloved \u201cfather of American ballet,\u201d to contemporary choreographers such as Caili Quan and Ihsan Rustem.<\/p>\n

Catch a\u00a0great mid-week gig\u00a0with an early start time<\/p>\n

The details:<\/p>\n

Torch Club, 904 15th St., Sacramento<\/p>\n

6 p.m., March 25 (Wednesday)<\/p>\n

$20<\/p>\n

If you missed the run of Cake shows, you can still get a taste of the band next week. Before linking up with Cake in 1998, Xan McCurdy was best known as the guitarist for Oakland\u2019s The Loved Ones<\/a>, a mod\/R&B group that packed local spots like Old Ironsides. Next Wednesday at the Torch Club<\/a> will be a double-whammy of vintage sounds with The Loved Ones and Th\u2019 Losin\u2019 Streaks<\/a> kicking off the show with garage rock aplomb. Note that this gig starts early with 6 p.m. doors. On behalf of Gen X, thank you.<\/p>\n

More events you won\u2019t want to miss<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s\u202fkeep it going with bonus picks for this week and beyond:<\/p>\n

Before I go,<\/p>\n

On Monday, I\u2019ll be in the KDRT 95.7 FM studio as a guest on\u00a0\u201cThat California Sound!\u201d<\/a>\u00a0Hosts JonEmery Dodds and Scott Schiller invited me to chat about the local music scene, my arts journalism career and whatever the heck else comes up. The show starts at 6 p.m. and you can\u00a0listen here<\/a>. I\u2019m definitely looking forward to it.<\/p>\n

See you next week!<\/p>\n

Chris\u00a0Macias\u00a0is a regular contributor, writing\u00a0Cultural Capital\u00a0for Abridged.\u00a0<\/p>\n