Grace Hudson Museum (original) (raw)

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Indian Summer by Ray Strong (1940), perhaps Strong’s most iconic painting.

Ray Strong as photographed by Ansel Adams, circa 1950.

Now on View

earth portraiture:

ray Strong’s norhtern california landscaptes

September 6, 1924 through January 19, 2025

Oregon-born painter Ray Stanford Strong (1905-2006) captured the essence of the Western landscape in a long career dedicated to what he termed “Earth portraiture.” He was also known for his innovative dioramas, social activism, land conservation, and leadership in art education. For a time, Strong lived in Marin County and spent time in Mendocino County. Drawn from private and public collections, this exhibition focuses primarily on landscapes Strong made of areas in or around San Francisco and the East Bay, Marin and Mendocino Counties, and the Sierra and Cascade Ranges. It also includes subjects depicting places in Oregon, Arizona, Utah, New York, and Italy. A small exhibit of Grace Hudson landscapes complements the show.

acorn day

Sunday, November 10 12:00 to 4:00 PM

In this family-friendly, interactive program, Pomo cultural educators, Rose and Anthony Steele will share and teach the many steps involved in processing acorns. Then try processing acorns yourself, and sample acorn mush. Drop by any time throughout the afternoon.

This program is included with Museum admission. There is never an admission fee for Native Americans, Museum Members, and active-duty Military.

Indian Summer by Ray Strong (1940), with added topographic overlay. The painting depicts Black Mountain in Marin County.

below and above

the Earth

Saturday, November 16 2:00 to 3:15 PM

In this illustrated talk, Tim Buckner, Executive Director of the Historical Society of Mendocino County, will discuss the geologic and natural forces that shape the terrain and topography featured so prominently in our current special exhibition, Earth Portraiture: Ray Strong's Northern California Landscapes. Come early before Tim's lecture to see Ray Strong’s paintings .

Included with Museum admission.

order your holiday wreathes & swag

Once again the Museum will be selling hand-crafted wreathes and swag made by our good friends at McFadden Farms. The variety of items will certainly help make anyone’s home festive and fragrant all the way through the New Year.

To pre-order, click on the image to your left or the button below to download or printout this year’s form. Wreathes will be available for pick-up at the Museum on Saturday, December 6 from 5:00 to 8:00 PM — our holiday First Friday — or on Saturday, December 7 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. A limited number of items will be available for sale at the Museum on both days. Don’t miss out. The best way to guarantee availability is to pre-order!

Image by Natalie Alyse Photography

a Holiday first friday at the museum

Friday, December 6 5:00 to 8:00 PM

Our final First Friday of 2024 will have a holiday theme. The wonderful group Cecelia will be caroling throughout the evening, we’ll be doing interactive craft activities for kids and families, and Santa Claus will be stopping by to visit with children young and old. Beautiful wreaths and swag will also be available for pick-up for those who pre-ordered. We’ll have a limited number for sale for if you didn’t get a chance to order ahead of time. We highly recommend you pre-order, though — see links for ordering just above.

Visitors will also have an opportunity to take in our current special exhibition, Earth Portraiture: Ray Strong’s Northern California Landscapes, featuring 49 paintings by Oregon-born artist Ray Strong (1905-2006), and also view our core galleries dedicated to the artwork of Grace Hudson, exquisite Pomo basketry, and Carpenter-Hudson family history. Light holiday-themed refreshments will also be available.

On First Fridays, the Museum is free for everyone, all day and evening!

deep roots,

spreading branches

virtual programs

We are delighted now to have the video recording of The Song and Dance: Krenov’s American Dreams on our website and available for viewing. In this program, Krenov biographer Brendan Gaffney discusses the inspiration and circumstances that led James Krenov to Mendocino County over 40 years ago, and to the establishment of a fine woodworking program in Fort Bragg. To view it, find the link in the Video Archives section of our website under the Learn tab of our menu at the top of our home page.

In the very near future, we’ll be posting video recordings the other two virtual programs tied to our Deep Roots, Spreading Branches exhibition, one featuring a panel of former and current Krenov School instructors, and the other a panel of four students who went through the Krenov School program at different periods of time.

Greenfield Ranch, Easter 1977

The Summer 2024 issue of The Sunletter is now available. Read it HERE. Click PREVIOUS to find past issues of The Sunletter.

Grace Hudson in the Sun House, 1912.

Rufous Hummingbird and Scarlett Fritillary
Photograph by Rob Badger and Nita Winter

And in June, the National Trust for Historic Preservation website featured the Museum in an article
on our spring exhibition, Beauty and the Beast: California Wildflowers and Climate Change, which ran from February 10 to June 17th. Read the article HERE!

Click on images or text for more information.

The galleries

Short-term exhibits in The Main Gallery highlight contemporary art, Native American cultures, Western American history, historic California art and local natural history. Permanent collections showcase Grace Hudson’s art; her family’s history; and Pomo culture and basketry.

the wild gardens

An outdoor Art and Education center is under development on the museum grounds. Located in a parklike setting, The Wild Gardens features native plant gardens with exhibits and art that teaches about our local environment and how Pomo Indian people managed this landscape.

the sun house

The Hudson’s charming 1911 redwood Craftsman bungalow home, the Sun House sits adjacent to the Museum and is available for docent-led tours. More than a century old, The Sun House allows visitors a glimpse into the Hudsons’ Bohemian lifestyle.

The Grace Hudson Museum highlights regional art, culture and natural history in the tradition of an extraordinary family – that of Ukiah native and nationally admired artist Grace Carpenter Hudson (1865-1937), her ethnologist husband, Dr. John W. Hudson (1857-1936) and her pioneering forebears. We provide opportunities for cultural engagement, art appreciation, historical reflection and hands-on learning.