(Sacramento, California) — The California Museum presents Under the Dragon: California’s New Culture, a photography exhibit vividly depicting California’s hybrid culture in bright colors and modernized Old World celebrations. The exhibit opens January 30th as the first of many new exhibits at The California Museum in 2010 geared toward breaking stereotypes and cultural exploration.

Based on the book Under the Dragon (Heyday Books) by Lonny Shavelson and Fred Setterberg, this new exhibition of action photography reveals California as a place of congruence and juxtaposition: Latino immigrants converting to Islam; an African American teenager in a Chinese lion dancer’s costume celebrating St. Patrick’s Day; a young Persian girl jumping over a Duraflame log at the vernal equinox; Black cowboys and Native Americans together commemorating Western history.

“It all happens at once, making America a messy place,” explained photographer/writer Lonny Shavelson, ”with California ranking among its most gloriously disordered corners.”

All photographs are mounted on sailcloth suspended from the ceiling, inviting Museumgoers to lose themselves within the kaleidoscope of color and ironic imagery. The centerpiece of the exhibit will be a mechanical Chinese New Year’s golden dragon that sways with the exhibit photos.

The California Museum will be featuring several exhibits that reflect cultural exploration through artistic mediums in 2010.

• The yearlong California Hall of Fame exhibition features several original art pieces by painter Fritz Scholder, whose abstract portraiture of Native Americans forever changed the perception of the culture in fine art.
• African American Treasures: History and Art from the Collection of Bernard and Shirley Kinsey opens February 6th. Sponsored by the California Legislative Black Caucus, this exhibit spotlights key aspects of the black experience in America, with rare historical documents creating the context for sculptures and paintings by important African American artists.

The exhibit runs Friday, January 30th through July 2010.

About The California Museum

The California Museum – home of the California Hall of Fame – engages, educates and enlightens people about California’s rich history and its unique contribution to the world through ideas, innovation, art and culture. Through captivating, interactive and innovative experiences, the Museum seeks to inspire men, women and children to dream the California dream and dare to make their mark on history. Open Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. Noon-5 p.m.; Adults $8.50, Students/Seniors (with valid I.D.) $7, Children 6-13 $6.00; Free for Children 5 and Younger. Parking is free on the weekends. CaliforniaMuseum.org