Becoming Heirlooms: A Craft Desert Exhibition

Becoming Heirlooms:

A Craft Desert exhibition curated by Kerianne Quick and Adam John Manley in conjunction with Handwork 2026, a Craft in America initiative.

Opening Reception: Friday, September 11, 2026 | 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Onview August 24, 2026 - November 7, 2026

Becoming Heirlooms examines the extrafunctional power of craft and art objects, not merely as artifacts, but as tools for gathering, witnessing, and remembrance. Expanding the notion of “family” beyond bloodline or inheritance, the exhibition embraces broader forms of collectivity—chosen families, cultural lineages, ideological kinships, and experiences—that serve as touchstones for our shared existence.

At its core, Becoming Heirlooms considers the moment when a crafted object transcends authorship and utility to become a site of collective feeling—when an artist’s intention resonates beyond the individual viewer and ignites a shared emotional consciousness. These works become gathering points for empathy, reflection, and recognition, binding communities through the realities of the world they inhabit together. Featuring new works by: Diana Benavidez, Matt Hebert, Michael Hernandez, Soyeon Kim, Christine Lee, Anna Mayer, Kaiya Rainbolt, Phil Rowland, India Thompson, and Georgina Treviño.

Gallery Hours:

Monday and Tuesday, 1 – 7 p.m.

Wednesday - Friday, 12 – 5 p.m.

Saturday 12-4 p.m.

Sunday, CLOSED

Judith Harris Art Gallery| 330 Park Blvd. | San Diego, CA 92101 | 619-238-6690

The Visual Arts Program provides access and connection to the arts and culture landscape in San Diego, offering unique opportunities to local and regional artists. The visual arts program demonstrates the library’s role as a cultural institution embracing a broad range of disciplines while assisting San Diego's emerging, mid-career and professional artists achieve visible opportunities and receive wider local, regional, and national attention.

@sdpubliclibrary #SDPLGALLERY

STAY CONNECTED