Current Exhibitions
Mission Gráfica: Reflecting a Community in Print
Thursday, January 9 – Sunday, March 9, 2025
The Ontario Museum of History & Art (OMHA) is pleased to present Mission Gráfica: Reflecting a Community in Print, a stunning exhibition featuring dozens of screenprints from Mission Gráfica, a community print center of diversity and cultural ferment in San Francisco. Founded in 1982 as part of the Mission Cultural Center, Mission Gráfica became the most sought-after political poster center in the Bay Area in the 1980s. Mission Gráfica opens on January 9, 2025, and will be on view through March 9, 2025.
The Mission Gráfica printmaking studio was created through the joint efforts of René Castro, a political refugee from Augusto Pinochet’s coup in Chile, and Jos Sances, a Sicilian American, Vietnam war draft resister with a base in commercial printing. Castro’s brilliant graphic design melded with Sances’ technical mastery to create the backbone of this renowned print center. During the 1990s, Mission Gráfica was reformulated under the direction of Juan R. Fuentes, who emphasized community projects and classes. He created a more open workshop that served artists exploring personal visions and activists involved in local struggles from gentrification to homelessness.
This temporary exhibition reflects an enormous variety of styles, approaches, and sensibilities. The artists range from non-professional and emerging artists to well-known figures such as Carmen Lomas Garza, Nancy Hom, Rupert Garcia, Mildred Howard, Jean La Marr, Ester Hernandez, Michael Roman, and the San Francisco Print Collective. Visitors will explore themes of US Imperialism, gender inequality and women’s empowerment, cultural celebrations, Indigenous America, and more.
Mission Gráfica: Reflecting a Community in Print is a touring exhibition developed in partnership with the San Francisco Public Library, artists from Mission Gráfica, and Exhibit Envoy. It is based on the book of the same name.
Centered in Ink: Printmaking in the Inland Empire
Thursday, January 9 – Sunday, March 9, 2025
Centered in Ink: Printmaking in the Inland Empire is organized by the Ontario Museum of History & Art and celebrates the works of local artists who engage with current issues through the art of printmaking.
The Museum’s presentation of the exhibit will include a collective of artists from the Inland Empire whose practice in printmaking uses various techniques, such as monotypes, intaglio, engraving, drypoint, aquatint, etching, and mezzotint. These artists explore current topics and inspire all with their unique creative expressions. The artists delve into thought-provoking themes such as identity, activism, and environmental awareness, using their printmaking practices to create powerful visual statements. Artists participating include Briar Rosa, Adam Aguilar, L.Akinyi, Micah Amaro, BA Soul, Kenia Cruz, Cesar Garcia, Jorge Heredia, Duan Kellum, Stephanie Lagos, and Sarah Vazquez
Join the Museum on Saturday, January 11, 2025, from 2–4 PM at the Community Reception for an afternoon of art and printmaking featuring artists in the exhibitions Mission Gráfica: Reflecting a Community in Print and Centered in Ink: Printmaking in the Inland Empire. Light refreshments will be provided.
Built on Water
In 2017, the Ontario Museum of History & Art began developing a new permanent exhibition, which was inspired by efforts underway to redesign the Museum’s landscaping with native plants and water-saving features. Curatorial staff realized there was a bigger story to tell about water and its importance in Ontario. In 2018, the Museum was awarded a Museums for America grant from the Institute of Library and Museum Services for this new exhibit.
Built on Water: Ontario and Inland Southern California focuses on the history, present and future of water in the Ontario region and the Chino Basin. Built on Water brings together the story of local water agencies, regional tribes, agriculture, water conservation, and the establishment of the City of Ontario. Developed collaboratively with local archivists, water agencies, teachers, tribal members, college students and historians, the 1,200 square-foot exhibition also has educational programming and interactive components which allow for learning and discovery for all ages.
Learn from artifacts and images of early water infrastructure, explore the future of water management in a new mobile app, listen to the voices of our community’s water guardians, and follow the life of a Monarch butterfly through a one-of-a-kind VR experience.
This exhibit explores the unique history of Ontario—it’s founding, transitions, people and organizations. Explore Ontario from its roots, beginning with the Tongva and Californio Rancheros to its founding by George Chaffey. The book, Ontario: The Gem of the Foothills by Michael L. Rounds, traces Ontario history from the Native American era to the present day. View historic images from the Museum’s collections, many published for the first time, and discover why the City of Ontario has been called the “Gem of the Foothills”.