Object Highlights

OMCA staff—from curators to gallery guides—reflect on objects from the Museum’s extensive collections that shares insights and inspiration for our present moment.

Chicano Park

Let’s talk about the history of Chicano Park. Chicano Park is a vibrant community space in San Diego, California, renowned …

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Tradition and healing at Calli: The Art of Xicanx Peoples

Featured in our special exhibition is Felicia ‘Fe’ Montes, who is a Xicana-Indígena artist, activist, educator and herbalist from East …

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Object of the Week: San Joaquin Delta by Bob Walker

Gallery Guide Orion Camero finds connections to nature, art, and activism in a photograph by nature photographer Bob Walker.

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Object of the Week: California Tortoiseshell Butterfly

Ryder Diaz, Curator of Natural Sciences, reflects on the many stories behind a jar of butterfly pupae in OMCA’s collection. …

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Object of the Week: Short-Handled Hoe

Associate Curator of History Erendina Delgadillo reflects on a short-handled hoe as an example of how undervalued workers organized to …

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Object of the Week: Suiseki Rock

Gallery Guide Addie Brian takes a closer look at a suiseki rock, an ancient art form that still inspires today. …

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Object of the Week: 1920s Chicken Toy

What’s the story behind a 1920s chicken toy in OMCA’s collection? Registrar Meredith Patute (and her pet chicken Redd) find …

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Object of the Week: 1917 Recipe Booklet

During the shelter in place, Associate Registrar Jadeen Young tackled a new baking project—from a 1917 recipe booklet called 55 …

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Object of the Week: Question Bridge: Black Males

In this time of physical distance, Assistant Curator Rhonda Pagnozzi is reminded of how deeply interconnected we are to each …

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Object of the Week: Patent Inventions from the 1800s

Peggy Monahan, OMCA Director of Content Development, gets inspired by people’s capacity to identify a problem, imagine a solution, and …

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