'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.

On view August 24, 2026 - November 7, 2026

"Becoming Heirlooms" examines the extra functional 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.

Visit: https://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/visualarts