UC Davis Arts: “Guardians: Spirits of Protection”

“Guardians: Spirits of Protection” is a poignant exploration of the creative relationship between tragedy and design. Now, you can view this magnificent piece at the UC Davis Design Museum through April 24.

The installation showcases a series of sculptures created by design professor emerita Ann Savageau. She crafted them from objects and flotsam that washed up on the beach from unknown places. Savageau’s sculptures are composites of the disparate castoffs in response to the tragic events in her life, as well as to the pandemic.

“On a personal scale, ‘Guardians’ is about building a new life from loss,” said Savageau. “Creating this work helped me cope with my losses and grief. The meditative, incantatory process of building these figures enabled me to direct feelings of grief and loss to a more positive action. I found comfort in the care, thought, love, and attention to detail I devoted to their creation.”

Tim McNeil, professor of design and director of the Design Museum, curated the exhibition.

“‘Guardians’ enters the Design Museum to help us process and reflect on the past year and a half,” said McNeil. “It’s hard not to be impacted by the design creativity, materiality, and spirituality that resonates from the very presence of this work.”

The Design Museum, part of the College of Letters and Science, is located in Room 124 at Cruess Hall. It is free to the public and open weekdays from noon to 4 p.m.

The exhibition opened on October 4 and will remain open through Picnic Day on Saturday, April 24. Additionally, it will remain open on Picnic Day from noon to 4 pm.

Please adhere to all UC Davis coronavirus guidelines for visitors. Learn more about it on the university’s Campus Ready website.

For more information about this exhibition, visit arts.ucdavis.edu/design.

Click Visit the Design Museum for map and parking information.