MANETTI SHREM MUSEUM. Julio César Morales—artist, curator and a former museum director—grew up along the U.S.–Mexico border between San Diego and Tijuana. After nearly a decade in Arizona creating work about the border, “OJO” marks his California homecoming and return to full-time studio practice through a mid-career survey bridging past and future to reflect on the present. 10a—5p. Free
MANETTI SHREM MUSEUM. This groundbreaking exhibition considers the connections between social and environmental injustice through the lens of contemporary art. It brings together works focused on climate change by artists, scientists and activists whose practices encompass photography, multimedia, large-scale sculptures, painting and more. 10a—5p. Free
PENCE GALLERY. Call for artists! You are invited to submit artwork that captures the connection between clothing and one’s personal identity and/or culture. You can explore this open-ended theme through various media and subject matter. Work will be selected for a new group exhibit, titled Worn, from Jan. 9—Feb. 8, 2026. Submissions are due by December 1, 2025. Free to apply
JOHN NATSOULAS GALLERY. Known for his imaginative narratives and surrealist sensibilities, Avery Palmer creates intricate worlds painted in the highly technical style of the Old Masters. His haunting compositions brim with oddities—hybrid creatures, enigmatic objects, and spectral human figures—that invite viewers to step into the rich terrain of the subconscious. Free
JOHN NATSOULAS GALLERY. Known for his evocative depictions of suburban life and richly observed still lifes, Boyd Gavin captures the fleeting beauty of everyday moments with both intimacy and depth. His latest body of work turns a keen eye toward shared history, inviting viewers to contemplate the past, present, and future. Free
PENCE GALLERY. Raquel Cox is an oil painter whose recent work celebrates the beauty of nature and the way it lifts the human spirit. Painting mainly from life, Raquel portrays a wide variety of subjects but is particularly fascinated with observing the structure, delicacy, vibrancy, and impermanence of flowers. She views her work as a delicate balance between portraying nature truthfully and trying to capture the beauty and poetry that she finds in each subject. 11:30a—5p. Free
PENCE GALLERY. Robert Ortbal combines a vast array of both common and odd materials, applying them in endless variations to create small-scale, uniquely masked figures, traveling-case environments that house them, and wearable sculptures that are, at times, worn outside the gallery environment in performative public works. For Encounters, a 20-foot towering sculpture made from electrical conduit soars up into the clerestory and snakes along the gallery floor, displaying an assortment of his wearable works. 11:30a—5p. Free
PENCE GALLERY. The Pence’s Holiday Market is a treasure trove of handcrafted items made by over 50 participating regional artists and artisans, perfect for holiday gift giving. Visitors can enjoy shopping for cozy knit scarves, unique jewelry, ceramics, paintings, and more. 11:30a—3p. Free
