The Congress shall have Power… To promote the Progress of Science and Arts, by securing to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries. 

In America, the First Amendment of the United States Constitution protects artistic expression, including visual art, literature, and music. And in the Intellectual Property (IP) Clause, inventors and creators are granted exclusive rights in promotion of the arts toward technical “innovation, advancement, and social benefit.”  

We are in complicated times, where Executive Orders “flood the zone,” meaning artists and the federal agencies who support them are under attack. SJMA has been the grateful recipient of merited federal arts funding for many projects that elevate artists’ voices, and we are working closely with our local, statewide, and national colleagues to understand the new legal landscape. Now, more than ever, we need your support to continue the important work of community building and showcasing artistic creation.  

SJMA is in a remarkable moment in its history, opening Tending and Dreaming: Stories from the Collection on March 7 for long-term view. Exploring the idea of artworks as stories, and artists as storytellers allows the public and educators multiple opportunities to view the work and to create interpretive curricula for these meaningful works. We look forward to learning what you dream of as you discover this exhibition on the main floor Gibson and Plaza galleries just off the lobby.  

This April, May, and June are full of exciting public programs and education workshops including the continuing Walk with a Naturalist tours of Beta Space: Patty Chang and David Kelley, and a May 16 Creative Minds evening with Kambui Olujimi—don’t miss these opportunities to learn more about the stories these artists create.  

These months are also bittersweet as I will be winding down my time serving as the Museum’s Oshman Executive Director. It has been a rare pleasure to work with you and SJMA since 2015. Thank you for believing in the artists we brought to San José, listening to their stories, and dreaming along with us as we imagined what a borderless museum could be. I will miss you all and am so grateful for my time at SJMA. Our devoted Board of Trustees and talented staff will keep the momentum going with your support, working together to bring you new vistas of artistic expression. 

S. Sayre Batton
Oshman Executive Director