A vintage wedding photo. A crowd on the Great Lawn celebrates Sculpture on the Grounds



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Silicon Valley's oasis of culture and nature since 1912

In 2012, the Villa at Montalvo Arts Center turns 100 years old! Built by Senator James D. Phelan, California's first democratically elected Senator, his beloved estate in Saratoga has evolved into one of the Bay Area's leading arts institutions and artist residency programs. It was at Montalvo where Phelan entertained artists, politicians, soldiers, scholars, and cultural figures until his death in 1930, at which time he bequeathed the estate to the state of California with a very specific mandate:

"I would like the property at Saratoga, California...to be maintained as a public park open under reasonable restrictions, the buildings and grounds immediately surrounding the same to be used as far as possible for the development of art, literature, music, and architecture by promising students."

Montalvo has kept Senator Phelan's legacy alive for all these years through the hard work and dedication of countless people who have supported the institution and the artists it serves with their time, creativity, and financial resources, all in recognition of the deep importance of the arts and nature in our everyday lives.

Join us throughout the year as we celebrate the history and future of Montalvo through these extraordinary events!

CENTENNIAL EXHIBITIONS:

Our Centennial year is the starting point for a series of thematically-related exhibitions which explore the relationships between Montalvo, its communities, and its histories. Montalvo is a unique place where past, recent past, and present overlap and converge. Over the course of this year, artists will imaginatively and critically examine such questions as: What does it mean to commemorate the history of a specific place? How does our understanding of history inform our experience of location? These exhibitions will prompt us to revisit Montalvo anew, inviting us to engage with this multifaceted place, its histories, present, and possible futures.


  • ON VIEW THROUGH FRIDAY, JULY 20
    Montalvo Historical Fabrications and Souvenirs (A Pop-Up Shop)

    Under the moniker The Marianas* Bay Area artists Michael Arcega (former Lucas Artists Residency Fellow) and Stephanie Syjuco are collaborating on a functioning souvenir pop-up shop that responds to Montalvo's 100th ...

  • DVD projection from
    OPENING SUNDAY, JULY 29
    The Film Trilogy

    Montalvo is located in the heart of Silicon Valley, a place that has fostered technological innovations that have transformed our contemporary experiences of place and time. With the advent of digital media ...

SPECIAL CENTENNIAL PROGRAMS:


  • 100 Years 100 Trees

    Join us in our Centennial year 2012 as we restore the Arboretum at Montalvo by planting as many as 100 new trees on the grounds. We will dedicate a new Camperdown Elm during our 3rd annual Arts Splash! Open House and Student Arts Festival, kicking ...


  • Chit-Chat Club

    This series of conversations is inspired by James Duval Phelan’s participation in the San Francisco-based Chit-Chat Club. Founded in 1874, members met monthly for dinner followed by a presentation and discussion. These talks will explore key topics central to Montalvo’s ongoing mission and ...


  • O' Great Reverie Events

    Inspired by Montalvo’s centennial, this unconventional timeline exhibition examines such questions as what does it mean to create a history of a place? What makes something historical? Can art practice contest established historical narratives and generate new unexpected interpretations of place?This series of ...

UPCOMING CENTENNIAL EVENTS:

  • A vintage wedding photo.
    SUN JUNE 10, 2012 2 P.M.
    Wedding of the Century

    Did you ever dream of having a Montalvo wedding? Were you married here and want to re-live your best wedding moments? Then you want to be here for the Wedding of the Century!The historic Villa will be decorated beautifully as you mingle with other ...

  • A crowd on the Great Lawn celebrates Sculpture on the Grounds
    FRI JULY 20, 2012 7 P.M.
    Rock the Garden: Sculpture on the Grounds Opening Celebration

    Montalvo Members: Join us for an exclusive reception prior to the party from 6-7pm!A summer party blast with live performances, spirited music, food, and drink to mark the opening of the 2012 Sculpture on the Grounds exhibition on the Great Lawn! This spectacular multidisciplinary ...


  • SAT SEPTEMBER 22, 2012 5 P.M.
    Great Gatsby Gala

    Join us for an elegant evening as the historic Villa is transported into the Jazz Age of the 20s immortalized by The Great Gatsby. The evening will begin with cocktails on the lawn, followed by a gourmet dinner in the Villa, and dancing in the ...