St. Helena will soon have a new museum

By Dave Stoneberg

ST. HELENA, Calif. — The new Napa Valley Museum of Art and Culture, to be known as the MAC, is targeted to open in September. The lease was signed in January for the former retail space that housed Gary’s Wine & Marketplace and before that Dean & Deluca, south of St. Helena.

It’s empty now, but the Napa Valley Museum has signed a lease for the former space occupied by Gary’s Wine & Marketplace at 607 St. Helena Highway, south of St. Helena, to open as the new Napa Valley Museum of Art and Culture in September — Dave Stoneberg Photo

Laura Rafaty, executive director of the Napa Valley Museum Yountville, said the new museum may open with a second production unit of the “Julia Child: A Recipe for Life” exhibit and is currently raising funds to build it.

“We hope to open the museum with this exhibition, but timing ultimately depends on the success of the fundraising campaign, timing of permitting and construction in the new space and other factors,” Rafaty said. “Thanks to a generous gift from the Ron & Diane Disney Miller Fund, we are on the way to our fundraising goals.”

According to a press release, the museum’s expansion “will enable us to dramatically increase the impact of our arts and education programs, ensuring our long-term sustainability and the accomplishment of our mission.”

Julia Child cooks with a child —Photo courtesy of Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University, used with permission

Flying Fish Exhibits, in partnership with the Napa Valley Museum, created the first Julia Child exhibit, which is touring nationally and is sold out to museums for the next seven years. The exhibit is an interactive look at the life and legacy of Child, an American culinary and broadcasting pioneer. Rafaty said the touring exhibit has been a “huge success” and has been drawing tens of thousands of visitors across the county.  The exhibit is currently at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture in Richmond through Sept. 2.

At the heart of the Child exhibition is her passion for teaching, which is explored through her meticulous process of recipe development for her two books: “Mastering the Art of French Cooking” and “The French Chef.”

Julia Child measures an amount of instant mashed potatoes for a recipe — Photo courtesy of Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University, used with permission

According to the exhibit notes, “Child’s insatiable curiosity and tenacious spirit drove her to endlessly try, test, prove and communicate how to make delicious food. Learning to cook empowered Julia, and she in turn empowered others, profoundly transforming American cuisine and food culture.”

Coming in October 2025 to the MAC will be “The Wyeths: Three Generations – Works From the Bank of America Collection,” which includes art from N.C. Wyeth (1882-1945), one of America’s finest illustrators; his son, Andrew Wyeth (1917-2009), an important realist painter; and N.C. Wyeth’s grandson, Jamie Wyeth, born in 1946, who is a popular portraitist. Through the works of these artists from three generations of the Wyeth family, themes of American history, artistic techniques and creative achievements can be explored. Visitors will have access to 66 paintings and drawings, all showcasing a commitment to realism, technical brilliance and narrative sensibility.

Rafaty said the MAC will have “a great lineup of the kinds of things that we used to do here in the Main Gallery.” On exhibit at the MAC will be exhibits on popular culture and what Rafaty calls “extraordinary iconic artists.”

Maria Rodriguez, deputy director of Napa Valley Museum Yountville models a “Warrior Dogs” ballcap — Submitted Photo

Currently in Yountville, the Main Gallery features an exhibition called “Warrior Dogs: Honoring the Service & Sacrifice of America’s Four-Legged Fighters,” in partnership with the Tug McGraw Foundation. It is scheduled to close Aug. 25, but Rafaty said, “We’re hoping that this will be popular and supported enough that we’ll be able to extend it.”

Other planned exhibits

-At a date to be determined, the museum will present a world-premiere exhibition, “Architecture in Music: Charles Brooks,” pairing photographs taken by Brooks, a New Zealand photographer and musician — each taken inside musical instruments — with exceptional musical instruments on display, each a work of art. This exhibition is presented in partnership with Festival Napa Valley.

-The museum’s world-premiere science and art exhibition is “Buzzed: The Beauty & Nature of Bees.” The exhibit, date to be determined, combines stunning photographs of bees in flight, follows a bee along its daily journey and lifespan through interactive displays and informative graphics, and features a sound installation where visitors enter a giant “Sound Hive” to hear the sounds of bees in action. The importance of bees to our ecosystem and the threats to their survival will be explored, and the exhibit will show useful tools for attracting and protecting bees in gardens.

-“The Lost Art of Department Store Windows” is currently in development, with its opening to be determined. This exhibition celebrates the artistry of those who created store windows for many of the great American department stores. Store windows presented a theatrical experience, which during the holidays exploded into exuberant celebrations. Some of the best artists cut their teeth creating windows, including Andy Warhol, Salvador Dalí, Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns, who all created surrealist and pop-art designs for Bonwit Teller. The displays at Barneys and Bergdorf Goodman reflected the artistry of over-the-top fashion designers such as Alexander McQueen and pop icons like Lady Gaga, while Macy’s holiday windows have delighted families for generations.

In Yountville, the Main Gallery will be used for military exhibitions, local regional artists and history exhibits because its history cases and permanent collection of 15,000 objects and artifacts will remain in Yountville.

Laura Rafaty recently celebrated her seventh anniversary as executive director of the Napa Valley Museum Yountville — Submitted Photo

Rafaty celebrated her seventh anniversary as Napa Valley Museum Yountville’s executive director on March 16. The museum’s trustees includes Janet Gentile Herrero, president; Thurlow Washam, vice president; Linda Faber, secretary; Fred Zammataro, treasurer; and Barbara Kuo. Emeritus trustees are Ronda Schaer and Raymond D. Schmitter.

Its mission statement says that the museum “is dedicated to enriching the cultural fabric of our community through exhibitions, collections, educational programs and creative activities that promote knowledge and understanding of art, nature and history.”

Founded in 1972

The Napa Valley Museum was founded in 1972 by individuals concerned with preserving Vintage Hall in St. Helena. At the time, Napa was one of the few counties in the state lacking a museum focused on its regional heritage, so a museum was created that would celebrate Napa Valley’s history, environment and culture, according to the museum website. Napa Valley Museum is a nonprofit organization funded by donations, grants and membership dues.

In 1998, the museum moved from St. Helena to Yountville to vacant land leased from the Veterans Home of California, Yountville. In 1990, the architectural firm of Fernau and Hartman was chosen to design the Napa Valley Museum.

According to its website, “The committee wanted to make a definite architectural statement using bold colors, forms and materials. The building is a tribute to the agricultural roots of our county while employing a modern, bold design.” The museum houses three galleries: the main gallery for world-class art exhibits; the Don & Lonne Carr History Gallery; and the Spotlight Gallery, a showcase space for local artists.

Gary’s Wine & Marketplace at 607 St. Helena Highway opened in October 2019 and closed in late July 2023.

Dave Stoneberg is an editor and journalist who has worked for newspapers in both Lake and Napa counties.

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