Davis Transmedia Art Tour

Davis has been home to some of the nations’s most distinguished artists, including Manuel Neri, Roy DeForest, Wayne Thiebaud, and Robert Arneson. As early as the 1950s, Davis was a hub for the California art scene. Continuing this legacy is the world-class Mondavi Performing Arts Center, the Davis Mural team, and top-notch art venues such as the Richard Nelson Gallery, the Pence Gallery, and John Natsoulas Center for the Arts, along with the Artery, one of the most enduring of artist cooperatives. Neighboring UC Davis also has one of the biggest art programs in the country. The Davis Transmedia Art Walk is the first of its kind in the country. Following in the pioneering spirit of the Davis artists of the 1960s, Davis today has the participation of the community and the university to create one of the largest public art collections per square mile of any city in the nation. The art on the map designated with an asterisk are the “transmedia” pieces, each one embedded with RFID computer chip with interactive features. With a free cellphone app you can readily download, you can scan the chip to discover a wealth of information about the art on view, including interviews with the artists and discussions of the meaning and relevance of each piece. You can even leave your own comments on the chip to complete the circle of discovery. Savoring art can be rich, rewarding and even a transforming experience. Take your time and enjoy yourself!We offer artist and curator lead group and family art walking tours of the top transmedia art walk in the United States. Our guided walking tour ends with a private luncheon and tour of the John Natsoulas Center of the Arts with the curator and several of the artists. This tour and lunch is available for a minimal fee and lasts between 2-3 hours. We start our tours on Saturday and Sunday at 10:00.