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New Exhibition Explores the Power of Play Through the Lens of Photographer Nancy Richards Farese

The San Bernardino County Museum (SBCM) is excited to announce the opening of its newest exhibition, Potential Space: A Serious Look at Child’s Play, featuring the powerful and evocative photography of Nancy Richards Farese. Visitors of all ages are invited to explore the universal and transformative language of play across cultures, communities and continents.

At first glance, play may seem like a simple pastime—but through Farese’s lens, it becomes a profound act of communication, creativity and resilience. Spanning images captured from more than 15 countries, Potential Space examines how children play in varying environments—war zones, refugee camps, city streets and rural landscapes—each photograph a compelling reminder that play is not just a leisure activity, but a vital expression of humanity.

“Play is often overlooked as something frivolous,” said Farese, “but it’s essential to how children process their world, build relationships and adapt to challenges. It’s a space of imagination, healing and potential.”

SBCM invites the community to be part of its upcoming exhibition celebrating the joy and creativity of play. Residents of all ages are encouraged to share personal photos that capture moments of play—whether it’s a child lost in imagination, a family game night or a joyful leap in the park. These images will help illustrate the universal power of play in our lives and may be featured as part of the new exhibition. Ready to submit your photos? Fill out this Submission Form and become a part of this exciting community-curated display.

Farese, an accomplished photographer and social entrepreneur, blends art and activism to elevate the role of visual storytelling in social change. Her work in Potential Space draws from a decade of travel and observation, documenting how play survives even in the most difficult circumstances—and how it reflects the emotional and social landscapes of the children who engage in it.

Potential Space: A Serious Look at Child’s Play is more than an art exhibition—it is a call to consider the serious implications of how, where and whether children can play. The exhibition will be on view in the museum’s Fisk Gallery through Jan. 18, 2026, and is included with general museum admission.

The San Bernardino County Museum is located at 2024 Orange Tree Lane, at the California Street exit from Interstate 10 in Redlands. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is $10 (adult), $8 (military or senior), $7 (student), and $5 (child ages 6 to 12). Children five and under and members are admitted for free. Parking is free and the museum is accessible to people with disabilities. For more information, visit museum.sbcounty.gov or follow us on Facebook or Instagram.

The San Bernardino County Museum’s exhibits of regional, cultural and natural history and the Museum’s other exciting events and programs reflect the effort by the Board of Supervisors to achieve the Countywide Vision by celebrating arts, culture and education in the county, creating quality of life for residents and visitors.

Free Play with String; Rohingya Children Waiting Their Turn, Cox Bazaar Refugee Camp, Bangladesh, 2018.