CURRENT EXHIBITION

Sacred and Sinister: Icons of Fear

What makes an image sacred—and what makes it sinister?

Sacred and Sinister: Icons of Fear explores the relationship between fear, faith, and cultural imagination. Through religious, folkloric, and cultural symbolism, the exhibition considers how people give form to the unknown and how images can inspire devotion, offer protection, or provoke unease.

The boundary between the sacred and the sinister is often uncertain. A figure understood as a guardian in one tradition may appear frightening to an unfamiliar viewer. Images of suffering, death, and supernatural power can convey both danger and hope. Their meanings emerge through the beliefs, stories, and experiences people bring to them.

Visit the Mission Inn Museum to explore these overlapping worlds and consider how history and perspective shape what we fear, what we revere, and how we understand the space between.

On Exhibit From September through Mid-November

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The Mission Inn Foundation is committed to preserving the cultural heritage of Riverside and its beloved historical city. The artifacts in this exhibit are part of the Foundation’s extensive archive, meticulously cared for and curated. Through careful preservation, we ensure that these artifacts continue to inspire future generations and connect them to the history and community that make Riverside unique.

Now on view at the Main Street Gallery

3696 Main Street

Riverside, CA 92501