Stories of Resilience

Stories of Resilience

Stories of Resilience

In-Person Exhibit March - April 2021

Filoli is sharing stories of the individuals and identity groups who overcame injustices or were historically excluded from performing at or working at Filoli. Through social media and virtual programming, we will highlight the continued creativity and contributions of artists, entrepreneurs, and garden professionals from diverse and underrepresented groups. 

Community Stories & Partners

Filoli is partnering with our community for social media takeovers highlighting artists, entrepreneurs, professionals and other creators from underrepresented groups. Stay tuned on our social media for more!

About+Me

Pine House Edible Gardens

Leslie Bennett, owner of Pine House Edible Gardens and part of the design team for Filoli's Vegetable Garden Renovation, creates aesthetic edible gardens and productive outdoor spaces. She is an Oakland-based landscape designer with a background in historic landscape preservation and is known for creating Black Sanctuary Gardens throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.

Learn More about Pine House Edible Gardens
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Kristine Mays

Recently featured at Filoli in her exhibition Rich Soil, Kristine Mays seeks to create impact and change with her art. Kristine has participated in raising thousands of dollars for AIDS research through the sale of her work by collaborating with organizations like Visual Aid, the San Francisco Alliance Health Project and WE-Actx. 

Learn More about Kristine

Stories of Resilience at Filoli & Beyond

Upcoming Blogs and Events

Learn about the ways Japanese incarceration and the Chinese Exclusion Act affected Filoli’s staff and nurserymen, discover how creative women like Bella Worn became successful entrepreneurs, and imagine Filoli as it could have been with contributions from Black and Latinx individuals — groups noticeably absent from Filoli’s census and historical records.

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Missing at Filoli: Black and Latinx Stories

December 27, 2020

Coming early February, in honor of Black History Month, our interpretive staff explores the lack of black and latinx stories within Filoli’s history.

Kee Low, long time chef for the Roth family pictured in the Kitchen

Chinese Exclusion Act: Chef Kee Low

December 27, 2020

Coming late February in honor of Lunar New Year: The Roths’ chef Kee Low had a talent for duplicating dishes from the family’s international travels. Though census records mark Kee’s…

'Isabella Worn (Bella), standing on a garden path in the middle of beds full of lavender in the Garden, with Louis Mariconi (Head Gardener). Bella is wearing a v-neck patterned dress and brimmed hat and holds a sheaf of lavender. Tall poplar trees of the High Place visible in background.'

Early Women Entrepreneurs: Bella Worn

December 27, 2020

Coming in March, in honor of Women’s History Month: Filoli will celebrate the role of women in Horticulture, starting with Bella Worn who was a principal garden advisor and florist…

'Filoli Reception Room north half with butler Teikichi Taga setting a floral vase in the middle of the room. In center of room in middle of seating group of 4 side chairs, one George II Gainsborough chair, and red floral damask sofa. Bouquet on coffee table in center. Side table with glass ash tray. Refectory table behind sofa and small upholstered benches on either side of refectory table. Figurines and large flowering plant on top of refectory table. View into library through doorway in northwest corner and side chair to left of doorway. Large Flemish mille fleur tapestry over fireplace and small hanging tapestry on either side of fireplace. 2 green Neoclassical urns and clock on mantle. Side tables on either side of fireplace. High back sofa in front of northeast doorway. All on large tapestry rug. Lit chandelier at top right corner of photo. Pre-Internment image of Teikichi Taga.'

Japanese Internment During World War II: Toichi Domoto, Teikichi Taga & Mai Arbegast

December 27, 2020

Coming in April Toichi Domoto’s nursery supplied plants for Filoli during the Roth era, including many varieties of camellias. Despite the challenges the Domoto family faced — including economic hardship…