This September, five local artists are engaging Berkeley with installations on public paths surrounding Live Oak and Codornices parks. The works explore the concept of Intersections—how things connect and come together in our community—with the paths as canvas.
The event not only provides an opportunity for the public to consider and experience artwork safely outdoors, it gives local artists the chance to display their work in a way that can be seen in person, a rare opportunity at this point in time.
The commissioned artists are Connie Zheng, Dawline-Jane Oni-Eseleh, Karin Dahl, Kim Bennett and Jessica Sabogal. Each brings a different perspective, visual style, and background to the project. A moderated conversation with the artists will be held live on September 24th, via Zoom. Please register at this link. You can read about the artists and their works on the event website www.pathway-art.com.
You are welcome to walk the paths and discover the installations on your own (here’s a printable pdf map) or you can join us for small group walks in the area. We are hosting free, guided walks throughout the month. The walks are approximately 2.5 miles, on hilly sidewalks and steep staircases. Each walk has a maximum of 8 participants (plus 2 hosts) to ensure physical distancing between walkers. Face coverings are required for the entire duration of the walk. Do not attend if you feel unwell or have symptoms of COVID-19. Registration is required on Eventbrite. The dates are:
Fri 9/4 6p-8p (sunset walk)
Sat 9/5 10a-12p
New: Sun 9/13 10a-12p Cancelled due to poor air quality
Sat 9/19 10a-12p
Sun 9/20 5:45p-7:45p (sunset walk)
New: Fri 9/25 5p-7p
New: Sat 9/26 10a-12p
New: Sun 9/27 5:30p-7:30p (sunset walk)
Intersections, originally planned for May, was postponed due to the public health emergency and local Shelter-in-Place orders, though the paths continued to serve as an important connector and outlet for Berkeley residents. The event is now rescheduled for the month of September. The month of transition from summer to fall, return to a new version of schooling, and unfortunately continued social distancing. We hope that Intersections provides an opportunity for contemplation and inspiration about the points of connection that exist in our community during this difficult time of isolation and separateness.
The event is supported by donations (thank you!) and two small grants from Berkeley Civic Arts and Awesome Without Borders. It is made possible by the tireless enthusiasm and dedication of Hadley Dynak from creative consultancy PEAK86. We would appreciate your support either through GoFundMe or directly on our website. Thank you!