November 5, 2026 · Civic Arts Commission
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minutes). Presented by: Kevin Chen, Cube Space Curator (Attachment 1). Recommendation: Approve Cube Space exhibition by artist Ashley Spencer for January 25 through April 16, 2027. Public Comment
Presented by: Mark Salinas, Public Art Program Lead (Attachment 2). Public Comment
Presented by: Mark Salinas, Public Art Program Lead (Attachment 3). Public Comment Future Agenda Items Commissioner Announcements Next Public Art Subcommittee Meeting: Thursday, December 3, 2026 Adjournment Staff Contact: Mark Salinas, Public Art Program Lead / msalinas@berkeleyca.gov Notices Notice of Public Record Communications to Berkeley boards, commissions or committees are public records and will become part of the City’s electronic records, which are accessible through the City’s website. Please note: E-mail addresses, names, addresses, and other contact information are not required but, if included in any communication to a City board, commission, or committee, will become part of the public record. If you do not want your e-mail address or any other contact information to be made public, you may deliver communications via U.S. Postal Service or in person to the secretary of the relevant board, commission, or committee. If you do not want your contact information included in the public record, please do not include that information in your communication. Please contact the secretary of the relevant board, commission, or committee for further information. Any writing or documents provided to a majority of the commission regarding any item on this agenda will be made available for public inspection at the City Manager’s Office located at 2180 Milvia Street, 5th floor, Berkeley, CA 94704 2 of 40 Cube Space January - April 2027 Artist: Ashley Spencer 3|ofCurator: 40 Kevin B. Chen Ashley Spencer is a cross-disciplinary artist and writer who is deeply rooted in her identity as a Black creator. With a rich background in ceramics, sculpture, and mixed media, she imparts a nuanced exploration of the lived Black experience through her work. Over fifteen years, Ashley has developed a distinctive approach to her work, blending various mediums and genres to address complex themes like haunting and inheritance. Her pieces often serve as a conduit for discussing generational grief, creating a dialogue that bleeds across time and material history. A graduate of the California College of the Arts, Ashley earned her Master of Fine Arts degree in 2025. Her academic journey is ongoing as she pursues an additional degree in writing, further exploring her narrative capabilities. She addresses generational grief through her work, which often uses a blend of various mediums to explore time and material history. Ashley initiates thinking about how the work is as much about the process as the final product, inviting viewers to engage with both contemporary issues and historical narratives. The materials she uses become tools for storytelling, rituals, and manifestations of folklore, weaving narratives that speak of heritage, beliefs, and the unseen. The act of arranging and rearranging such materials can also be seen as a dialogue with spirits and tales that hover just at the edge of perception. Every twist of a twig or coil of hair echoes with the voices of ancestors, myths, and legends, enriching the present with their whispers. Through them, she engages with a legacy that is living and breathing, inviting us to explore the enchanted and the unknown. 4 of 40 Previous Works 5 of 40 6 of 40 7 of 40 8 of 40 9 of 40 10 of 40 11 of 40 12 of 40 13 of 40 14 of 40 15 of 40 16 of 40 17 of 40 18 of 40 19 of 40 20 of 40 21 of 40 22 of 40 23 of 40 24 of 40 25 of 40 26 of 40 27 of 40 28 of 40 Civic Arts Division ATTACHMENT 2 Memo Date: November 5, 2026 To: Public Art Subcommittee From: Mark Salinas, Public Art Program Lead Subject: Public Art Procurement Since 1967, the City has acquired approximately 170 permanent and portable artworks. These artworks comprise the City of Berkeley Public Art Collection. The most valuable piece of art in the collection is Romare Bearden’s, The City and its People, 1973, mixed media photo collage and acrylic on masonite and wood, that is the basis for the city’s logo. Since its establishment in 1980, the City’s Civic Arts Commission (Berkeley Municipal Code Chapter 3.12) retains certain duties relative to Public Art approvals within the City’s boundaries. In 1985, the City adopted a Visual Art Ordinance (Berkeley Municipal Code Chapter 6.14) that established a process for the selection and approval of Public Art in the City. In 2001 (modified in 2019), City of Berkeley developed Guidelines for Public Art to articulate the administration and approval processes for public art in the City of Berkeley. In 2019, City of Berkeley adopted a ten-year Arts and Culture Plan for 2018 – 2027, which contained policy improvement and action step recommendations for all Civic Arts program areas, including Public Art. The following section from the Berkeley Municipal Code states that the Civic Arts Commission must review and approve all temporary art (i.e., loans, exhibitions, programming, grants) and permanent art (commissions, purchases, donations, gifts) for the City of Berkeley. Visual Art in Public Places 6.14.040 General rules for art in public places A. Review of permanent and temporary installations: Permanent and temporary installations shall receive the prior review and advice of a visual arts panel. Extensions of time for temporary installations to remain for one year or more may be granted by a visual arts panel. The following Berkeley Municipal Code states the actions the Civic Arts Commission can take in procuring permanent art (commissions, purchases, donations, gifts) for the City of Berkeley. 1 29 of 40 City’s Civic Arts Commission BMC 3.12.060 Duties and functions F. Review and make recommendations upon all works of art to be acquired by the City, either by purchase, gift, or otherwise… The following section from the City of Berkeley Guidelines for Public Art, which is not Berkeley Municipal Code, states criteria for the acquisition of public artwork. These are commonplace industry guidelines; RFQs for public art state additional project goals for the site. Guidelines for Public Art E. ACQUISITION OF PUBLIC ARTWORK