BERKELEY<\/p>\n
A new open-air art experience is transforming the streets of North Berkeley into a vibrant, accessible gallery. The recently launched North Berkeley Outdoor Banner Art Gallery features a curated series of 36 large-scale banner installations highlighting the works of 13 artists from the local community.<\/p>\n
Installed along key corridors and public spaces, the banners bring bold color, diverse perspectives and creative energy into everyday urban life. The project aims to make art more visible and inclusive, reaching residents and visitors outside traditional gallery walls.<\/p>\n
The inaugural exhibition displays works spanning illustration, abstract design and mixed media. Each banner is featured on the North Shattuck Association\u2019s website, accompanied by a short artist statement with links to more information about the artist and his or her portfolio. Participating artists represent a cross-section of Berkeley\u2019s creative community, from emerging voices to established professionals.<\/p>\n
Themes explored in the exhibition include identity, the natural environment, uniquely-Berkeley offerings and the East Bay\u2019s evolving cultural fabric. The district will lead periodic artists walks that invite the community to engage directly with the creators behind the work. Walks will end at rotating destinations where attendees can mingle with artists.<\/p>\n
The banner gallery is free and open to the public, available for viewing day and night, and a digital map helps visitors explore the full installation route. To view the gallery, artist info or further information online, visit northshattuck.org\/outdoor-art-gallery<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2014 North Shattuck Association<\/p>\n Berkeley Humane\u2019s Pints for Paws event set for Saturday<\/p>\n Berkeley Humane is throwing a double celebration this Saturday, and you\u2019re invited! For one incredible day, the community can change a life (or two!) by adopting a pet and raising a glass at the award-winning Pints for Paws craft beer festival, all happening in one West Berkeley location.<\/p>\n This powerful combo is part of the third annual California Pet Adoption Day and the 12th Annual Pints for Paws, which has been voted Best Fundraising Event in the East Bay six years in a row.\u00a0 The adoption event is family-friendly and free to attend, offering an unbeatable opportunity to meet adoptable animals and support lifesaving work.<\/p>\n \u201cThis day represents everything Berkeley Humane stands for, bringing people together to save lives, strengthen families, and create brighter futures for animals in need. Whether you adopt, foster or celebrate with us at Pints for Paws, you become part of that life-saving mission,\u201d said Jeffrey Zerwekh, Berkeley Humane\u2019s executive director. \u201cRaise a pint. Save a life. Be part of something bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n Pints for Paws, a 21+ ticketed event, takes over with tastings from dozens of local craft breweries, wineries, cideries and more. For tickets or more details, go online to berkeleyhumane.org\/events\/pints-for-paws<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2014 Berkeley Humane<\/p>\n RICHMOND A new season of free, family-friendly fitness and health activities has kicked off at Richmond\u2019s Nicholl Park\u00a0 with the recent start of the annual \u201cPASOS & Thrive Thursdays\u201d that will continue every Thursday for 10 weeks (skipping July 2) through Aug. 6.<\/p>\n Organizers say the Thrive Thursdays will run from 5:45 to 7:30 p.m. and are open to families and other community members. The event is organized by Contra Costa County District 1 Supervisor John Gioia, Richmond Vice Mayor Doria Robinson, the group Rising Juntos and Contra Costa Health.<\/p>\n The kickoff event featured a free farm stand, rock climbing wall, zumba and salsa instruction, soccer, a backpack giveaway (a child must be present with a guardian) and a visit from Contra Costa Health Director Dr. Grant Colfax. District Coordinator Joanna Pulido Steen from Gioia\u2019s Office said the weekly series is maintaining the same core focus that it has had in prior years.<\/p>\n \u201cIt has very much the same mission that it\u2019s always had,\u201d Steen says, describing Thrive Thursdays as \u201creally about health equity \u2026 [and] bringing resources to the community.\u201d<\/p>\n Steen says each Thursday is designed to mix movement with access to health information. The evening \u201cstarts off with a \u2018Walk with a Doc,\u2019 where people are encouraged to walk around the lawn space and talk with a doctor or \u2026 a health professional,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n After that, she said, \u201cwe jump into the zumba\/salsa class,\u201d with tabling and resources available during the program; soccer continues for kids, and the night typically wraps up with \u201cyoga or \u2026 some type of cool-down.\u201d<\/p>\n Steen said the series is also intended to draw attention to improvements and renewed use of the park. She said Rising Juntos is \u201creally focusing on \u2026 redesigning of Nicholl Park\u201d and is \u201creally looking to activate the space.\u201d For details online, visit thrivethursdays.net<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2014 Thrive Thursdays<\/p>\n To submit an item for the Berkeley Voice and El Cerrito Journal\u2019s \u201cIn brief\u201d section, which is now usually published in print on each month\u2019s first Friday, please email it, at least three days before print publication, to njackson@bayareanewsgroup.com<\/a>. Each item should be 90 to 180 words and include a short headline along with the name of the group or individual to credit for it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"BERKELEY A new open-air art experience is transforming the streets of North Berkeley into a vibrant, accessible gallery.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":80168,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[3764,143,145,144],"class_list":["post-345123","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-oakland","tag-community-briefs","tag-oakland","tag-oakland-headlines","tag-oakland-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/345123","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=345123"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/345123\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/80168"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=345123"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=345123"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=345123"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nEnjoy free Thrive Thursdays through Aug. 6 at Nicholl Park<\/p>\n