Campus Murals Committee
Background image: In the Basic Needs Center, a section of a mural by street culture artist and muralist Victor “Marka27” Quinoñez depicts an elder from Oaxaca
Image credit:
muralist Victor “Marka27” Quinoñez

Significance

Art is a powerful tool to bring people together and to generate the capacity for dialogue across differences. The purpose of the Campus Murals Committee (CMC) is to beautify our campus while bringing people together to encourage dialogue across differences. Our vision is to create murals throughout campus over the next decade. The murals will be community-based projects, including staff, faculty, and students from various campus communities and backgrounds. The themes, inspiration, and imagery will be generated with campus community members.

Our student body makes up a diverse campus, which serves as our home for multiple years. It’s imperative we continue to operate with a commitment to UC Berkeley’s DEIBJ principles; this mural on the wall across from The Standard, ideally encompassing the entire width of the wall, will serve as a unifying panorama for all, representing the best of the school, the city, and the broader Bay Area. A picture is worth a thousand words, and this mural–both in literal size and figurative meaning–will have an enormous impact in creating a common community for all.

Committee Membership

Established in January 2024, the Campus Murals Committee is a Joint ASUC/GA-Campus committee dedicated to the beautification of outdoor and indoor spaces around campus through art. The committee is composed of student, staff, faculty, and administrative representatives. Each semester, nominations will be sought from the ASUC Academic Affairs Vice President and GA Campus Affairs Vice President to solicit student participation. CMC will be chaired by one student and one member of staff/administration.

Leadership

  • Kailen Grottel-Brown, ASUC Senator (co-chair)
  • Amber Johnson, AVC & Chief of Staff, Division of Equity & Inclusion (co-chair)

Faculty and Staff

  • Ruben Lizardo, Local Government and Community Relations DIrector
  • Patrick Inacio, Associate Director of Asset Management, Facilities Services
  • Wendy Hillis, Associate Vice Chancellor & Campus Architect
  • Ben Perez, Manager of Physical Access Compliance
  • Alicia Bihler, Acting Director, Environmental Programs Manager
  • Justin Gomez, Associate Director, New Student Services
  • Bethany Fitelson, Assistant Director, Student Governance Advising
  • Ariel Feinberg Berson, Programs & Marketing Director, ASUC Student Union
  • Ellen Topp, Director of Communications, Division of Student Affairs
  • Anne G. Walsh, Professor, Department of Art Practice
  • Asma Kazmi, Associate Professor, Department of Art Practice
  • Ann Kwong, Director, Disability Cultural Community Center

Students

  • Even Tsegai, Cal National Panhellenic Council President
  • Tyler Marino, UC Berkeley Alumni (2024)
  • Isha Chander, ASUC Senator-elect
  • Owen Knapper, Jr., ASUC Senator-elect

Participate in the Social Sciences Breezeway Mural by Tues. 5/28

Origin and Timeline

1. Discussion and confirmation of said plan was sought from all appropriate stakeholders including Wendy Hillis, Assistant Vice Chancellor and Campus Architect, with final approval from Vice Chancellor Marc Fisher and Chancellor Carol Christ of proposed spaces we aim to beautify

2. The plan was adopted, and a committee was formed to oversee the projects.

3. An announcement was issued from Student Affairs, Equity & Inclusion, Administration, and the Associated Students of the University of California with the opportunity for students to participate in a friendly competition to submit proposed artwork for the mural. Submissions must be in line with the Principles of Community and a rubric decided upon by the committee. 

4. Upon the closing of the competition, the submissions will be reviewed and a winner will be selected by the committee. Final approval will be sent to the Space Assignments and Capital Improvements Committee (SACI), who will make a recommendation to Chancellor for final approval. 

5. The committee created a Google form for interested parties to get involved via volunteer opportunities. The form will be available throughout the duration of the project and announced periodically on our site and via cal messages for new campus community members. 

6. The mural will be painted by campus community members. All are invited to participate regardless of experience or ability.