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Birds and Benches in North Natomas Regional Park

Birds and Benches Selected Artists

A text list of selected artists' names open_in_full

This extremely diverse and talented cohort of artists will be working together throughout 2026, engaging the community and adding memories and meaning to the benches that will be installed in 2027

Mentor Artists Speaker Series February-May 2026

Large Metal Eyes Look Over the Park open_in_full

Peek-a-Boo by Larry Meeks

Birds and Benches Mentor Artist Speaker Series

Birds and Benches kicks off with our Artist Mentor Speaker Series. Doors open at 5:30 for light hors d'oeuvres and conversation. The Artists' Presentations are 6pm-7pm with time for questions at the end. Our next presenter will be Larry G. Meeks on Tuesday, April 7 , 2026.

Mentor Artist Talks are happening at the North Natomas Community Center throughout Spring 2026 and are free, family-friendly, and open to the public.

These experienced artists and fabricators have been hired as Mentors for the Phase 2 Bench Design Artists as they move through their creative processes to fabrication and installation. In this series, these four Mentor Artists will share  their work and their inspiration with the community and with our cohort of artists. 

Ten new Art Benches in and around North Natomas Regional Park

Satellite image of a large undeveloped area in the middle of suburban housing. open_in_full

Ten Art Benches will be installed inspired by the avian life and history of the area.

Birds and Benches Project Taking Flight

The Birds and Benches in Natomas Public Art project is set to begin as we open with our Mentor Artist Presentation Series.

Mentor Artist Presentations run through May 2026.

Find more details and register today on our Eventbrite page at:

https://www.eventbrite.com/o/city-of-sacramento-office-of-arts-and-culture-111372511261

or by following the link below.

       

 

Project Outline

Funded through the City of Sacramento’s 2% for public art ordinance, the Sacramento Office of Arts and Culture (OAC) Art in Public Places (APP) program has been tasked with management of a new Artist Designed Benches Project in North Natomas Regional Park (NNRP) named Birds and Benches. 

The project will have two phases to support robust community engagement:

Phase 1 - Five (5) Artist Ambassadors to engage with five careholder organizations AND

Phase 2 – Ten (10) artists for the design and fabrication of up to 10 artist made benches.

The ideal envisioned bench design will enhance the community atmosphere of the site while celebrating the bird life of the Natomas Basin, focusing on areas in the park where visitors can enjoy resting and viewing avian species as well as other areas determined through conversations with project careholder organizations and community participants.

ARTIST CALL CLOSED JULY 28, 2025 

 

Birds and Benches Updated Proposed Timeline

UPDATED PROJECT TIMELINE

October 2025:                             Artists notified

December 2025:                         Contract and supplier paperwork completed

January 2025:                              Artists begin meetings with careholders and design development

February - August 2026:            Artist workshops

January 2027                               Phase 1 Artist exhibition and Phase 2 Conceptual design presentation                        

January 2027 :                             Phase 2 Fabrication begins

July 2027                                       Installation of Benches in North Natomas Regional Park

September 2027                           Artist Talk and final celebration of benches

                   

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