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Delivered, Mable's Promissory Note

2024

Bronze

Inspired by traditional West African metal work that served both as currency for exchange and as jewelry, this sculpture memorializes the unsung contributions of the African American community in South Berkeley - a community that has been largely displaced due to gentrification and shifting economies. Delivered, Mable's Promissory Note is a monument to the contributions made by African Americans in Berkeley and a tangible metaphor for the wealth they worked so hard to build, even in the face of racism and oppression. The title of this artwork pays tribute to the artist's mother, Mable Howard, who led the effort to oppose the above-ground BART line that would have divided this neighborhood and the rest of Berkeley. This sculpture not only honors the African American heritage of South Berkeley, it is also an important legacy artwork by a world-renowned artist with a deep connection to Berkeley, where she grew up and lived for most of her life. The site where this sculpture is installed is an area planned for future high-density housing, including affordable housing, and redesign of Adeline Street. When this occurs, the artwork will be reinstalled in a prominent public location at, or near, its current location.

Location: Corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Adeline Street, just south of the Ashby BART Station


Public Art Collection of the City of Berkeley

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