A mentor artist speaker series will begin in February as part of the City of Sacramento’s Birds and Benches public art project in North Natomas, offering professional development and public learning opportunities for artists and community members.
The free speaker series will be held at the North Natomas Community Center (2631 New Market Dr.) during the first week of each month from February through May 2026.
The series mark the start of a multi-year public art project that will result in the installation of eight artist-designed benches at North Natomas Regional Park and two additional benches long the Jackrabbit Trail in 2028. The project is intended to enhance public access to the park and trail while celebrating the bird-rich habitat of the Natomas Basin.
The eight benches at the park are funded through the City’s 2% for Public Art ordinance, while the two benches along the Jackrabbit Trail are sponsored by North Natomas Jibe.
“These mentor artists bring real-world public art experience that helps emerging artists navigate the technical and logistical aspects of permanent public art,” said the City’s Art in Public Places Manager Donald Gensler.
The series will begin Feb. 5 with a presentation by artist Alice Aida Ayers, followed by a free textile workshop led by Ayers on Feb. 8. Ayers is an interdisciplinary artist and arts educator whose career spans more than three decades across the Americas, Africa and Europe. Each mentor session will feature the artist’s work, creative process, and experience in the public art field.
Mentor artist speaker series schedule
Alice Aida Ayers, teaching artist
Thursday, Feb. 5, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. (artist talk)
Sunday, Feb. 8, from 1–4 p.m. (free public textile workshop)
Ronnie Frostad, owner, Frostad Atelier Foundry; sculptor and teacher
Tuesday, March 3, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. (artist talk)
Larry G. Meeks, metal artist and educator
Tuesday, April 7, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. (artist talk)
Terrence Martin, metal sculpture artist
Thursday, May 7, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. (artist talk)
The mentor artist speaker series support artists with limited public art experience as they move into larger-scale, sculptural work. Mentor artists will work with selected Phase 1 and Phase 2 artists throughout the project, offering guidance on public engagement, design, fabrication and installation. The mentors bring prior experience working with the City’s Art in Public Places program and will share practical insights as public art practitioners for the benefit of participating artists and the public.
More information about the Birds and Benches project and speaker series is available on Eventbrite and the City’s website.
