Temescal Roots Project

The Temescal Roots Project will honor the rich history of the Black Panther Party’s beginning in/around Temescal through a public art installation in the heart of the district in Oakland, California. This will be the first 3D public art piece to honor the legacy not of a single member, but rather the entire Black Panther Party as a whole.

The project will reside in a new plaza that is planned for the intersection of Telegraph, Shattuck Avenue, and 45th Street which is currently a bike and pedestrian-only zone. This location lies directly adjacent to the historic Kasper’s Hot Dogs building, a neighborhood eatery that first opened in the 1930s and was frequently patronized by many Black Panther Party members. The art installation, plaza, and restaurant are being planned and designed in parallel to create a culturally significant and vibrant outdoor resource for the neighborhood.

Our team was tasked to document the process from beginning to end – from community meetings and events to artist selection and project development.