PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Aimee Reeder
Communications Manager
Berkeley Public Library
510.495.4175
areeder@berkeleyca.gov
New Exhibit at the Central Library:
thoughts of a large red woman: chapter one: interactions
Berkeley, California (October 29, 2025) – The Berkeley Public Library welcomes Kris Urbanrezlife Longoria’s first solo show, thoughts of a large red woman: chapter one: interactions, on display at the Central library from November 1 – December 6, 2025.
Attend the opening reception with the artist on Monday, November 10th, 5-7pm at the Central Library at 2090 Kittredge Street in downtown Berkeley. Pieces will be displayed in both the historic lobby on the 2nd floor and on the 5th floor.
An artist talk will be held on Saturday, November 15 at 3pm at Tarea Hall Pittman South, the library branch located on MLK and Russell street, near the Ashby BART.
Urbanrezlife was born and raised in San Francisco, California. She is an enrolled citizen of the Caddo nation and a mother, writer, artist, storyteller. She spent time on Alcatraz as a child with her family during the Occupation and has continued her work on Alcatraz for the last two decades while working on her art and writing.
Many of Urbanrezlife’s pieces were exhibited on Alcatraz from 2019-2025 and were seen by over five million visitors, including Berkeley Public Library specialist Kristina Uchida-Rattler:
I remember seeing her art on Alcatraz two years ago during a tour with some other librarians. The canvases were so impactful and stayed with me even after returning to the mainland. They are about her and her life, about history, about the present, about Native land, about activism, and the Bay. To be able to host Urbanrezlife’s first solo show at the Berkeley Public Library is a big deal and I am so happy we are able to bring this to the community.
A central part of the exhibit are several prayer pieces, many created new, exclusively for the Library exhibit.
“Over 750 prayer ties were laid for six days straight for the Berkeley libraries and all the great relatives that visit,” explains Urbanrezlife. “I decided to use this turquoise blue [because] I was told by two medicine people prior to this exhibit that I need to make some blue for healing… All the tobacco and sage used in these pieces were grown by my daughter, son in law and I… beautiful medicine grown in my concrete jungle.”
Berkeley Public Library is committed to bringing Native voices, history, authors and representation into library spaces, collections and programming. Patrons hear the Library’s land acknowledgement in an announcement every day, twice a day, in Chochenyo, Spanish and English that affirms that commitment.
“The most important part of our commitment is the ongoing actions that we take including our programming and special events such as this exhibit,” comments Uchida-Rattler. “The Bay has such an amazing Native community and we want Berkeley Public Library to be a space, a resource, and a collaborator for the community.”
For questions or additional information about the exhibit, please call (510) 495-4175 or email areeder@berkeleyca.gov.
For general questions about Library events, services, hours and locations, please call (510) 981-6100 or visit the Library’s website www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org.
All Library programs are wheelchair accessible. For questions, to request a sign language interpreter or other accommodations for library events, please call (510) 981-6195 (voice) or (510) 548-1240 (TTY) at least five working days in advance to help ensure availability. Please refrain from wearing scented products to public programs.
###