‘Threads of Belonging’ mural highlights cultural textile traditions in South Sacramento

By Sacramento City Express

“Threads of Belonging” is a new temporary public art installation planned for South Sacramento, featuring an 8-by-30-foot handwoven mural that reflects the textile traditions of Palestinian, Filipino and Hmong communities.

The mural will be installed at the Valley Hi–North Laguna Library in spring 2026 through a partnership between the Office of Councilmember Mai Vang, who represents District 8, the City of Sacramento’s Office of Arts and Culture and local artists from Culture through Cloth.

“In moments like the one we are living in now, projects like “Threads of Belonging” matter deeply,” said Councilmember Vang. “Art has the power to heal, bring people together, and remind us of our shared humanity. This is the kind of public art our neighborhoods deserve. It reflects the resilience, cultural pride, and strength of District 8.”

The project is supported by the City but is not City-funded. The participating artists secured partial funding through a grant from the National Academy of Design’s Abbey Mural Prize, with the District 8 Council Office serving as a partner on the application.

Additional funding has been raised through community contributions, and fundraising efforts for installation costs are ongoing. The grant and community-supported funding support Culture through Cloth and the artists’ work exploring themes of belonging, migration and shared cultural traditions in Sacramento.

To support placement of the mural on City property, the Office of Arts and Culture is partnering with the District 8 Council Office through the Art in Public Places program. City staff have provided planning, permitting and licensing support for the installation.

“While involving the community in the creative process, the building-scale artwork will literally weave threads of color and culture together on a library exterior wall,” said the City’s Art in Public Places Manager Donald Gensler. “This type of artist-driven public art, displayed thoughtfully to the public, highlights the diverse cultures and talents within Sacramento and educates library and community audiences through creative, vibrant, artistic and cultural expression.”

In addition to the mural, the project includes a series of public workshops and open studio sessions designed to engage community members in the textile traditions reflected in the artwork.