On August 22, 2026, Berkeley’s own Arts and Crafts Cooperative Gallery is opening the first-in-kind noncombustible garden art show focused on wildfire mitigation, Zone 0: New Opportunities for Art in the Garden! The exhibit explores how artists are transforming outdoor spaces through sculpture and functional garden art created from resilient materials; metal, glass, ceramics, and concrete. It will last over a month, through September 27.
Why is this important? Those living in the Wildland Urban Interface, near the boundary to Tilden Park, are highly exposed to wildfire, and new fire regulations are requiring them to remove all combustible materials and vegetation, except trees, from a zone extending 5 ft out from their house walls. Since the 1920s, landscape design aesthetic has focused on using plants in this area. The new realities of climate change compel us to change these design principles, and move plantings more than 5 ft away from the house. This show gives us a chance to get inspiration and ideas about new landscaping directions from talented, carefully selected creators and artists—how can we use art and sculpture to elevate our living spaces?
The show’s curator, Ruth Ehrenkrantz, is a potter at the co-op and a member of a Firewise neighborhood. She writes, “In conceiving of this show, I wanted to inspire people to think of new ways to utilize and enjoy their gardens, even while making difficult changes to their properties. Art and sculpture bring joy and enrichment to beloved outdoor areas.”
Clearing low vegetation in Zone 0 can open space up with wonderful opportunities, sometimes magnificently framed under trees. This show is a great way get our creative juices going and beautify our daily environment, while improving our wildfire preparedness and complying with fire laws.
Multiple opportunities exist to interact with the creators who participate in the show.
Beyond getting inspiration from the show, one may, of course, purchase some of the pieces of arts displayed in the exhibit. The curator of the show told us that the pieces had been carefully selected to provide a true range of prices starting from $150. But, in the spirit of the purpose for this show—inspiration for each person’s creativity in landscaping and creating beauty in our daily environment—Ruth, in collaboration with Meg Sedlak, has captured DIY options that may be used to create art for Zone 0, or the rest of the garden, ourselves:
More information: 2026-08-22 Month-Long Fire Resilient Art Show at Berkeley's ACCI Gallery
