Monuments to Extraction: Walking California History at the Albany Bulb Landfill


In Monument to Extraction: Walking California History at the Albany Bulb, UC Berkeley students have created an outdoor journey through the history of California at this mostly uncapped landfill, which is now a public park where people walk their dogs and birdwatch amidst piles of rubble. By interpreting the materials of the dump underfoot in the context of regional and global flows of raw materials and consumption, the students seek to reveal rather than erase the complex interactions of humans and landscape. Read more here.

This project was created by students over the course of 14 weeks in the course Art 160/City Planning 190, Ghosts and Visions. The course was taught by Susan Moffat, Creative Director of the UC Berkeley Future Histories Lab and founder of Love the Bulb.


Future Histories Lab offers community-engaged, project-based courses. Dig into hidden local histories and envision better futures in our exciting courses focused on social justice, race, place, and the arts. Take just three courses (in summer or other times) and earn a Certificate in Urban Humanities.